HARRIET TUBMAN: GUIDE

TO FREEDOMBy Ann Petry

VOCABULARY

VOCABULARY fugitives: people fleeing from the law

There was a warning on the

news about a fugitive on the

loose in our city.

VOCABULARY incentive: something that stimulates one to action; encouragement

As an incentive to improvegrades, the teacher gave thestudents candy when they turned

in their work on time.

VOCABULARY disheveled: untidy; messy

After seeing his disheveledbackpack, the teacherunderstood why the student

could not find his homework.

VOCABULARY guttural: made in back of the throat

Last week when Ms. Adame was

sick, her voice was very guttural.

VOCABULARY mutinous: rebelious

The students became mutinous

after they were told summer

vacation was canceled.

VOCABULARY cajoling: coaxing or persuading gently

The lady cajoled the cat out of

the tree by offering it food.

VOCABULARY indomitable: not easily discouraged

Although she failed the test, the

student remained indomitable.

VOCABULARY fastidious: refined in an oversensitive way, so as to be easily disgusted or displeased

To survive in the wilderness, one

cannot be fastidious.

BACKGROUND

INFORMATION

LISTENING ACTIVITY Listen to the following song.

As you listen, take notes on what/who you think the song is about

Be prepared to share your ideas with the class

THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

Was not underground and railroads were not used

help escaped slaves make their way from the slave-owning southern states up through the northern states and eventually into Canada.

Once a slave escaped and managed to make contact with sympathizers, he or she became a part of the underground railroad

THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

The act of transporting the escaped slaves incorporated all the terms used during a railroad journey: The routes from safe-house to safe-house

(houses where fugitive slaves were kept) were called 'lines'.

Stopping places were called 'stations'. Those who aided fugitive slaves were known as

'conductors'. the fugitive slaves were known as 'packages'

or 'freight.'

At the 'stations,' the slaves were given food, rest, and a change of clothing.

THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

HARRIET TUBMAN Known as “Moses” A former slave who ran away from a plantation in 1849 but returned to rescue others.

Escorted African American slaves on the Underground Railroad to Canada

She never lost a passenger

AFRICAN AMERICAN SPIRITUALS Religious songs created by African American slaves before the Civil War.

Many songs are said to contain hidden messages about the best way to escape from slaveryHarriet Tubman used Go Down, Moses to

notify slaves that she had returned to help free them

“GO DOWN, MOSES” is an American Negro Spiritual . It describes events in the Old

Testament of the Biblespecifically Exodus 7:26: "And the Lord spoke unto Moses, go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me," in which God commands Moses to demand the release of the Israelites from bondage in Egypt.

In the song, "Israel" represents the African-American slaves while "Egypt" and "Pharaoh" represent the slave master.

ABOUT THE SELECTION In this excerpt from a longer

biography, you will follow Harriet Tubman from the autumn of 1851 through the spring of 1852 as she leads eleven frightened, weary slaves on the dangerous journey from Maryland to freedom in Canada on the Underground Railroad. Tubman defies the Fugitive Slave Laws to “conduct” her group because she believes that those laws are immoral, and she does all she can to help slaves escape safely.

READING WITH A PURPOSE

Questions Harriet Tubman

Who was Harriet Tubman?

What did she do?

When did she live?

Where did she work and live?

Why is she important?

How did she help slaves escape?

•As you read the story, gather as much information about Harriet Tubman as possible. As you read, fill in the chart with the information you learn from the narrator.

•19850’s???

•???

•Freed slaves

•Guided the slaves to stations

•An escaped slave

•`