How Did Harriet Contribute To Freedom

Harriet set out for the free state of Philadelphia alone and by foot, later making use of the underground railroad, traveling almost 90 miles to reach freedom. “When I found I had crossed that line, I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person. There was such a glory over everything; the sun came like gold through the trees, and over the fields, and I felt like I was in Heaven” (Bradford). Rather than stay in the safety of the north, Harriet returned to the south, first for her niece and her children, then for her brother and a few other men. On her third trip, she attempted to bring her husband, but he had already taken a new wife, so she instead helped others who were seeking freedom. Harriet continued to return to the south, devising creative and unorthodox ways to
Some of these included leaving on Saturday nights (because local newspapers can not publish runaways until Monday) turning and heading south if slave hunters were near, and carrying a drug to put baby's asleep. She even brought a gun to threaten fugitives who wanted to turn back saying “you'll be free or die”(pbs.org). She made the trip at least 19 times by 1860, earning her the nickname Moses among those she helped. Then in 1850, when the Fugitive Slave law passed, Harriet rerouted the underground railroad to go through Canada, where slavery was prohibited. Due to all of her success, capturing her dead or alive would get you a $40,000 reward (nwhm.org). Impressively enough, Harriet had many associates and knew many abolitionists in her time. She took part in various anti slavery meetings, allowing for her connections to grow. John Brown once conferred with Harriet about his plans for Harper's Ferry, referring to her as “General Tubman,” and Frederick Douglass