Harriet Tubman

Timeline

 

 

 

 

 

1820 Harriet Tubman 
Harriet was born and was given the name Araminta Ross around 1820. She later changed it to Harriet.

 

1830 A slave for hire 
Harriet's master rented her out for years to other men in the area who needed her. Her masters were cruel and didn't take care of her needs.

 

1844 Harriet gets married 
Harriet married a freed slave named John Tubman. This was when she changed her name to Harriet.

 

1849 The Runaway Slave 
Harriet's master died, leaving a lot of debt for his family to pay. When the family talked about selling their slaves to pay the debts, Harriet decided to run away so she wouldn't be sold.

 

1850 Her first rescue 
Harriet began her rescue missions immediately. She helped her niece, and her niece's two children, escape slavery.

 

1851 More slaves rescued 
Harried moved up and down the coast, helping her family members run away from their slave drivers.

 

1854 Harriet gets noticed 
After helping many slaves run to freedom, people in the abolitionist movement began to notice. They wanted her help.

 

1858 A meeting with John Brown 
Harriet met John Brown for the first time. He was planning his raid on Harpers Ferry for which he would later be arrested.

 

1859 Harriet begins lecturing 
Harriet moved to New York where she began speaking publicly on behalf of the Underground Railroad.

 

1861 The Civil War 
The war started, and Harriet knew she wanted to help.

 

1862 Harriet the trooper (1862-1865) 
Harriet worked with the Union Army, doing whatever they needed her to do. She worked as nurse and cook, among other things.

 

1863 Harriet leads a raid 
Under General Montgomery of the Union Army, Harriet led an armed raid the first ever by a woman and she freed over 700 slaves.

 

1869 Her first biography 
Sarah Bradford published the first biography of Harriet's life. It was titled Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman.

 

1886 Her second biography 
Sarah Bradford published a second biography about Harriet Tubman. It was called Harriet Tubman, the Moses of her People.