Harriet Tubman: A Key Figure in the Civil War

Early Life

• Born: Araminta "Minty" Ross
• Status: Born into slavery
• Family: Separated due to slavery laws; siblings sent away.
• Work: Domestic duties and field work as a slave; suffered from measles.
• Injury: Severe head injury from an overseer's weight; led to seizures and visions.

Turning Point and Escape

• Marriage: Married John Tubman, a free Black man; changed name to Harriet Tubman.
• 1849: Escaped after risk of being sold; used the Underground Railroad.
• Philadelphia: Arrived where slavery was abolished but threatened by the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.

Rescue Missions

• Fugitive Slave Act: Made Philadelphia unsafe; required her to rescue family.
• Rescue Efforts: Returned multiple times to rescue family and others:
  • Successfully rescued her niece and nephew.
  • Brought 11 enslaved individuals to Canada due to the Fugitive Slave Act.
  • By 1854, had rescued nearly 30 people, including family.

Abolitionist Activities

• Known as "Moses" for her rescue efforts.
• Collaborated with John Brown, a radical abolitionist.
• John Brown's Raid: Supported financially and ideologically but not present.

Role in the Civil War

• Spy for the US Army: Gathered intelligence on Confederate forces.
• Combahee River Raid (1863): Led 300 men, freed 750 enslaved people.
• Nurse: Worked in Beaufort, South Carolina; advocated for Black soldiers' care.

Post-War Life

• Denied a military pension: Fought for her pension, received it eventually in 1899.
• Women's Suffrage Movement: Advocated for women’s voting rights; worked with Black women's groups.
• Elderly Care Advocacy: Deeded her home to create a retirement home for the elderly.

Legacy

• Died in 1913 without seeing the women's right to vote achieved.
• Symbol of courage and leadership in the fight against slavery and for women's rights.
• Her lifetime work exemplifies the transition from slavery to the Progressive Era of reform.

Conclusion

• Harriet Tubman’s life provides insight into the abolition of slavery and the Civil War era.
• Beyond her famous Underground Railroad efforts, she contributed significantly as a nurse, spy, and leader.
• Her involvement in women's suffrage and elderly care reform highlights her broad impact on social justice issues.