Harriet was instrumental in the abolition of slavery in the 1800s. When Harriet Tubman was younger, she went through some difficult times with her family. She always faced violence, but it made her a stronger person. Escaping from her plantation, Harriet traveled to Philadelphia and found work there raising funds to free slaves. She was the conductor of the Underground Railroad and led hundreds of slaves to freedom. Harriet was put in danger by leading slaves through the Underground Railroad. Even after escaping, she came back to get her family and friends to get them out. One thing Harriet was also known for was public speaking. She was a very dynamic speaker and traveled across the country speaking in support of women's right to vote. Harriet Tubman is an extraordinary woman who risked her own life to save others. Harriet Tubman was born in Maryland in 1820. She was born under the name Araminta Ross, but later changed her name when she married John Tubman in 1844. Being one of nine children in her family , she didn't receive much attention when she was a child. Harriet also suffered a lot of physical abuse as a child. At the age of 12, she received a 2-pound iron weight to the head. This caused him to have periodic seizures throughout his life. In 1849, Harriet was going to be sold off the plantation, but she escaped before anyone saw her. She walked for miles alone in the dark and finally arrived in Philadelphia. In Philadelphia, Harriet worked and saved her money to help free slaves. In 1850, she returned to Maryland and led her sister and her sisters' two children to freedom and soon after returned for her brother and two other men. When she came back to get her... middle of paper ......About.com. November 15, 2013 “Harriet Tubman.” 2013. About FamousPeople.com. November 13, 2013 “Harriet Tubman.” 2013. History.com. November 13, 2013 “Harriet Tubman Biography. » 2013. The Biography Channel website. November 12, 2013 “Harriet Tubman’s Big Raid.” June 7, 2013. Nytimes.com. November 20, 2013raid/?_r=0>“The Life of Harriet Tubman”. February 20, 2008. MyHistory.com. November 13, 2013 “Tubman: conductor of the Underground Railroad”. April 24, 2000. Americaslibrary.com. November 13 2013