Quakers played a huge role in the formation of the Underground Railroad, with George Washington complaining as early as 1786 that a “society of Quakers, formed for such purposes, have attempted to liberate” a neighbor’s slave.
What role did Quakers play in the Underground Railroad?
The Quaker campaign to end slavery can be traced back to the late 1600s, and many played a pivotal role in the Underground Railroad. In 1776, Quakers were prohibited from owning slaves, and 14 years later they petitioned the U.S. Congress for the abolition of slavery.
When did the Underground Railroad start?
system used by abolitionists between 1800-1865 to help enslaved African Americans escape to free states.
What group started the Underground Railroad?
Quaker Abolitionists In the early 1800s, Quaker abolitionist Isaac T. Hopper set up a network in Philadelphia that helped enslaved people on the run.
Who was it in 1790 who first began the process to organize the Underground Railroad?
Hopper Began Helping Fugitive Slaves(1790s) During the 1790s, Isaac T. Hopper began the process of organizing the Underground Railroad, creating a network of safe spaces for fugitive slaves.
Did Quakers support the Underground Railroad?
Quakers played a huge role in the formation of the Underground Railroad, with George Washington complaining as early as 1786 that a “society of Quakers, formed for such purposes, have attempted to liberate” a neighbor’s slave.
Was Thomas Clarkson a Quaker?
The twelve founding members included nine Quakers, and three pioneering Anglicans: Clarkson, Granville Sharp, and Philip Sansom. They were sympathetic to the religious revival that had predominantly nonconformist origins, but which sought wider non-denominational support for a “Great Awakening” amongst believers.
Why did the Underground Railroad start?
The Underground Railroad was established to aid enslaved people in their escape to freedom. The railroad was comprised of dozens of secret routes and safe houses originating in the slaveholding states and extending all the way to the Canadian border, the only area where fugitives could be assured of their freedom.
Does the Underground Railroad still exist?
It includes four buildings, two of which were used by Harriet Tubman. Ashtabula County had over thirty known Underground Railroad stations, or safehouses, and many more conductors. Nearly two-thirds of those sites still stand today.
Did the Underground Railroad really exist?
( Actual underground railroads did not exist until 1863.) According to John Rankin, “It was so called because they who took passage on it disappeared from public view as really as if they had gone into the ground. After the fugitive slaves entered a depot on that road no trace of them could be found.
When was the Underground Railroad most active?
Established in the early 1800s and aided by people involved in the Abolitionist Movement, the underground railroad helped thousands of slaves escape bondage. By one estimate, 100,000 slaves escaped from bondage in the South between 1810 and 1850.
Were there tunnels in the Underground Railroad?
Contrary to popular belief, the Underground Railroad was not a series of underground tunnels. While some people did have secret rooms in their houses or carriages, the vast majority of the Underground Railroad involved people secretly helping people running away from slavery however they could.
Who founded the Underground Railroad to help fugitive slaves escape from the South quizlet?
About how many slaves did Harriet Tubman rescue? She rescued over 300 slaves using the network established by the Underground Railroad between 1850 and 1860. Who was William Still? He was a well-known abolitionist who was often called “the father of the Underground Railroad.” He helped hundred of slaves to escape.
How was the Underground Railroad organized?
The Underground Railroad was a secret network organized by people who helped men, women, and children escape from slavery to freedom. The Underground Railroad provided hiding places, food, and often transportation for the fugitives who were trying to escape slavery.
How did the Underground Railroad caused the Civil War?
The Underground Railroad physically resisted the repressive laws that held slaves in bondage. By provoking fear and anger in the South, and prompting the enactment of harsh legislation that eroded the rights of white Americans, the Underground Railroad was a direct contributing cause of the Civil War.
Quaker Activism
The Quaker struggle to abolish slavery dates back to the late 1600s, and many Quakers were instrumental in the establishment of the Underground Railroad. Quakers were forbidden from having slaves in 1776, and it was not until 14 years later that they petitioned the United States Congress for the abolition of slavery. A core Quaker principle is that all human beings are equal and worthy of respect. As a result, the battle for human rights has expanded to include many other areas of society in addition to religious communities.
As one of the very first suffragettes, Lucretia Mott of the Quaker sect was a staunch abolitionist who refused to use cotton fabric, cane sugar, or any other slavery-produced items in her ministry.
