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Born
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Escaped Slavery
Fleed to Philadelphia initially with two of her brothers, but her brothers had second thoughts and returned to the plantation. So, Harriet set out to Pennsylvania alone. -
Official Conductor
Harriet was made an official "conductor" of the Undergound Railroad. She knew all the routes to free territory and she had to take an oath so the secret of the Underground Railroad would be kept secret. -
Fugitive Slave Law is Passed
When the Fugitive Slave Act is passed this changes the lives of escaped slaves and people helping the Underground Railroad. The Fugitive Slave Act states that Northerners have to catch escaped slaves and return them to slavery. -
Re-routes Underground Railroad
After the fugitive slave Act is passed, Harriet Tubman re-routes the Underground Railroad to Canada, where slavery is prohibited. -
Leads Her First Group to Freedom
Harriet returns to lead her niece and her niece's family through the Underground Railroad and to freedom. This is her first of many trips leading slaves to freedom. She would continue on to lead over 300 slaves to freedom. -
Leads Larger Groups
Harriet Tubman leads a group of 11 fugitives to freedom. -
South Searching for Tubman
By 1856, Tubman's capture would have brought a $40,000 reward from the South. -
Civil War Begins
Harriet Tubman works for the Union Army as a cook and a nurse. Tubman becomes an armed scout and a spy. Her experience leading slaves along the Underground Railroad was very helpful because she knew the land well. She recruited a group of former slaves to hunt for rebel camps and report on the movement of the Confederate troops. -
Combahee River Raid
Harriet Tubman was the first woman to lead an armed expedition in the war, she guided the Combahee River Raid, which liberated more than 700 slaves in South Carolina. She led about about 150 black soldiers on a gunboat raid in South Carolina. Because she had inside information from her scouts, the Union gunboats were able to surprise the Confederate rebels. -
Biography Released
Sarah H. Bradford writes a biography entitled, Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman. All the proceeds go to Harriet and her family. -
Opens a Home for the Aged
Tubman uses all her money to open Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged. -
Died
Tubman was buried with military honors at Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn. The city commemorated her life with a plaque on the courthouse. -
Museum Opened
Harriet Tubman Museum is opened in Cambridge.
