Harriet Tubman's Actions In The Underground Railroad

“I freed a thousand slaves I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves” (Top 25). Harriet Tubman was an American heroine to many slaves. She was known as the “Moses” of her people. Also, she was one of the only “conductors” of the Underground Railroad to have the privilege of saying she never lost a passenger. The Underground Railroad consisted of a network of “stations” or safe houses, where fugitive slaves could take shelter on their journey to freedom. Harriet’s actions in the Underground Railroad made a huge impact and inspired the idea of equal treatment of all people. Harriet Tubman was able to overcome great odds from her humble beginning. She was born with the name Araminta Ross, but most people called her Minty. She was born into slavery but always dreamed of escaping. When Minty was a teenager, she honored her mother by permanently changing her name to Harriet. Harriet married a man named John Tubman, but the marriage only lasted a short time. Five years into her marriage, Harriet left her husband, parents, and siblings when she ran away to escape slavery. Although it seemed initially cruel to leave everyone that she loved, Harriet turned out to become a leading abolitionist.

She lived in Pennsylvania for only a few years, but returned to her family and helped them find freedom through the Underground Railroad. That first trip inspired Harriet to continue to help slaves all over the south escape to freedom. During a ten year span, Harriet was able to make over 19 trips to the south and help over 300 fugitive slaves gain independence. Many Southern towns hung wanted posters featuring rewards for the capture of Harriet Tubman. She never was captured, and she lived a long life. Harriet eventually died of pneumonia at age