Towards the close of the Civil War, Mott assisted in bringing together the first American women’s rights convention at Seneca Falls, New York, and was elected as the organization’s first president after it was reorganized as the American Equal Rights Association.
Susan B.
- Through the twentieth century, the Quaker commitment to improving the lives of women remained unwavering.
- The concept that all persons are deserving of respect was extended to criminals as well as to others.
- Quakers were also instrumental in bringing about significant changes in the treatment of the mentally sick.
- Quaker doctrine holds that violence and strife are contrary to God’s will, which is one of its fundamental tenants.
Underground Railroad
An informal network of secret passageways and safe homes used by fleeing slaves in the United States of America on their trip north to “Free States” or Canada has been known as the Underground Railroad since the 1840s, when the name was first used. In addition to twenty-nine states, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean were included in the territory. Along with many others, Quakers played an important role in the event. It was referred to as a “Underground Railroad” because it was kept hidden, and as a “Railroad” because it indicated the route taken by fleeing slaves on their way to freedom.
- “Stockholders” were those who made contributions of money or products to aid the cause.
- “Conductors” were people who planned the routes and who frequently assisted and accompanied the slaves in their quest for freedom on the Underground Railroad.
- Stations were typically between 10 and 20 miles apart, and the travelers either walked between them or hid in covered wagons or carts with false bottoms while traveling between stations.
- The exact date when the Underground Railroad got its inception is unknown.
According to Washington’s letter to Robert Morris, a slave had escaped from one of his neighbours, and “a society of Quakers, organized for such reasons, had sought to liberate him.acting in a manner abhorrent to justice.in my judgment highly impolitic with respect to the State.” Over 3,000 persons were employed by the Underground Railroad by 1850, according to historical records.
African Americans such as Harriet Tubman (a former slave who made 19 journeys to help first her own family and then other slaves) made the most significant contributions, but many others were also involved, including members of Methodist and other evangelical groups, as well as Quakers and other religious groups.
- Among the other Underground Railroad Quaker strongholds were Salem, Iowa; Newport; Alum Creek; Cass County; Farmington; and New Bedford, Massachusetts.
- Thomas Garrett (1789 – 1871), a Quaker, is credited with assisting almost 2,700 slaves in their escape from slavery and was known as the “station master” of the final Underground Railroad station, which was located in Wilmington, Delaware.
- Quaker Levi Coffin (1798 – 1877), who lived in Cincinnati, Ohio, was known as the “President of the Underground Railroad” because of his work on the Underground Railroad.
- Some Quakers, however, did not believe that acting outside the law was justified, despite their empathy for the slaves’ condition.
- By the middle of the nineteenth century, it is believed that over 50,000 slaves had escaped from the slave states of the South through the use of the Underground Railroad.
- It is possible that federal marshals who failed to apprehend an accused runaway slave may be fined $1,000.
The Underground Railroad did not come to an end as a result of the Fugitive Slave Act. With the abolition of slavery at the conclusion of the American Civil War, it came to a logical conclusion (1861-65).
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad is a word that has been in use since the 1840s to describe an informal network of secret routes and safe homes that escaped slaves in the United States of America used to get north to the “Free States” or Canada. In addition to twenty-nine states, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean were included in its scope. A large number of people, including Quakers, were involved in it. A “Railroad” because it traced the route taken by fleeing slaves on their way to freedom, and a “Underground” because it was hidden.
- Investors were those who made monetary or material contributions to the cause.
- “Conductors” were people who planned the routes and who frequently assisted and accompanied the slaves in their quest for freedom aboard the slave ships.
- Stations were typically between 10 and 20 miles apart, and the travelers either walked between them or concealed in covered wagons or carts with false bottoms while traveling between them.
- We don’t know for sure how long the Underground Railroad has been running.
According to Washington’s letter to Robert Morris, a slave had escaped from one of his neighbours, and “a society of Quakers, organized for such reasons, have endeavored to release him.acting in a manner abhorrent to justice.acting, in my view, most impoliticly with regard to the State.” Over 3,000 persons were employed by the Underground Railroad by 1850, according to official records.
Afro-Americans such as Harriet Tubman (a former slave who made 19 journeys to help first her own family and then other slaves) made the most significant contributions, but many others were also involved, including members of Methodist and other evangelical groups, as well as members of the Society of Friends.
- Salem, Iowa, Newport, Indiana, Alum Creek, Ohio, Cass County, Michigan, Farmington, New York, and New Bedford, Massachusetts were among the Underground Railroad Quaker strongholds.
- Over the course of nearly 40 years, he assisted fugitive slaves on the Underground Railroad, despite the fact that he was fined more than $5,400 for doing so.
- It was he and his wife Catherine, who was also a Quaker, who were responsible for the emancipation of around 2,000 slaves.
- In their opinion, it was preferable to work within the confines of the existing legal framework to bring about the abolition of slavery in its entirety, since this would benefit all slaves rather than the few runaways who may be able to gain from their assistance on an individual level.
- Concerned about the number of slaves who were successfully escaping, plantation owners successfully convinced Congress to establish the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850.
- Individuals who assisted the escapees by giving refuge, food, or any other sort of help may be sentenced to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine if they are caught.
The Underground Railroad continued to operate despite the Fugitive Slave Act’s prohibition on slave transportation. When slavery was abolished at the end of the American Civil War, it came to a natural conclusion (1861-65).
Quaker Abolitionists
The Society of Friends (Quakers) is often regarded as the first organized group to actively assist escaped enslaved persons. In 1786, George Washington expressed dissatisfaction with Quakers for attempting to “liberate” one of his enslaved servants. Abolitionist and Quaker Isaac T. Hopper established a network in Philadelphia in the early 1800s to assist enslaved persons who were on the run from slavery. Abolitionist organisations founded by Quakers in North Carolina lay the basis for escape routes and safe havens for fugitive slaves during the same time period.
What Was the Underground Railroad?
The Underground Railroad was first mentioned in 1831, when an enslaved man named Tice Davids managed to escape from Kentucky into Ohio and his master blamed a “underground railroad” for assisting Davids in his liberation. When a fugitive slave called Jim was apprehended in 1839 in Washington, the press said that the guy confessed his plan to travel north along a “underground railroad to Boston” while under torture. The Vigilance Committees, which were established in New York in 1835 and Philadelphia in 1838 to safeguard escaped enslaved persons from bounty hunters, rapidly expanded their duties to include guiding enslaved individuals on the run.
MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT: Harriet Tubman and her fellow fugitives used the following strategies to escape through the Underground Railroad:
How the Underground Railroad Worked
The majority of enslaved persons aided by the Underground Railroad were able to flee to neighboring states like as Kentucky, Virginia, and Maryland. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 made catching fugitive enslaved persons a lucrative industry in the deep South, and there were fewer hiding places for them as a result of the Act. The majority of fugitive enslaved people were on their own until they reached specific places farther north. The escaping enslaved people were escorted by individuals known as “conductors.” Private residences, churches, and schools were also used as hiding places throughout the war.
The personnel in charge of running them were referred to as “stationmasters.” There were several well-traveled roads that ran west through Ohio and into Indiana and Iowa.
The Little-Known Underground Railroad That Ran South to Mexico.
Fugitive Slave Acts
The Fugitive Slave Acts were a major cause for many fugitive slaves to flee to Canada. This legislation, which was passed in 1793, authorized local governments to catch and extradite fugitive enslaved individuals from inside the borders of free states back to their places of origin, as well as to penalize anybody who assisted the fleeing enslaved people. Personal Liberty Laws were introduced in certain northern states to fight this, but they were overturned by the Supreme Court in 1842. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was intended to reinforce the preceding legislation, which was perceived by southern states to be insufficiently enforced at the time of passage.
The northern states were still considered a danger zone for fugitives who had managed to flee.
Some Underground Railroad operators chose to station themselves in Canada and sought to assist fugitives who were arriving to settle in the country.
Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman was the most well-known conductor of the Underground Railroad during its heyday. When she and two of her brothers fled from a farm in Maryland in 1849, she was given the name Harriet (her married name was Tubman). She was born Araminta Ross, and she was raised as Harriet Tubman. They returned a couple of weeks later, but Tubman fled on her own again shortly after, this time making her way to the state of Pennsylvania. In following years, Tubman returned to the plantation on a number of occasions to rescue family members and other individuals.
Tubman was distraught until she had a vision of God, which led her to join the Underground Railroad and begin escorting other fugitive slaves to the Maryland state capital.
