Harriet Tubman: The Moses of Her People
Harriet Tubman was born around 1822 on a farm in Maryland. Her original name was Araminta Ross, but her family called her Minty. Growing up as an enslaved person was very hard. She was forced to work for many different people who were often mean to her. When she was a teenager, a heavy metal weight hit her in the head while she was trying to help another enslaved person. This injury caused her to have seizures and vivid dreams for the rest of her life. She believed these dreams were messages from God that gave her strength.
In 1849, Harriet decided to escape. She was afraid of being sold to a new owner farther south. She changed her name to Harriet and traveled through the woods at night until she reached Philadelphia. This was a city where slavery was illegal. Even though she was safe, she felt sad that her family was still in danger. She decided to go back and help them find freedom too.
- Enslaved:
- Forced to work for no pay and held as property by another person.
- Conductor:
- A person who guided enslaved people along the Underground Railroad.
- Underground Railroad:
- A secret network of people and homes that helped people escape to freedom.
- Raid:
- A sudden and organized attack by a group of people, often soldiers.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Where was Harriet Tubman born?
- 2What was Harriet's name when she was a child?
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About this biography passage for 5th Grade
“Harriet Tubman: The Moses of Her People” is a biography reading passage about Harriet Tubman, written for 5th Grade. It takes about 3 minutes to read (409 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.