Summary: Harriet is based on the true story of Harriet Tubman, a former enslaved woman who escapes to freedom and becomes a conductor on the Underground Railroad, helping many others escape slavery.
Foundational Historical Facts:
- Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Maryland around 1822, and after escaping in 1849, she made multiple dangerous trips back to the South to rescue others through the Underground Railroad.
- Tubman’s work on the Underground Railroad is estimated to have helped around 300 enslaved people escape to freedom.
- Tubman also served as a spy and nurse during the Civil War, using her knowledge of covert operations and the southern landscape to help the Union Army.