Harriet Tubman was a runaway slave from Maryland who became known as the “Moses of her people.” Over the course of 10 years, and at great personal risk, she led hundreds of slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad, a secret network of safe houses where runaway slaves could stayeir journey north to freedom She later became a leader in the abolitionist movement, and during the Civil War she was a spy for the federal forces in South Carolina as well as a nurse
Harriet Tubman’s name at birth was Araminte Ross. She was one of 11 children of Harriet and Benjamin Ross born into slavery in Dorchester County, Maryland. As a child, Ross was “hired out” by her master as a nursemaid for a small baby Ross had to stay awake all night so that the baby wouldn’t cry and wake the mother. If Ross fell asleep, the baby’s mother whipped her. From a very young age, Ross was determined to gain her freedom.
As a slave, Araminta Ross was scarred for life when she refused to help in the punishment of another young slave. A young man had gone to the store without permission, and when he returned, the overseer wanted to whip him. He asked Ross to help but she refused. When the young man started to run away, the overseer picked up a heavy iron weight and threw it at him. He missed the young man and hit Ross instead. The weight nearly crushed her skull and left a deep scar. She was unconscious for days, and suffered from seizures for the rest of her life.
In 1844, Ross married a free black named Jahe Tubman and took his last name. She also changed her first name, taking her mother’s name, Harriet, in 1849, worried that she and the other slaves on the plantation were going to be sold, Tubman decided to run away. Her husband refused to go with her, so she set out with her two brothers, and followed the North Star in the sky to guide her north to freedom Her brothers became frightened and turned back, but she continued on and reached Philadelphia. There she found work as a household servent and saved her money so she could return to help others escape.
This passage is mainly about which of the following?
A.
Slaves in the Civil War
B.
How slaves escaped along the Underground Railroad
C.
Harriet Tubman’s role as an abolitionist leader
D.
Harriet Tubman’s life as a slave.
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The passage is primarily about B. How slaves escaped along the Underground Railroad.
Here’s an explanation of why this is the correct choice:
The passage focuses on Harriet Tubman’s experiences and actions related to escaping from slavery and her work with the Underground Railroad. It provides details about her early life as a slave, including the harsh conditions she endured and a specific incident where she was injured by an overseer. However, the central theme of the passage is her escape from slavery and her subsequent role in helping others gain freedom.
Tubman’s journey from slavery to freedom is described, highlighting her decision to escape and her efforts to help others do the same. The passage explains how Tubman, initially known as Araminta Ross, changed her name after marrying and eventually escaped from slavery. It also details her use of the North Star as a guide to reach Philadelphia, where she found work and saved money to help others escape.
The Underground Railroad is mentioned as the secret network through which Tubman and other runaways traveled to reach safety. The passage illustrates Tubman’s bravery and commitment to the cause of freedom, emphasizing her role in leading others to escape along this network.
While the passage touches on her later role as an abolitionist leader and her activities during the Civil War, including her work as a spy and a nurse, these aspects are secondary to the primary focus of her escape and her efforts to assist others in achieving freedom. Thus, the passage is best categorized under how slaves escaped along the Underground Railroad.