According to Robert F. Kennedy,” Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.” He is attempting to say not all of us can have the impact on society of a Michael Jordan or Mother Theresa, but each of us, through our actions, can make a huge difference in our small world. When combined all of our actions have the power to change the course of man. Indeed, two individuals who have done just this were Harriet Tubman and Dorothea Dix. They both had done many great things in their lives and affected the society in a good way. Although these two historical figures were alike in the courage and determination they displayed, they supported different causes.
To begin with, Tubman and Dix both showed great courage to overcome their obstacles to succeed. Tubman’s courage allowed her to have the endurance to help people runaway from slavery. For example, Tubman made frequent trips to the South to lead groups of slaves to safety in Canada along the underground route, financing these ventures with work as a servant, cook, and laborer. Then she returned to Maryland and took out her siblings and other slaves. In all, Tubman made nineteen trips to Maryland from 1850 to 1860, bringing out nearly 300 slaves. Tubman would have been captured if she was found doing underground work, but her endurance allowed her to keep going until she could free most of the slaves.
In like manner, Dix also had the endurance Tubman has. Dix’s courage gave her the strength to help others. After Dix walked through the prison and revealed that the prisoner included insane women living in unheated, dirty room, she returned to the jail the next day, bring food and other supplies for them. Seeing such horrible surrounding area, Dix wanted to help them, so she decided to undertake an eighteen-month survey of every jail, almshouse, workhouse, and house of correction in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and then returned to Boston to prepare a memorial describing her findings to the state legislature. Dix could have ignored the horrible situation of all the jail and workhouses, but she was willing to take the time to help the prisoners and workers. Thus, Both Tubman and Dix demonstrated their courage to help other people.
Tubman and Dix also showed great determination in the efforts of helping others. Tubman’s determination allowed her to continue her rescue throughout her life. Tubman supported a number of children and elderly former slaves during her whole life, partly with money derived from the publication of her two biographies. In addition, she also donated twenty-five acres of land for a shelter for homeless, sick, and indigent blacks. She was consumed with a want to serve others. In a similar manner, Dix was equally determined. She continued her crusade in the Midwest and South. In each state, Dix followed the same pattern. Her work received much publicity, and other reformers sought her assistance. Dix’s moral fiber allowed her to continue her assistance to help others. Both these woman demonstrated determination throughout their lives.
Although Tubman and Dix were alike in the courage and determination they displayed, they supported different causes in society. The issue Tubman wished to accomplish the most was to help the slaves to move away from their owner. When Tubman was in the South, she had organized on intelligence and scouting service for the Union’s Department of the South, employed former slaves from the nearby area. This helped the slaves to find places to work, which that was what she really wanted to do. It did not matter to her whether the slave was a friend or enemy, she just wanted to help them to receive equal freedom as she does. However, Dix supported a different cause.
Dix supported other reform movements, including women’s rights, peace, temperance, public education, and abolition. Dix was closely identified with reform in mental-health care. Through her efforts, thirty- two states established new facilities to care for the mentally ill and to help improved the existing ones, because that was when all the states started to notice the mental ill people. Without, the existence of Dix, mentally ill people probably still be treated with no attention at all. In the end, Tubman and Dix both supported different causes in society, but they brought about radical change.
Ultimately, both Tubman and Dix had done many great things in their lives, which made a great impact in on society. Even though it was only a small portion of events they each have done, but each of their small portion when combine can make a huge difference in our world. Tubman and Dix may have differed in their support of society, but they displayed the same courage and determination.
