By Ann Petry
fugitives:
people fleeing from
the law
There was a warning on the
news about a fugitive on the
loose in our city.
incentive:
something that
stimulates one to action;
encouragement
As an incentive to improve
grades, the teacher gave the
students candy when they turned
in their work on time.
disheveled:
untidy; messy
After seeing his disheveled
backpack, the teacher
understood why the student
could not find his homework.
guttural:
made in back of the
throat
Last week when Ms. Adame was
sick, her voice was very guttural.
mutinous:
rebelious
The students became mutinous
after they were told summer
vacation was canceled.
cajoling:
coaxing or persuading
gently
The lady cajoled the cat out of
the tree by offering it food.
indomitable:
not easily
discouraged
Although she failed the test, the
student remained indomitable.
fastidious:
refined in an
oversensitive way, so as to be
easily disgusted or displeased
To survive in the wilderness, one
cannot be fastidious.
Listen
to the following song.
As you listen, take notes on
what/who you think the song is
about
Be prepared to share your
ideas with the class
 Was
not underground and railroads
were not used
 help escaped slaves make their way
from the slave-owning southern states
up through the northern states and
eventually into Canada.
 Once a slave escaped and managed to
make contact with sympathizers, he or
she became a part of the underground
railroad
 The
act of transporting the escaped
slaves incorporated all the terms used
during a railroad journey:
The routes from safe-house to safe-house (houses
where fugitive slaves were kept) were called 'lines'.
 Stopping places were called 'stations'.
 Those who aided fugitive slaves were known as
'conductors'.
 the fugitive slaves were known as 'packages' or
'freight.'

 At
the 'stations,' the slaves were given
food, rest, and a change of clothing.
Known
as “Moses”
A former slave who ran away
from a plantation in 1849 but
returned to rescue others.
Escorted African American
slaves on the Underground
Railroad to Canada
She never lost a passenger
Religious
songs created by
African American slaves before
the Civil War.
Many songs are said to contain
hidden messages about the
best way to escape from
slavery

Harriet Tubman used Go Down, Moses to notify
slaves that she had returned to help free them
 is
an American Negro Spiritual .
 It describes events in the Old Testament of
the Bible
 specifically Exodus 7:26: "And the Lord
spoke unto Moses, go unto Pharaoh, and
say unto him, thus saith the Lord, Let my
people go, that they may serve me," in
which God commands Moses to demand
the release of the Israelites from bondage
in Egypt.
 In the song, "Israel" represents the AfricanAmerican slaves while "Egypt" and "Pharaoh"
represent the slave master.
 In
this excerpt from a longer biography,
you will follow Harriet Tubman from the
autumn of 1851 through the spring of 1852
as she leads eleven frightened, weary
slaves on the dangerous journey from
Maryland to freedom in Canada on the
Underground Railroad. Tubman defies the
Fugitive Slave Laws to “conduct” her group
because she believes that those laws are
immoral, and she does all she can to help
slaves escape safely.
•As you read the story, gather as much information about Harriet
Tubman as possible. As you read, fill in the chart with the
information you learn from the narrator.
Questions
Harriet Tubman
Who was Harriet
Tubman?
•An escaped slave
What did she do?
•`
When did she live?
•19850’s???
Where did she work and •???
live?
Why is she important?
How did she help slaves
escape?
•Freed slaves
•Guided the slaves to stations