Frederick Douglass
In his house in Rochester, New York, former enslaved person and celebrated author Frederick Douglasshid fugitives who were assisting 400 escapees in their journey to freedom in Canada. Reverend Jermain Loguen, a former fugitive who lived in the adjacent city of Syracuse, assisted 1,500 escapees on their journey north. The Vigilance Committee was established in Philadelphia in 1838 by Robert Purvis, an escaped enslaved person who later became a trader. Josiah Henson, a former enslaved person and railroad operator, founded the Dawn Institute in Ontario in 1842 to assist fugitive slaves who made their way to Canada in learning the necessary skills to find work.
Agent,” according to the document.
John Parker was a free Black man living in Ohio who worked as a foundry owner and who used his rowboat to ferry fugitives over the Ohio River.
William Still was a notable Philadelphia citizen who was born in New Jersey to runaway slaves parents who fled to Philadelphia as children.
Who Ran the Underground Railroad?
The vast majority of Underground Railroad operators were regular individuals, including farmers and business owners, as well as preachers and religious leaders. Some affluent individuals were active, including Gerrit Smith, a billionaire who stood for president on two separate occasions. Smith acquired a full family of enslaved people from Kentucky in 1841 and freed them from their captivity. Levi Coffin, a Quaker from North Carolina, is credited with being one of the first recorded individuals to assist escaped enslaved persons.
Coffin stated that he had discovered their hiding spots and had sought them out in order to assist them in moving forward.
Finally, they were able to make their way closer to him. Coffin eventually relocated to Indiana and then Ohio, where he continued to assist fugitive enslaved individuals no matter where he was.
John Brown
Abolitionist John Brown worked as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, and it was at this time that he founded the League of Gileadites, which was dedicated to assisting fleeing enslaved individuals in their journey to Canada. Abolitionist John Brown would go on to play a variety of roles during his life. His most well-known duty was conducting an assault on Harper’s Ferry in order to raise an armed army that would march into the deep south and free enslaved people at gunpoint. Ultimately, Brown’s forces were beaten, and he was executed for treason in 1859.
- The year 1844, he formed a partnership with Vermont schoolteacher Delia Webster, and the two were jailed for assisting an escaped enslaved lady and her young daughter.
- Charles Torrey was sentenced to six years in jail in Maryland for assisting an enslaved family in their attempt to flee through Virginia.
- After being apprehended in 1844 while transporting a boatload of freed slaves from the Caribbean to the United States, Massachusetts sea captain Jonathan Walker was sentenced to prison for life.
- John Fairfield of Virginia turned down the opportunity to assist in the rescue of enslaved individuals who had been left behind by their families as they made their way north.
- He managed to elude capture twice.
End of the Line
Operation of the Underground Railroad came to an end in 1863, during the American Civil War. In actuality, its work was shifted aboveground as part of the Union’s overall campaign against the Confederate States of America. Once again, Harriet Tubman made a crucial contribution by organizing intelligence operations and serving as a commanding officer in Union Army efforts to rescue the liberated enslaved people who had been freed. MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT: Harriet Tubman led a daring Civil War raid after the Underground Railroad was shut down.
Sources
Bound for Canaan: The Epic Story of the Underground Railroad is a book about the Underground Railroad. Fergus Bordewich is a Scottish actor. A Biography of Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom Catherine Clinton is the first lady of the United States. Who Exactly Was in Charge of the Underground Railroad?
‘Henry Louis Gates’ is a pseudonym for Henry Louis Gates. The Underground Railroad’s History in New York is a little known fact. The Smithsonian Institution’s magazine. The Underground Railroad’s Dangerous Allure is well documented. The New Yorker is a publication dedicated to journalism.
Faith In Action: Quakers and the Underground Railroad
- One such resource is a map of underground railroad routes, which may be found on a computer with Internet connection.
Preparation for Activity
- Underground Railroad Routes Map
- A computer with Internet connectivity
- And a map of the Underground Railroad Routes.
Description of Activity
The relationship between the Quakers and the Underground Railroad is explained to the youth. Begin by inquiring of the participants about their knowledge of the Underground Railroad. Inform participants that Quakers played a significant role in the operation of the Underground Railroad, a system through which persons who were enslaved were assisted in their escape to the northern states and Canada during the American Civil War. The abolitionist movement – the effort to put an end to slavery – had its start with the ministry of the Quakers, who preached abolition throughout the United States and territories throughout the early nineteenth century.
