Choose one of the following options.

Read the suggested article and answer the

questions.

− OPTION 1. A letter from Frederick Douglass

− OPTION 2. A letter from Thomas Garrett

− OPTION 3. Harriet Tubman and the civil war.

OPTION 1. A letter from Frederick Douglass

Discuss the following questions after reading this letter from Frederick Douglass to Harriet
Tubman.

● What does Douglass say is the difference between himself and Tubman?
In this letter that Douglass writes to Harriet Tubman, he states that there are many
differences between them. Douglass states that most of what he has made and
suffered to prohibit slavery has been done publicly, while Harriet has worked for this
same cause in a private way. Douglass also talks about how he has worked during the
day while Harriet has worked at night, where no one can recognize her or see her.
Finally Douglass says that he has had the satisfaction of receiving applause and
congratulations from the public opinion thanks to the work he had done, while Harriet
Tubman does not receive this, she works in the shadows, helping to free the slaves.
This can be evidenced when Douglass says, "Most that I have done and suffered in
the service of our cause has been in public, and I did receive much encouragement at
every step of the way. You, on the other hand, have labored in a private way ".

● What does Douglass's letter reveal about what he thinks about Tubman’s deed?

According to the letter, it can be stated that Douglass has a lot of admiration for Harriet, as he
greatly admires the devotion that Harriet has towards freedom and the heroism she shows in
all the actions she did. Also, Douglass claims that he had never met anyone who was willingly
willing to face all the dangers and difficulties that he had to face just to help and free the
enslaved black people. Finally, Douglass mentions that it is a pleasure for him, and that he
feels privileged to be able to give testimony of all the works that this brave and determined
woman carried out throughout her life. This previously mentioned can be evidenced when in
the letter, Douglass says, "The midnight sky and the silent stars have been the witnesses of
your devotion to freedom and your heroism. [...] I know of no one who has willingly
encountered more perils and hardships to serve our enslaved people than you have ".
 ● Why does Douglass want to recognize Tubman?

Douglas wants to recognize Harriet Tubman since at that time she helped free many
slaves who were oppressed and tortured. When she started to help escape and free
the slaves, she knew that she would have to face many obstacles and dangers, but
she never doubted about what she wanted to do and the help she wanted to give to
slaves; she fought and managed to pass all the obstacles she had. Also, Harriet never
stopped fighting and was a memorable, determined and courageous woman. At that
time she never received recognition for the cause in which she worked and fought, and
I think Douglass wanted to give her that satisfaction of being recognized so that she
knows that she is very important and that in the future she will be a national idol. We
can evidence that Harriet did not obtain any recognition at that time, when Douglass
says, "I have had the applause of the crowd and the satisfaction that comes of being
approved by the multitude, while the most that you have done has been witnessed by
a few trembling, scarred, foot-sore bonded and women, whom you have led out of the
house of bondage, and whose heartfelt, "God bless you", has been your only reward.”

OPTION 2. A LETTER FROM THOMAS GARRETT

Discuss the following questions after reading this letter from Thomas Garrett to Harriet
Tubman.

● What does Garrett say about Tubman’s character?

Garret says that “She has frequently told me that she talked with God, and he talked
with her every day of her life” which means, that Harriet Tumban believed and trust in
God, and trusted him too much and his faith was very great, also he says that when
she was helping other slaves she talked to him and he told her what to do or the best
thing to do in what she was doing.

● What information does Garrett provide about helping freedom-seekers

escape from bondage?
Garret helped them by giving some sources to survive the journey, sources like money.So
he says: “Some twelve months after, she called on me again, and said that God told her I had
some money for her, but not so much as before” and thanks to Garret Harriet could send his
parents to Canada. Also he says” Thy favor of the 12th reached me yesterday, requesting
such reminiscences as I could give respecting the remarkable labors of Harriet Tubman, in
aiding her colored friends from bondage.”these means that he also helped Harriet with the
reminiscences for the slaves that Harriet was helping.

● How does Garrett feel about Tubman? Find evidence and also infer from
his ton
 Garret had a lot of admiration for Harriet, as she risked her entire life to free enslaved
black people. She also stopped being afraid of the fact that she could be captured
and that if she was captured she would be tortured almost to death, but Harriet
knew that this was her mission in the world and that in her thoughts God had sent
her to help his black people. . This can be evidenced when the writer of this letter
says; she "felt no more fear of being detained by her former master, or anyone
else, when she was in her immediate neighborhood."

OPTION 3. HARRIET TUBMAN AND THE CIVIL WAR.

Discuss the following questions after reading about Harriet Tubman’s involvement in the Civil
War .

● What roles did Tubman play in the Civil War?

During the Civil War, In 1861 Tubman was recruited as a volunteer as part of the
Massachusetts troop led by General Benjamin Butler, she served as a scout and a nurse,
though she received little pay or recognition. She was the only African American among the
all white troop. Tubman was knowledgeable in local roots to treat diseases; her healing powers
became legendary among soldiers. Harriet Tubman was also a secret spy and military leader.
In 1863, she led soldiers with Colonel James Montgomery to raid rice plantations along the
Combahee River in South Carolina.

● How did her experience as an Underground Railroad conductor help her?

Underground Railroad conductors were free individuals who helped fugitive slaves traveling
along the Underground Railroad. Conductors helped runaway slaves by providing them with
safe passage to and from stations. They did this under the cover of darkness with slave
catchers hot on their heels. In addition, Harriet Tubman helped leading more than 300
enslaved people to freedom, she helped ensure the final defeat of slavery in the United States
by aiding the Union during the American Civil War.

● What did she seek after the completion of her service?

After Harriet Tubman escaped from slavery, she returned to slave-holding states many times
to help other slaves escape. She led them safely to the northern free states and to Canada. It
was very dangerous to be a runaway slave. There were rewards for their capture, and ads.
On the night of June 2, 1863 Tubman guided a troop of 150 black soldiers of the Second South
Carolina battalion on the Combahee River. The plan was to liberate as many slaves by
catching slaveholders by surprise. The attack became known as the Combahee River Raid
and liberated more than 750 slaves.There were also former slaves who had escaped using
the Underground Railroad and voluntarily returned to the lands of slavery, as conductors, to
help free those still enslaved. Harriet Tubman, perhaps the most well-known conductor of the
Underground Railroad, helped hundreds of runaway slaves escape to freedom.