Final answer:
Harriet Tubman encouraged fugitives on the Underground Railroad by using visual and audible cues for navigation and disguising as a slave to lead them safely to the North. She assisted over three hundred individuals despite the risks involved, exemplifying her legendary status as an abolitionist.
Step-by-step explanation:
Harriet Tubman's Encouragement to Fugitives
Harriet Tubman, referred to as the "Moses" of her people, played a monumental role in helping over three hundred enslaved individuals escape through the Underground Railroad. Despite the dangers posed by the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, Tubman made thirteen daring expeditions back into the South to guide fugitives northward. To ensure the safety and morale of the freedom-seekers she aided, visual and audible clues were used to provide direction, such as patterns in quilts, song lyrics, and star positions. Additionally, Tubman and other conductors would travel discretely, often taking on the guise of slaves to enter plantations and lead individuals to the North. These escapes were mainly conducted at night, moving 10 to 20 miles between stations where fugitives could rest and receive sustenance. The bravery and resourcefulness of Tubman and other abolitionists, who supported personal liberty laws and formed vigilance committees, made it possible for many enslaved people to embark on the perilous journey towards freedom.