Harriet Tubman
Definition
Harriet Tubman was an African-American abolitionist and humanitarian during the 19th century. She is best known for her role in helping enslaved people escape through a network of safe houses known as the Underground Railroad.
Analogy
Think of Harriet Tubman like a GPS system guiding cars to their destination. Just as a GPS helps drivers navigate unfamiliar roads, Tubman guided slaves through unknown territories towards freedom.
Related terms
Underground Railroad: A secret network of routes and safe houses used by enslaved African-Americans to escape into free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause.
Abolitionism: The movement to end slavery. This term can be used both historically, in reference to the movement to end slavery in the United States prior to the Civil War, or more broadly, referring to movements against modern-day forms of slavery.
Fugitive Slave Act: Laws passed by the United States Congress in 1793 and 1850 that provided for the return of escaped slaves back into bondage.
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