Skip to Main Content

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
BRI’s Comprehensive US History digital textbook
Documents of Freedom
BRI’s primary-source civics and government resource
Heroes & Villains
BRI’s character education narrative-based resource
BRI Curricula
Being an American
Plainest Demands of Justice
Presidents and the Constitution
Supreme Court DBQs
Votes for Women
Full Library...
Curriculum Components
Current Events
Essays
Lessons
Primary Sources
Videos
Educator Opportunities
Educator eLearning
Programs & Events
Teacher Council
Student Opportunities
My Impact Challenge
Student Fellowship
Think the Vote
BRI News
Official BRI Blog
Invest In Our Future
The most effective way to secure a freer America with more opportunity for all is through engaging, educating, and empowering our youth. And the most effective way to achieve that is through investing in the Bill of Rights Institute. We support teachers and students by providing valuable resources, tools, and experiences that promote civic engagement. You can be a part of this exciting work by making a donation to the Bill of Rights Institute today!
Support now
Make your investment into the leaders of tomorrow through the Bill of Rights Institute today!
Make a Donation
Ways to partner with BRI
Learn more about the different ways you can partner with the Bill of Rights Institute.
Learn More

How Did Landscape Affect Harriet Tubman? The Outdoors, Slavery, & the Underground Railroad

Description

Harriet Tubman, the most famous conductor of the Underground Railroad, grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland before escaping to freedom in 1849. She returned to the Eastern Shore 13 times to free family and friends from bondage. How can looking at the landscape of the Eastern Shore help us understand Tubman's amazing story and the Underground Railroad itself? Mary is joined by Timothy VanCleave, Park Ranger at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historic Park in Maryland, to explore.

Related Resources

BRIdge from the Past: Art Across U.S. History Video Playlist

BRIdge from the Past: Art Across U.S. History is a new YouTube series for students that explores an important historic image every episode to gain insights into the culture, politics, and society of a particular time in U.S. history. Host Mary Patterson will explain how each primary source is its own “window to the past,” revealing new areas for contemplation and discussion.

Harriet Tubman: Follow the North Star to Freedom

1 Activities45 Min

In this lesson, students will learn how Harriet Tubman acted responsibly by helping many people escape slavery. They will also determine ways that they can help others by being responsible.

The Crooked Path to Abolition with James Oakes | BRI Scholar Talks

How were the Civil War and the question of slavery related to differing interpretations of a pro-slavery or anti-slavery Constitution? In this video, two-time Lincoln Prize winner, James Oakes, and BRI Senior Teaching Fellow Tony Williams discuss his new book, “The Crooked Path to Abolition: Abraham Lincoln and the Antislavery Constitution.” Oakes explores what role the Constitution played in abolishing slavery and how the Civil War accelerated this process. Why did Lincoln view the Constitution as an anti-slavery document? In what ways were Lincoln’s opinions different from his contemporaries? In what ways were they similar?

“Ar’nt I a Woman?” Sojourner Truth and the Abolitionist Movement | BRIdge from the Past

How can images help us understand the role of African American women in the abolitionist movement? In this episode, Mary explores an image of Sojourner Truth. Born into slavery in New York, she dedicated her life to abolition and equal rights for women and men. How did her famous "Ar'nt I a Woman?" speech convey her life-long commitment to the ideals of liberty and equality? *The source we reviewed used the phrase "Ar'nt I a Woman?" but Sojourner Truth's speech is often also titled "Ain't I a Woman?"