Qualla Miller
AHM2010 United States History
1865 to Present Harriet Tubman Born In Slavery

Harriet Tubman was born into slavery but not only was she able to escape slavery but she also helped many other people escape as well. She was a pioneer in American History, not only as a woman but as an African American. Tubman was a devoted Christian, I believe that her beliefs was what guided her to do some of the things that she felt so strongly about. During the era that she lived in it had to be something that made her feel that she could lead slaves to freedom without dying in the process. Harriet’s born name was Araminta “Minty” Ross, and her parents were Harriet “Rit” Green and Ben Ross. It’s unclear when Tubman was born due to many slaves in the United States births were not recorded. I found dates from 1820 to 1825.
Tubman’Harriet was not an educated woman, her parents was married somewhere around 1808 and had nine children. Their family struggled to stay together, but slavery was tearing it apart. The family that owned them tried to sell the families youngest son but the mother resisted and hid the young boy for a month with the help of free slaves in the community. It was documented that Rit even went to the extent of telling the man that was coming to buy the son that she will split the first man’s head open that tries to enter her home. The man backed away from the sale, and biographers agree that this story influenced Tubman’s resistance.
Tubman was married twice, once to John Tubman, as a slave in an undocumented marriage and the second time to Nelson Davis who was honorably discharged from the Army. Tubman did not remarry until after her previous husband was killed. Tubman was much older than he second husband. She met Davis during her time in the wartime service.
Tubman was into public service, she solicited many organizations for contributions for different agencies. Even with her own family struggling to make ends meet, she continued to solicit for others instead of for her own family. “You have worked for others long enough…If you ask for a donation for yourself I will give it to you, but I will not help if you to rob yourself.” (Clinton, 200) Tubman was definitely an unselfish woman, you can tell that just by her actions.
Harriet was a public speaker. “Those who heard her speak in the 1850s were both amazed by the facts of her unusually courageous actions and moved by the impact of her personal presence.” (Humez, 134) I read that statement over and over and I just have to wonder what it would’ve been like to actually hear her speak. I believe that her speaking probably brought hope to many people.
Harriet encountered many difficult times in her life, but was able to escape the worst of it which was escaping slavery. She was beaten just like the rest of the slaves, and was even beat just because the baby that she was keeping would cry. She suffered from a horrible head injury when she was hit in the head with a object and began to have seizers and headaches. She also contracted measles, but none of this stopped her from the work that she needed to do. “As the years passed, she began planning ways to escape from her slavery. She knew that many other slaves had managed to flee. She also knew that many had been tracked down, beaten, and brought back in chains but she decided that freedom was worth whatever she had to do to find it. “(Allen)
Harriet risked her life numerous times trying to assist runaway slaves get their freedom along the Underground Railroad. Other slaves referenced Tubman as Moses, the deliverer. (Janney 13) She even was going thru wildernesses to help slaves escaped. “You could never be sure whom you could trust, and threats of betrayal were ever present.” (Janney 48) Tubman caped to Philadelphia in 1849 but returned quickly to rescue her family. She slowly took groups of relatives out of the state and guided