When we think about African American history, we often forget the people who came before the civil rights movement. The people who paved the way for future leaders. We often think of Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X and Rosa parks. We forget the individuals who had a significant impact that led us to where we are today. Harriet Tubman's contribution to history is that she was the conductor of the Underground Railroad, which helped bring slaves to freedom. Harriet Tubman was an abolitionist and part of the women's suffrage movement. Harriet Tubman was born as Araminta Ross in 1820 or 1821, on a plantation in Dorchester County, Buckton, Maryland, and a slave to Anthony Thompson. She was one of eleven children of Harriet Ross and Benjamin Green. His mother was owned by Mary Pattison Brodess, while his father Benjamin was owned by Anthony Thompson. His father was a lumber inspector, overseeing the lumber on Anthony Thompson's plantation. Being the fifth child, she was given the nickname Minty. Like many families at that time, the family struggled to stay together. The Brodesses sold his sisters Linah, Mariah Ritty and Soph, separating them from their family forever. They were often rented to local whites, and Tubman experienced frequent separations as a result. Her four younger siblings were often left in her care while her mother and older sisters worked on outside plantations. At the age of 5, she began working full-time. His master rented them to other families in the region. She cleaned white people's houses during the day and looked after their children at night. She had to stay up all night with the babies so they wouldn't wake up and disturb them... middle of paper ......994. Print.Chism, Khalil. 2005. “Harriet Tubman: Spy, Veteran and Widow.” OAH History Magazine 19, no. 2:47-51. Academic research completed. Clinton, Catherine. Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom. Boston, MA: Little, Brown, 2004. Print. Obama, Barack. 2013. “Proclamation 8943 – Establishment of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument.” Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents 1-4. Academic research completed, EBSCOhost "The Harriet Tubman Website - New York History Net." New York History Net - A project of the Institute for New York State Studies. Np, and Web."Tubman, Harriet." Social Welfare History Project. Np, and Web.Wyels, Joyce Gregory. 2013. “HARRIET TUBMAN.” US Route 11, no. 3:70. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost