As cotton's reputation as a viable source of wealth grew, slave traders began to buy enslaved people in Maryland's eastern shore to take down to the Deep South. Harriet Tubman witnessed her older sisters being dragged away in chains, a memory that she would carry for the rest of her life.

Explore this documentary film clip and engage students in historical thinking using the Library of Congress Primary Source Analysis Tool. In this inquiry-based resource for Harriet Tubman: Visions of Freedom, students view a video clip describing the economic and political importance of cotton production and the grueling impact it had on enslaved African Americans, close-read a 19th century song sheet, analyze primary sources from the era, and consider discussion prompts for more dialogue and deeper reflection.