Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman was an American abolitionist, Underground Railroad conductor, and social activist who escaped slavery in Maryland and later helped guide other enslaved people to freedom.

Harriet Tubman was an American abolitionist, Underground Railroad conductor, and social activist who escaped slavery in Maryland and later helped guide other enslaved people to freedom. She also worked for the Union during the American Civil War and later supported women’s suffrage and aid for older adults. Her work extended into Canada, where some formerly enslaved people settled after escaping the United States.

Early life and escape

Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Maryland as Araminta Ross and escaped in 1849. After reaching freedom in Philadelphia, she returned to the South multiple times to help family members and others escape.

Underground Railroad work

Tubman became a famous conductor on the Underground Railroad, a secret network that assisted enslaved people escaping to free states and Canada. She is widely remembered for her bravery and repeated rescue missions. She was nicknamed "Moses" for her leadership.

Civil War service

During the American Civil War, Tubman worked with Union forces in several roles, including as a scout, nurse, cook, and spy. She is also associated with the Combahee River Raid in South Carolina.

Later life and legacy

After the war, Tubman helped former slaves and supported charitable work, including care for older adults. She later became a major symbol of abolition, women’s rights, and Black history in the United States. In 2016, the U.S. Treasury selected her to replace Andrew Jackson on the redesigned $20 bill.