Download Harriet Tubman and the Civil War

Name:
Class:
Date:
Unit 3 Week 4: Homework
Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the
question.
Harriet Tubman and the Civil War
Most people are familiar with Harriet Tubman, the best-known conductor of the
Underground Railroad. Born a slave before the Civil War, she worked tirelessly,
leading escaped slaves along dark rivers to the homes of abolitionists, bringing
countless people to freedom. Far fewer people, however, are aware of Tubman's
unique role during the Civil War.
Helping the Newly Free
When the war began, Tubman followed the Union Army into Maryland, where she
had been born. Many slaves were fleeing from the homes, farms, and plantations
where they were held. As they reached Union troops, Tubman was there to help.
The newly-free slaves were destitute. After escaping and spending weeks hiding,
they often had no food and barely any clothing. Tubman worked to feed and house
them. She also treated them for diseases.
To support her work, Tubman started a laundry. She and women she helped free
from slavery washed and mended clothes for Union soldiers, and they used the money
to help former slaves. "I am trying to find places for those able to work and provide
for them as best I can," Tubman said. "At the same time they learn to respect
themselves by earning their own living."
Serving the Union
Tubman also served as a nurse. She was present at the battle of Fort Wagner, in
North Carolina, where a troop of African American soldiers fought for the first time.
Many of them lost their lives. Tubman cooked, tended to their wounds, and helped
bury the men who died.
Sometimes, Tubman was asked to leave her nursing duties and cross into
Confederate territory. Being from Maryland, Tubman knew the landscape well, and her
experiences on the Underground Railroad had prepared her to be a scout and a spy.
Once on enemy land, she would gather helpful information from slaves. The
Confederate Army thought she was a slave herself, and simply ignored her. That
assumption made it easy for her to get the information she needed. Her special skills
were a great help to the Union.
Powered by Cognero
Page 1
Name:
Class:
Date:
Unit 3 Week 4: Homework
In 1863, the Union Army asked Tubman to lead a raid on the Combahee River in
South Carolina. She commanded 300 African American soldiers as their gunboat
charged up the river. Slaves working on plantations recognized the boat. They ran for
their freedom, carrying whatever they could grab. Once onboard, they were greeted by
their heroine, Harriet Tubman. The newly-free slaves admired her, and so did Union
leaders.
The Commonwealth, a Boston newspaper, published an article about the
Combahee River raid on its first page. It began: "Col. Montgomery and his gallant
band of 300 black soldiers, under the guidance of a black woman, dashed into the
enemy's country… (and) brought off near 800 slaves and thousands of dollars worth
of property." "General Tubman," as she came to be called, was asked to lead many
other raids.
After the War
The Civil War ended in 1865. African Americans were free, but they continued to
struggle for their rights. Tubman lived in Auburn, New York, and many African
Americans found their way to her doorstep. They needed help. Tubman took care of
the sick and the aged. She earned money selling vegetables from her garden to support
her work. She raised enough money to support two schools for newly-free African
Americans in the South. Tubman also supported the suffrage movement. She was
active in the campaign to win the right to vote for women.
When Tubman died in 1913, she was well-known and well-respected. She was
buried with full military honors. In 1978, the U.S. Postal Service issued a Harriet
Tubman commemorative stamp. It was the first stamp in the "Black Heritage USA"
series.
Powered by Cognero
Page 2
Name:
Class:
Date:
Unit 3 Week 4: Homework
1. Read this sentence from the article.
Born a slave before the Civil War, she worked tirelessly, leading escaped
slaves along dark rivers to the homes of abolitionists, bringing countless people
to freedom.
From the sentence context and what you know about word order and
grammar, you can tell that abolitionists is
a. a verb meaning "to oppose slavery."
b. a noun meaning "opponents of slavery."
c. an adverb meaning "by opposing slavery."
d. an adjective meaning "opposed to slavery."
2. How does the author organize paragraphs 7 and 8 of the article?
f. by describing the results of the raid on the Combahee River
g. by comparing the raid on the Combahee River with other raids
h. by telling the events of the raid on the Combahee River in sequence
i. by explaining how the raid on the Combahee River solved a problem
3. Read this excerpt from the article.
The newly-free slaves were destitute. After escaping and spending weeks
hiding, they often had no food and barely any clothing.
What does destitute mean in the excerpt above?
a. full of hope
b. without fear
c. in great danger
d. lacking necessities
Powered by Cognero
Page 3
Name:
Class:
Date:
Unit 3 Week 4: Homework
4. Read this excerpt from the article.
The Confederate Army thought she was a slave herself, and simply ignored her.
That assumption made it easy for her to get the information she needed.
What does assumption mean in the excerpt above?
f. decision to take action
g. mistake made carelessly
h. belief that something is true
i. argument supported by facts
5. Read this excerpt from the article.
Once onboard, they were greeted by their heroine, Harriet Tubman. The
newly-free slaves admired her, and so did Union leaders.
Which word in the excerpt helps the reader understand what heroine means?
a. admired
b. greeted
c. leaders
d. newly-freed
6. In paragraph 6, how does the author help readers understand Tubman's skill
as a scout and spy?
f. by comparing her with other Union scouts and spies
g. by telling what caused Confederate soldiers to ignore her
h. by explaining the problem she solved for the Union Army
i. by telling what she did in Confederate territory in sequence
7. What happened after the Civil War ended?
a. Tubman raised money to support two schools for African Americans.
b. The Union Army organized the first African American soldiers.
c. Tubman became a scout and a spy for the Union Army.
d. The Confederate Army thought Tubman was a slave.
Powered by Cognero
Page 4
Name:
Class:
Date:
Unit 3 Week 4: Homework
8. Tubman started a laundry for Union soldiers because she
f. led many raids in enemy territory.
g. needed money to support her work.
h. bought a house in Auburn, New York.
i. supported schools for African Americans.
9. Read this excerpt from the article.
Tubman also supported the suffrage movement. She was active in the campaign
to win the right to vote for women.
What does suffrage mean in the excerpt above?
a. civil rights
b. anti-slavery
c. right to vote
d. rights for women
10. According to the article, what was one effect of Tubman's experiences on the
Underground Railroad?
f. She was well-respected by Union leaders.
g. She was a supporter of women's right to vote.
h. She was well prepared to help the Union Army.
i. She was an expert on using plants as medicine.
Powered by Cognero
Page 5
Name:
Class:
Date:
Unit 3 Week 4: Homework
Answer Key
1. b
2. f
3. d
4. h
5. a
6. g
7. a
8. g
9. c
10. h
Powered by Cognero
Page 6