Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad

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Tubman's Influence

Tubman's Escape from Slavery

Late in Tubman's life, she became very ill. This made her value as a slave decrease, and nobody bought her when her master tried to sell her at a slave auction. Tubman was sick of her master holding all the power to decide her fate, so she escaped from slavery. She escaped with her two brothers, Ben and Henry, on September 17, 1849. They managed to make it up North after a long and tiresome journey. However, once they were free and in the North, her brothers doubted what life they could have as runaway slaves, and decided it would be best to return to the South as slaves. Harriet had no other choice but to return to the plantation she once worked at and be a slave once again.

Soon after, Harriet was once again fed up with being someone's property. She escaped once again, but without her brothers this time. This time, she used the Underground Railroad to escape. Her exact route through the railroad system is unknown, but it was about 90 miles in total. Tubman only traveled at night in efforts of avoiding slave catchers. She was guided by the North Star, and worked tirelessly to find her freedom. With the help of others, Tubman made it out safely.

Tubman Serves as a Conductor

In 1850, the U.S Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Law, which made the risk a lot higher for the abolitionists helping with the Underground Railroad. Even though she was currently living freely in the North, Harriet Tubman made the courageous decision to return to the South to act as a conductor for the Underground Railroad. She felt it was her duty to do so, not only because she escaped through the Underground Railroad, but also because she could not bear the thought of more of her people being trapped in slavery. Tubman would travel to safe houses to retrieve current runaway slaves and guide them safely the rest of the way to the North. She risked her own life and freedom everyday to aid other struggling slaves. It has been documented that she did not return just once to the South to guide runaway slaves, but over 19 times. Over the course of her life, she helped free more than 300 slaves through the Underground Railroad. Her contribution to the lives of those individuals is immense, and they have her to thank for safely making it out of the South and into the free North without being captured, taken, or hurt. Had Harriet Tubman not been apart of the Underground Railroad, it would not have made such a big impact on the amount of slaves freed during the time of the Fugitive Slave Act.

Harriet Tubman, pictured above, is one of many courageous women in American History. She constantly put others before herself, and instead of living as a free woman she risked her own life daily to help other slaves find their own freedom. Many slaves that went on to have successes and families have Harriet Tubman to thank for the life, liberty, and freedom they found in the North.

Life in the North

Harriet Tubman, while working as a guide for runaway slaves, also served as an advisor for those looking for a fresh start in the North. She warned them of the dangers of the slave capturers, and also warned them that racism was still somewhat prominent up North. Though technically free, Harriet Tubman spoke of the hardships a black person would have to endure in the North, especially with the Fugitive Slave Law enacted. All black persons would always be at risk of being taken back to the South to serve as slaves again, or worse, if they were found to be a runaway, they could even be hanged. Even with all these risks, many still desired the free life in the North compared to a life of slavery in the South.

Harriet Tubman, knowing the danger she was in as a runaway slave and as someone aiding slaves escape, still did not shrink away in fear. She stuck true to her beliefs and continued to aid slaves escape their terrible fate.