The first African slaves were brought to Virginia. It was the beginning of owning people. This was also the purpose of Harriet Tubman's life.
Harriet Tubman was born to Ben and Harriet Ross in 1820 in Dorchester County, Maryland.
In 1830, at the age of 10, Harriet was sent to work in the fields. This was the beginning of the hard labor that she was forced to do during her life time.
In 1834 Harriet was hit severely in the head by her overseer for trying to help a slave. She said that the blow "broke my skull."
Harriet married John Tubman at the age of 25. Harriet and John had very different beliefs when it came to slavery and who should be a slave and who shouldn't.
John, Harriet's husband, wanted Harriet to stay a slave, but Harriet disagreed. She wanted to escape, doing so on September 17, 1849 with her brothers Ben and Henry. She left John Tubman, and her along with her brothers headed to Philadelphia.
Around October 1, 1849, a Runaway notice was posted in the Cambridge Democrat for Harriet and her brothers giving a reward of up to $100 for each slave returned. Harriet and her brothers ended up returning to their others because they were scared of what could happen to their family members as a result of their actions. Harriet contacted the Underground Railroad later that year and escaped successfully where she then fled to the North.
Throughout 1850 and 1852 Harriet rescued at least 5 family members from slavery, therefore demonstrating how slavery was very personal to her.
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 declared all runaway slaves to be returned to their masters if captured. This was very important because it meant that the North was no longer a safe place for slaves and they had to be even more careful than before if they didn't want to be caught.
In 1852 Harriet Tubman became an active Underground Railroad operator or "conductor". Throughout her lifetime, she used the Underground Railroad to rescue hundreds of slaves where they escaped to New York, New England, and Canada.
Harriet Tubman rescued her parents from slavery in 1857. This is significant because after she rescued her parents, she had rescued almost all of her family.
Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1861. The Civil War starts in the same year.
Throughout the Civil War, Harriet Tubman served as a nurse, spy, scout and commander for the Union army. She identified potential targets for the army and at one time commanded over 800 black soldiers on a raid.
President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all slaves in the states that had seceded from the Union.
On December 6,1865, the 13th Amendment was ratified. It abolished slavery, therefore allowing slaves to leave their masters and live freely. Also in this year, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated and the Civil War ended. It was the first of the three Reconstruction Amendments.
In 1868 Harriet Tubman met Nelson Davis, a Civil War veteran. She later married him on March 18, 1869. They then adopted a baby girl named Gertie in 1874.
On July 9, 1868, 14th Amendment was ratified. It granted citizenship to all former slaves. This meant that slaves were able to get jobs and be able to buy property. It was the second of the three Reconstruction Amendments.
In 1869 Sarah H. Bradford published an authorized biography of Harriet Tubman called Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman. It was written to give an account of Harriet's heroic life.
On February 3, 1870 the 15th Amendment was ratified, granting African American men the right to vote. It was a step forward for equal treatment for people. It was the third and final Reconstruction Amendment.
Harriet Tubman starts attending suffragists organizations and meetings, where she met women like Susan B. Anthony.
In 1886 Sarah H. Bradford wrote a book over Harriet Tubman's heroic actions and life called Harriet, The Moses of Her People.
Harriet Tubman died of pneumonia on March 10, 1913. She lived a very fulfilling life, helping several hundred slaves reach their freedom.
In 1920, the 19th Amendment gave American women the right to vote. This was only after years of protests, boycotts, and other acts that drew attention to women's rights.
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