Harriet Tubman is best known for her work on the Underground Railroad, though it is debatable if this was her greatest achievement. Harriet Tubman was also a Union spy, a Civil War nurse, and a caretaker in her lifetime. Harriet Tubman (known then as Araminta “Minty” Ross) was born a slave in 1822. In 1808 Congress made it illegal to import slaves, so the Eastern Shore in Maryland, where Harriet lived, was put under great pressure to provide the laborers for the farther South. Families were being torn apart, and Harriet feared that she would be separated from her mother and father, like at least two of her sisters and 10% of the community. When she turned 27 and her master died, Harriet ran to the North. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania she formed
…show more content…
Harriet Tubman was the main contributor of this movement, as she was the founder. The risk was very high in the Underground Railroad, with a score of 9.5. Harriet completed at least eight journeys to Maryland, mostly traveling at night and escaping Saturday night to avoid capture. Slaves were usually given an off-day on Sunday, so they would not be missed until Monday morning, buying time before slave hunters were let loose. If the slaves were caught, they were severely punished, with a few being put to death for their wrong-doings. Traveling at night (mostly in Winter months) maximized the time Harriet had to work with traveling. Though she had all of these precautions in place, on her last journey, Harriet had to drug a few babies to keep them quiet during their midnight maneuvers. This all shows that the risk was high; if it wasn’t, then why take all time and energy to create these safeguards? Harriet Tubman actively worked on the Underground Railroad for ten years, but she only saved about 38 people during her time on this job. Roughly 4 people a year. That just doesn’t stand up. Sure, the risk was high and she worked for ten years on it, but that is all irrelevant because she didn’t save many people. This just is why conducting the Underground Railroad was not Harriet Tubman’s most prominent
Harriet Tubman was the main contributor of this movement, as she was the founder. The risk was very high in the Underground Railroad, with a score of 9.5. Harriet completed at least eight journeys to Maryland, mostly traveling at night and escaping Saturday night to avoid capture. Slaves were usually given an off-day on Sunday, so they would not be missed until Monday morning, buying time before slave hunters were let loose. If the slaves were caught, they were severely punished, with a few being put to death for their wrong-doings. Traveling at night (mostly in Winter months) maximized the time Harriet had to work with traveling. Though she had all of these precautions in place, on her last journey, Harriet had to drug a few babies to keep them quiet during their midnight maneuvers. This all shows that the risk was high; if it wasn’t, then why take all time and energy to create these safeguards? Harriet Tubman actively worked on the Underground Railroad for ten years, but she only saved about 38 people during her time on this job. Roughly 4 people a year. That just doesn’t stand up. Sure, the risk was high and she worked for ten years on it, but that is all irrelevant because she didn’t save many people. This just is why conducting the Underground Railroad was not Harriet Tubman’s most prominent