Question

analyzing argument in \letter from frederick douglass to harriet tubman\: tutorial
part a
use the table below to plan your response to the following prompt:
in paragraph 3 of his letter, douglass states that \excepting john brown—of sacred memory—i know of no one who has willingly encountered more perils and hardships to serve our enslaved people.\
using the contextual information from adler’s text, explain what claim douglass makes here and how he justifies this claim.
you may find it helpful to review your annotations, including those from harriet tubman and the underground railroad
claim
(what is douglasss claim? what is the main point of his letter?)
original
(how does douglass justify his claim? is it effective?)
text evidence
(concrete details from the texts that support your claim)

Explanation:

1. Claim: Douglass asserts that, with the sole exception of John Brown, Harriet Tubman has faced more dangers and difficulties than anyone else to aid enslaved people, positioning her as one of the most courageous and dedicated abolitionists.
2. Original (Justification): He justifies this by drawing on Tubman's well-documented, repeated missions on the Underground Railroad—where she risked capture, violence, and re-enslavement to free dozens of enslaved people. This is effective because it references her tangible, high-stakes actions that were widely known in abolitionist circles.
3. Text Evidence: From Adler's text (and Tubman's documented history), evidence includes: her 19+ trips into slave states to free around 70 enslaved people; her work as a scout and spy for the Union Army during the Civil War, facing constant risk to her life; and her refusal to stop her efforts even when offered safety in the North.

Answer:

• Claim: Frederick Douglass claims that, aside from John Brown, Harriet Tubman is the individual who has voluntarily endured more risks and hardships than any other to support enslaved people in the U.S.
• Original (Justification): He justifies this by highlighting Tubman's unparalleled, repeated acts of bravery in rescuing enslaved people via the Underground Railroad, where she faced constant threat of capture and death. This is highly effective as it relies on her well-documented, tangible life-saving actions.
• Text Evidence:

1. Tubman made at least 19 secret trips into slave states to free approximately 70 enslaved people.
2. She served as a scout and spy for the Union Army, undertaking dangerous missions in Confederate territory.
3. She continued her abolitionist work even when offered safe refuge in the Northern U.S. and Canada.