Harriet Tubman was born into slavery as Harriet Ross, around 1819 in Maryland. For her work as an Underground Railroad conductor, during which she freed many slaves, she is affectionately known as the "Moses of Her People." She was thus a type of savior who slaves hoped would rise to set them free (Library of Congress). Her extraordinary spirit and courage served as an inspiration not only for the slaves at the time, but also for many who would learn of her life many years afterwards. As a slave, Harriet Tubman's life was one of regular abuse and unremitting hardship. At the age of 13 for example, her attempt to save a fellow slave from punishment was rewarded with a blow to the head with a two-pound iron weight (Civil War Biographies). This resulted in periodic blackouts for the rest of her life, although Harriet did not let this deter her from what she saw as her life's purpose.

After marrying the free African-American, John Tubman, at the age of 25, Harriet escaped from slavery and fled under very dangerous circumstances to attain freedom in Philadelphia. Here she worked as a maid to support herself, and joined the Philadelphia Anti-Slavery Society. Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850, determining that it was illegal to help a runaway slave. This was a further turning point in Tubman's life. She met William Still, who was the Underground Railroad Stationmaster in Philadelphia (The Encyclopedia of New York State). It was with the help of Still,...

When she learned enough, Tubman became an Underground Railroad conductor, and set about helping others in slavery.
She took her first journey as conductor in 1851, through the backwoods to Baltimore, and back to the North with members of her family. The position of conductor thus empowered Harriet to return to the States where slavery was prominent. Until the civil war, Harriet returned for 18 more trips, during which she is said to have freed 300 slaves and transported them to freedom on her train. She did this despite extreme danger to herself, as high rewards were offered for her capture, along with detailed descriptions of what she looked like. Yet, despite the fact that the reward for her capture at one time was $40,000, she never was caught and died a free woman (The Encyclopedia of New York State).

This is evidence of a shrewd and practical spirit as described by William Still in The Underground Railroad, published in 1871, which included several descriptions of Tubman and the work she did to free other slaves. The way in which she conducted the slave-filled trains show both her tenacity and her understanding of what is required to be free. If the journey for example were interrupted by any slaves wanting to change their minds and return, Tubman would pull out a gun with the words, "You'll be free or…