Glossary
"Moses" (nickname for Tubman)
A nickname given to Harriet Tubman, likening her to the biblical figure who led the Israelites to freedom, symbolizing her role in guiding her people out of bondage.
Example:
Harriet Tubman's tireless efforts and success in leading so many to freedom solidified her legacy as the "Moses" of her people.
Abolitionists
Individuals who actively opposed slavery and worked to end the institution, often providing support and resources to enslaved people seeking freedom.
Example:
Both Black and white abolitionists risked their lives to dismantle the system of slavery, driven by moral conviction and a commitment to human rights.
Black Abolitionists
African Americans, often formerly enslaved themselves, who played crucial roles in the abolitionist movement, including guiding and assisting others to freedom.
Example:
Figures like Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman were prominent Black Abolitionists whose personal experiences fueled their fight against slavery.
Clandestine Network
A secret and hidden system or organization, referring to the covert nature of the Underground Railroad's operations to avoid detection.
Example:
The success of the Underground Railroad depended heavily on its clandestine network, which allowed for discreet movement and communication.
Coded Communication
The use of secret language, symbols, or patterns (like quilt designs or spirituals) to convey messages and plans among enslaved people and abolitionists without detection.
Example:
Enslaved individuals often used coded communication through seemingly innocent songs to share escape routes or warn of danger.
Combahee River Raid
A significant military operation in 1863 led by Harriet Tubman, in collaboration with Union troops, which resulted in the liberation of over 700 enslaved people in South Carolina.
Example:
The Combahee River Raid stands as a testament to Tubman's strategic brilliance, marking her as the first American woman to lead a major military operation.
Covert Communication among slaves
The discreet and often hidden methods used by enslaved people to share information, plans, and intentions, typically through coded songs or subtle signals, to avoid detection by enslavers.
Example:
The need for survival necessitated covert communication among slaves, allowing them to organize resistance and escape efforts under the watchful eyes of their masters.
Fugitive Slave Acts (1793 and 1850)
Federal laws passed by Congress that authorized the legal capture and return of escaped enslaved people, even from free states, making the Underground Railroad's operations more dangerous.
Example:
The Fugitive Slave Acts intensified the risks for both freedom seekers and abolitionists, as aiding an escapee became a federal crime.
Harriet Tubman
An iconic figure of the Underground Railroad, born into slavery, who escaped and then returned to the South multiple times to guide approximately 80 enslaved people to freedom.
Example:
Harriet Tubman earned the nickname 'Moses of her people' for her unwavering courage and leadership in liberating others.
Harriet, the Moses of Her People by Sarah H. Bradford (1886)
An early biography of Harriet Tubman that provides crucial insights into her heroic efforts on the Underground Railroad and her service during the Civil War.
Example:
Harriet, the Moses of Her People by Sarah H. Bradford (1886) offers a detailed narrative of Tubman's life, highlighting her resilience and unwavering commitment to freedom.
North Star
A celestial body used by escaping enslaved people as a navigational guide during night travel, symbolizing hope and direction towards freedom.
Example:
Under the cover of darkness, many freedom seekers relied on the North Star to orient themselves and stay on course toward liberty.
Primary Source
A firsthand account or original document from the period being studied, offering direct insight into historical events and experiences.
Example:
Harriet Tubman's reflections in The Refugee serve as a powerful primary source, allowing students to hear her voice directly from the past.
Safe Houses
Secret locations, often homes or churches, that provided temporary shelter, food, and rest for enslaved people traveling along the Underground Railroad.
Example:
Abolitionists maintained a network of safe houses where freedom seekers could hide and recuperate before continuing their perilous journey.
Slave Catchers
Individuals empowered by the Fugitive Slave Acts to pursue and capture escaped enslaved people, often operating in free states.
Example:
The constant threat of slave catchers meant that even after reaching free states, escaped individuals lived in perpetual fear of recapture.
Spirituals (as coded songs)
Religious songs sung by enslaved African Americans that often contained hidden messages about escape plans, routes, or warnings, serving as a form of covert communication and resistance.
Example:
The seemingly innocent lyrics of spirituals like 'Wade in the Water' often held vital instructions for escaping slaves.
The Refugee by Benjamin Drew (1856)
A primary source document containing firsthand accounts of formerly enslaved people, including Harriet Tubman's reflections on her experiences with slavery and the Underground Railroad.
Example:
Students studying the Underground Railroad often analyze excerpts from The Refugee by Benjamin Drew (1856) to understand the dangers and determination involved in seeking freedom.
Underground Railroad
A secret network of people and places that helped enslaved individuals escape to freedom in the northern United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Example:
The Underground Railroad was not a literal train system but a complex web of safe houses and routes, relying on the bravery of both those escaping and those assisting them.
Underground Railroad Conductor
A person, like Harriet Tubman, who actively guided enslaved people along the secret routes and safe houses of the Underground Railroad to freedom.
Example:
As an Underground Railroad Conductor, Tubman meticulously planned each trip, using her knowledge of the terrain and coded signals to ensure safety.
Union Army Nurse
Harriet Tubman's role during the Civil War, where she tended to wounded soldiers and assisted in the care of newly freed enslaved people in Union camps.
Example:
Beyond her espionage, Tubman also served as a compassionate Union Army Nurse, utilizing her knowledge of herbal remedies to aid the sick and injured.
Union Army Spy
Harriet Tubman's role during the Civil War, where she used her knowledge of the Southern landscape and networks to gather intelligence on Confederate forces for the Union Army.
Example:
Tubman's exceptional skills and bravery allowed her to serve effectively as a Union Army Spy, providing critical information to commanders.
White Abolitionists
White individuals who opposed slavery and contributed to the abolitionist cause, often by providing financial support, shelter, and transportation.
Example:
Quakers were among the White Abolitionists who frequently offered their homes as safe houses along the Underground Railroad.