Read this excerpt from the preface of Harriet: The Moses of Her People by Sarah H. Bradford. How does the information in this excerpt help the reader understand the book better?

Question

The title I have given [Harriet Tubman] may seem a little ambitious, considering that this Moses was a woman, and that she succeeded in piloting only three or four hundred slaves from the land of bondage to the land of freedom.

But I only give her here the name by which she was familiarly known, both at the North and the South, during the years of terror of the Fugitive Slave Law, and during our last Civil War, in both of which she took so prominent a part.

And though the results of her unexampled heroism were not to free a whole nation [. . .] yet this object was as much the desire of her heart, as it was of that of the great leader of Israel. Her cry to the slave-holders, was ever like his to Pharaoh, "Let my people go!" and not even he imperiled life and limb more willingly, than did our courageous and self-sacrificing friend.

(1 point)
Responses

It describes Harriet Tubman’s background before she began to rescue people from slavery.
It describes Harriet Tubman’s background before she began to rescue people from slavery.

It explains why Bradford chose to refer to Tubman as “The Moses of Her People.”
It explains why Bradford chose to refer to Tubman as “The Moses of Her People.”

It explains who Moses was and why his story is important.
It explains who Moses was and why his story is important.

It clarifies to the reader what happened under the Fugitive Slave Law.

Answer 1

The excerpt helps the reader understand the book better because it explains why Bradford chose to refer to Tubman as “The Moses of Her People.” This title draws a parallel between Harriet Tubman's actions and those of Moses, highlighting Tubman's significant role in leading enslaved people to freedom and emphasizing her courage and heroism in the face of danger. By framing Tubman in this context, Bradford establishes the importance of her contributions and the intensity of her commitment to the cause of freedom, which enriches the reader's understanding of Tubman’s legacy and the narrative that follows.