Harriet Tubman -- The Definition of Dignity Quiz

Answer: the 19th

Since Harriet was born into the brutal slavery system, accurate birth records were not kept. Sources date her birth from 1819 to 1821 in Dorchester County, Maryland.

Answer: Ross

Actually, Harriet is not Harriet's given name either. She was born Araminta Ross, but later switched to Harriet Ross in honor of her mother, Harriet. The "Rosses" were members of the West African Ashanti tribe before they were drawn into slavery. Harriet Ross became Harriet Tubman when she had a brief arranged marriage to John Tubman in 1844. By 1849, Harriet had reached a point in her life where she was able to escape to the North. John was not willing to risk his life and remained in Maryland. The two never associated again, but Harriet kept the name Tubman.

Answer: lead

At age 13, she was working in a general store when the owner of the store found a stowaway hiding amongst the goods. He told Harriet to block the doorway so the slave could not escape. Harriet moved aside when the slave got to the door, allowing him to flee to freedom.

The owner then flung a heavy lead weight at the escaping slave, but it actually struck Harriet in the head. For the rest of her life, Harriet was marked with a scar and suffered from narcolepsy as reminders of the price of freedom.

Answer: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

When looking back on her crossing of the Mason-Dixon line into Pennsylvania, Harriet contentedly stated, "I had crossed the line of which I had so long been dreaming." Her first job in Philadelphia was a cook, but she soon became affiliated with anti-slavery committees and began work as a conductor on the famous Underground Railroad.

Answer: traveled from the north to the south to secretly carry slaves back to freedom in the north

The Underground Railroad was actually a secret system of former slaves and anti-slavery whites who took in slaves and cared for them while they were escaping to the north.

Answer: 19

All of Harriet's trips to the south were made either by foot or in wagons pulled by horses. When she freed slaves, she often carried a rifle and said, 'Go on with us or die.' if slaves were wanting to give up. (It also had a double meaning because if they were caught escaping, they'd be put to death.)

Answer: 300+

Although 300 slaves made it to the North with Harriet, many died on the trip due to the harsh conditions and the slave catchers.

Answer: Auburn, NY

Harriet Tubman opened the home in 1908. At a massive 2 1/2 storeys, it was an impressive haven for the elderly and poor. Harriet also oversaw the building of several schools in the south for sufferers of the Civil War.

Answer: 1913

Ironically enough, Harriet lost her life in the nursing home she built solely for the sake of helping others. She checked into the home when she was stricken with pneumonia, which eventually caused her death in her early 90s.

Answer: the Moses of her People

Harriet was known as "General Tubman" for her work as a spy for the Union in the Civil War. "The Moses of her people" was comparing her to Moses for leading her people to freedom. She was also nicknamed 'Minty' until she was about 13. I hope you were able to learn and appreciate the legacy of Harriet Tubman during this quiz. She will forever live on in our nation's soul!