The routes begin in the southern states of the United States and conclude in Canada or the northern states.
National Geographic produced the documentary The Underground Railroad: The Journey.
- The relationship between Quakers and the Underground Railroad is explained to the youth. Ask participants what they know about the Underground Railroad as a starting point for your discussion. Inform participants that Quakers played a significant role in the operation of the Underground Railroad, which was a mechanism through which persons who were enslaved were assisted in their escape to northern states and Canada during the nineteenth century. Slavery was abolished by the abolitionist movement, which began with the ministry of the Quakers, who preached abolition across the United States and its territories in the early 1800s. Leader Resource 1, which depicts the Underground Railroad routes, should be distributed to all participants. Beginning in the southern United States and ending in Canada or the northern United States, these itineraries are quite popular. Allow people to take turns interacting with the interactive web page. It is a National Geographic production, “The Underground Railroad: The Journey.” The following questions can be used to evaluate the activity:
The relationship between the Quakers and the Underground Railroad is explored with the youth. Begin by inquiring of participants about their knowledge of the Underground Railroad. Inform participants that Quakers played a significant role in the operation of the Underground Railroad, which was a mechanism through which persons who were enslaved were assisted in their escape to northern states and Canada. Slavery was abolished by the abolitionist movement, which began with the ministry of the Quakers, who preached abolition throughout the United States and territories in the early 1800s.
The routes begin in the southern states of the United States and conclude in Canada or the northern states of the United States.
National Geographic produced a documentary called The Underground Railroad: The Journey.
Quaker Abolitionists
Mark’s Contribution Andrew Huddle’s official website With permission from the Tar Heel Junior Historian, this article has been reprinted. The fall of 1996. NC Museum of History, Tar Heel Junior Historian Association, Tar Heel Junior Historian Association Anyone who had the courage to preach an abolitionist gospel in the South during the antebellum period would have faced serious consequences. After all was said and done, the Reverend Adam Crooks, a young Wesleyan Methodist missionary, arrived in North Carolina during the later months of 1847 to serve to a small circuit of antislavery churches.
Crooks was surprised to discover a surprising number of individuals who shared his thoughts about the “peculiar institution” after arriving in Jamestown, Guilford County.
Crooks provided the following unique perspective in one of his first comments to theTrue Wesleyan, the journal of his denomination: “There is far more antislavery fervor in this region of North Carolina than I had anticipated.” This is in large part due to the efforts of the Society of Friends.
- It is also interesting that I am mistaken for a Quaker when I am free to go anywhere I like.
- and even the Friends themselves assumed I was one of them.
- During the time of Crooks’s mission, Quakerism in North Carolina was on the decline.
- By the late 1840s, the denomination had suffered greatly as a result of this protracted fight.
Others changed their religious affiliations entirely. In spite of this, the Friends of North Carolina had a significant influence on the discussion over slavery during the antebellum period, and their exploits represent an important chapter in the history of that time period.
Quakers and the Issue of Slavery
The fact that North Carolina’s Quakers did not have a disagreement on slavery during the early years is noteworthy. In reality, antislavery feeling among Quakers developed gradually over a long period of time. Slavery was not banned by Quaker philosophy, despite the fact that issues of conscience periodically arose in the community. A New Jersey Quaker called John Woolman, on the other hand, took up the antislavery cause in the 1750s and went throughout the country to preach against the ills of slavery.
- Woolman thought that slavery fostered a callousness toward humanity that was demeaning to both the slaveholder and the captive, and he advised slaveholders to cease their relationship with slavery as soon as possible.
- Many of these Quakers came with a strong antipathy of slavery in their hearts.
- Local gatherings were increasingly tense as a result of the buying and selling of persons.
- It may come as a surprise to learn that the most important issue confronting North Carolina Friends was the manumission, or freeing, of their own slaves.
Quaker Dilemma: Manumission in North Carolina
It was not until 1741 that a colonial ordinance was passed prohibiting the manumission of slaves, save as a prize for excellent, or meritorious, service to the government. County courts had the ability to determine the merits of service in each individual instance, and if freedom was granted, freed slaves were given six months to leave the state before they were forced to return. In exchange for their service in the American Revolution, many former slaves were emancipated. As the topic of slavery became more contentious, many Quaker slaveholders found themselves in a difficult situation.
