Harriet Tubman Short Biography

Harriet Tubman was a very important person during the era of Civil Rights. She was born into slavery in 1819 or 1822 in Dorchester County, Maryland. Her full name is Araminta Harriet Ross She was nicknamed Minty. Harriet had Narcolepsy or sleeping spells. She could fall asleep any time and any place. This was caused by a severe blow to the head caused by a 2-pound weight thrown at another slave, but it hit Harriet in the head when she was about 12 years old. She also endured seizures, and severe headaches as a result of the injury. Harriet believed that her hair, which she termed “stood out like a bushel basket” might have saved her life. After her accident, she started having dreams, which she believed to be an indication from

She refused to be given anesthesia. Instead she chewed a bullet during her surgery. She had seen the Civil War soldiers do this when their limbs had to be amputated. Despite Harriet’s fame and reputation, she was never financially secure. Tubman’s friends and supporters were able to raise some funds to support her. One admirer, Sarah H. Bradford, wrote a biography entitled Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman, with the proceeds going to Tubman and her family. Harriet continued to give freely despite her economic woes. In 1903 she donated a part of her land to the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Auburn to be converted into a home for the aged and indigent colored people. Harriet was widely known and respected while she was alive, and became an American icon in the years after she died. A 20th century survey named her as one of the most famous civilians in American history before the Civil War. She continues to inspire generations of American’s struggling for civil rights with her bravery and bold

The city commemorated her life with a plaque in the courthouse. Tubman was celebrated in many other ways throughout the nation in the 20th century. Dozens of schools are named in her honor, and both the Tubman Home in Auburn and the Harriet Tubman Museum in Cambridge serve as monuments to her life. This amazingly brave woman was and still is an inspiration to everyone. She battled health issues, possible death, and getting caught in order to help others that were in the same situation she came from. Harriet could have escaped and never looked back, but she chose to risk her life to help others even after her passing. It took many years before she a memorial and the proper recognition was given to her, which is why I included the last paragraph in this paper. There is a familiar name of a current president listed in statement below. As it is evident, it took many years before she was recognized.

WHEREAS it is in the public interest to preserve and protect the objects of historic and scientific interest associated with Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad in Dorchester County,