Abolitionist · 1822 – 1913
Harriet Tubman
Key Takeaways
- Tubman escaped slavery and then risked recapture to free others.
- She made around thirteen rescue missions via the Underground Railroad.
- She guided roughly seventy enslaved people to freedom, earning the nickname "Moses".
- She later served the Union Army as a scout and spy and championed women's suffrage.
Harriet Tubman escaped slavery once — and then went back, again and again, to lead others out. Her courage on the Underground Railroad made her one of the most revered figures in American history.
”Moses” of her people
Born into slavery in Maryland, Tubman fled north around 1849. Rather than enjoy her freedom in safety, she returned to the South some thirteen times, guiding around seventy enslaved people — family, friends and strangers — to freedom along the secret network of safe houses. Those she led called her “Moses”, and she proudly said she never lost a passenger.
Soldier and campaigner
During the Civil War she served the Union Army as a scout, spy and nurse, even helping lead an armed raid that freed hundreds. Working alongside abolitionists like Frederick Douglass and advancing the cause that Abraham Lincoln would carry to emancipation, this fearless activist of the modern era spent her later years fighting for women’s suffrage.
Influence
Tubman became the enduring symbol of the Underground Railroad and of personal courage in the struggle against American slavery.
Legacy
Honoured across the United States in schools, monuments and currency plans, she stands among the nation's most revered figures.
Connections
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Harriet Tubman?
Harriet Tubman (c. 1822–1913) was an American abolitionist who escaped slavery and led around seventy enslaved people to freedom via the Underground Railroad.
Why is Harriet Tubman famous?
She is famous for repeatedly risking her life to free enslaved people on the Underground Railroad, for her Civil War service, and as a symbol of courage and freedom.
Citations & Sources
People Like Harriet
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