Harriet Tubman escorting slaves through the Underground Railroad

This painting was painted in 1850. This is a depiction of Harriet Tubman escorting escaped slaves into Canada. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 was made harsher in 1850 making it extremely difficult for slaves to escape to the Northern states. Slaves were in fear they would be returned to their masters by Northerners due to reward money. Slaves best option was to run away to Canada to be free at last, and not live in fear of being returned to their masters. The Underground Railroad was seen as a way out of slavery. It is estimated over 100,000 slaves escaped slavery through the Underground Railroad. I find this image to be especially intriguing because Harriet Tubman (a former slave herself) shows how involved she was hands on of helping escaped slaves through the Underground Railroad. She put her own life on the line for fellow slaves. It shows how she truly was willful and determined for all slaves to be free. She helped thousands escape the horros or slavery through the implementation of the Underground Railroad.

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