Have you ever heard of Harriet Tubman? She was an amazing woman who did incredible things in the history of the United States. Let’s learn all about her and the Underground Railroad!
Harriet Tubman was born around 1820 on a plantation. Her real name was Araminta Harriet Ross, but she was often called “Minty.” Harriet was born into slavery because her parents were enslaved. She had a tough childhood and faced a lot of hardships. Harriet was one of nine children, and sadly, some of her siblings were taken away and sold to other plantation owners.
In 1844, Harriet married a free man named John Tubman. Even though her father was free, Harriet and her family were not. In 1849, Harriet decided to escape from the plantation with her two brothers. Her brothers turned back, but Harriet bravely continued on her own. She made it to Pennsylvania with the help of the Underground Railroad!
The Underground Railroad wasn’t a real train. It was a secret network of people and safe places that helped enslaved people escape to freedom in the North. It started around 1810 and helped about 100,000 people find freedom. Harriet became a conductor on this “railroad,” helping many others escape too!
In 1850, a law was passed that made it dangerous for escaped enslaved people, so Harriet changed the route to Canada, where slavery was not allowed. During the Civil War, which began in 1861, Harriet worked as a cook and nurse for the Union Army. She even made medicine from plants to help sick soldiers. Later, she became a scout and a spy, leading a raid that freed over 700 people!
After the war, Harriet bought land in New York and married a Civil War veteran named Nelson Davis. They adopted a baby girl named Gertie. Harriet lived a long life and passed away in 1913 at the age of about 93. She was buried with honors, and many places are named after her today, including the Harriet Tubman Museum.
Harriet Tubman is remembered as a true American hero. Her bravery and determination inspire people even today. She showed us that one person can make a big difference. Maybe one day, you can be a hero like Harriet too!
Thanks for learning with us! Keep exploring and discovering more amazing stories from history!
Map the Journey: Create a simple map of the United States with your child. Use colored pencils or markers to trace Harriet Tubman’s journey from the South to the North. Discuss the states she might have traveled through and the challenges she faced. Ask your child, “What do you think Harriet felt when she was traveling?” Encourage them to imagine being on a secret journey and what they would need to be brave like Harriet.
Role Play the Underground Railroad: Set up a pretend play area at home to simulate the Underground Railroad. Use blankets and pillows to create “safe houses” and take turns being Harriet Tubman and the people she helped. Discuss the importance of teamwork and trust. Ask, “How would you feel if you were helping someone find freedom?” This activity helps children understand the concept of helping others and the courage it takes to stand up for what is right.
Heroic Actions in Everyday Life: Talk with your child about what it means to be a hero today. Ask them to think of small heroic actions they can do in their daily life, like helping a friend or standing up for someone who is being treated unfairly. Encourage them to draw or write about a time they felt brave or helped someone. Ask, “How can you be a hero in your school or community?” This encourages them to apply Harriet’s legacy of bravery and kindness in their own lives.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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**Harriet Tubman for Kids**
Have you ever heard of a woman named Harriet Tubman? What about the Underground Railroad? Harriet Tubman is a very important person in the history of the United States, and today we are going to learn all about her and the many amazing things she did.
Around the year 1820, Araminta Harriet Ross was born on a plantation. Both of her parents were enslaved, which meant that Harriet was also born into slavery. Harriet Tubman’s exact date of birth is unknown, but we do know that she was one of nine children and had the nickname “Minty.” Because Harriet and her family were enslaved and treated like property, she experienced a lot of pain and abuse growing up. Some of her siblings were even sold to other plantation owners, and her family was broken apart.
In 1844, when Harriet was 24 years old, she married a free man named John Tubman. Around this time, about half the African American people in the area where she lived were free, including Harriet’s father, who was released from slavery at the age of 45. Although he was free, he remained working on the same plantation with his family, who unfortunately were not given their freedom.
In 1849, she fled the plantation with two of her brothers. Although her brothers turned back, Harriet continued on and escaped to Pennsylvania with the help of the Underground Railroad. She was very brave!
What was the Underground Railroad? Unlike the name, it was not a train on railroad tracks but actually a network of people, homes, and hiding places that were set up to help Southern enslaved people secretly escape to the North. The Underground Railroad started around 1810 and ended in the 1860s. In all, about 100,000 people escaped enslavement using this network. What an incredible system!
After her own escape, Harriet returned to the South to help others do the same. Because of this, Harriet Tubman is sometimes called the conductor of the Underground Railroad. Her knowledge of the land, animals, and plants helped her do this.
In 1850, a law called the Fugitive Slave Law was passed, which stated that any enslaved person who had escaped from the South could be captured and returned. In response to this law, Harriet changed the route of the Underground Railroad’s destination to Canada, where slavery was outlawed.
When the Civil War began in 1861, Harriet decided to work with the Union Army of the northern states as a cook and a nurse. During this time, she boiled native roots and herbs that she had foraged into a medicinal tea to help treat those suffering with dysentery. Later in the war, Harriet became an armed scout and a spy and was the first woman to lead an expedition in the war. She guided the Combahee River Raid in South Carolina, which freed over 700 people from enslavement. She was an amazing person!
Harriet bought a small plot of land in New York and eventually married again in 1869. She and her husband, a Civil War veteran named Nelson Davis, adopted a baby girl named Gertie.
In 1913, Harriet Tubman died around the age of 93 and was buried with military honors at Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn, New York. There are dozens of schools, buildings, and other places throughout the United States named in her honor, including the Harriet Tubman Museum in Cambridge, Maryland. She is a true American hero.
Harriet Tubman was recognized as a hero during her lifetime, and after her death, she has become even more famous due to her heroism and bravery. She is an inspiration to those still fighting for civil rights today and shows us that even one person can make a huge difference. Maybe one day you will have the chance to be a hero like Harriet!
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This version removes any informal language, maintains clarity, and presents the information in a more structured manner.