- However, it was against the law for them to release their slaves just because they wished to or because they believed they should.
- Newby’s petition triggered a spirited discussion that returned in meetings for over two years after it was first presented to the board.
- When Newby and 10 other Quaker slaveholders realized they were in breach of the 1741 statute, they released forty slaves.
- Officials were outraged and accused the Quakers of seeking to instigate a slave revolt in order to gain control of the country.
This action marked the beginning of a lengthy series of legal fights between the state of North Carolina and the Quaker community in the state. These fights lasted long into the nineteenth century and caused significant suffering among the Quakers.
Quaker Efforts at Freeing Slaves
It was in 1808 that the North Carolina Yearly Meeting took action to alleviate the difficulties of its slaveholding members. The Yearly Meeting took advantage of a 1796 legislation that permitted organizations to purchase and sell property, and empowered its members to transfer ownership of their slaves to the Yearly Meeting itself. When the Society of Friends acquired about eight hundred slaves in 1814, it was one of the state’s greatest slaveholders, ranking second only to the Southern Baptist Convention.
- They were often given greater freedom than they had been used to having as plantation slaves, which was a significant improvement.
- The committee made certain that the revenues from their labors went to a fund to care for them and eventually relocate them to free regions in the North and West.
- The North Carolina Manumission Society, which was founded in 1816, was one such lobbying organization.
- Members of the group, known as Manumissionists, fought for the gradual liberation of slaves.
- They also sent representatives to national antislavery conventions and advocated for more black educational opportunities.
- Undoubtedly, the Underground Railroad was the most well-known of the Quaker antislavery activities of the nineteenth century.
- Escaped slaves were reported to have slept outside the New Garden Meetinghouse in Guilford County, North Carolina, until they could start their journey at night to avoid detection.
- Other antislavery organizations discovered the central Piedmont to be a good field for planting their views, no doubt as a result of the impact of the Quakers.
Merion Friends Meeting, a Quaker Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
It was in 1808 that the North Carolina Yearly Meeting took action to alleviate the costs of its slave-owning membership members. Because a 1796 provision that permitted organizations to acquire and sell property allowed them to do so, the Yearly Meeting authorized its members to transfer ownership of their slaves to the Yearly Meeting. Within a few years, the Society of Friends had amassed a formal ownership stake in approximately eight hundred slaves, making it one of the state’s major slaveowners.
- Compared to their previous experiences as plantation slaves, these slaves were granted a greater degree of liberty in most cases.
- In addition, the committee ensured that the revenues from their labors went to a fund to care for them and eventually relocate them to free regions in the North and West.
- The North Carolina Manumission Society, which was established in 1816, was one such lobbying organization.
- A group known as the Manumissionists pushed for the gradual emancipation of slaves over the course of several years.
- They also sent representatives to national antislavery conventions and advocated for more black educational opportunity.
- Undoubtedly, the Underground Railroad was the most well-known of the Quaker antislavery campaigns.
- One such “terminus,” or endpoint, of a route in North Carolina was reported to be the New Garden Meetinghouse in Guilford County, where escaped slaves purportedly hid in the woods until they could resume journey at night, in order to avoid being discovered by authorities.
Other antislavery groups discovered the middle Piedmont to be a good field for planting their ideals, no doubt as a result of the impact of the Quaker movement.
Quakers and the Underground Railroad
I have always been fascinated by American history, which is one of the reasons why I decided to work as a history guide at Tyler Arboretum. Fortunately for me, my spouse Joel has done the same. We have spent several vacations traveling to different places and learning about our country’s history. As a professional librarian, there is nothing I enjoy more than the process of obtaining knowledge. Also, I have a personal connection to the religious movement known as Quakerism. Despite the fact that I do not identify as a Quaker, my father’s ancestors were, and I have spent a significant amount of time investigating that branch of my family line.
- I found it intriguing to discover more about the Painter family and how their Quaker beliefs influenced their actions and contributions to our history, even though Tyler Arboretum is mostly known for its amazing collection of plants (as it should be).
- Quakers believe that God exists within each and every human being.
- In 1775, Quakers in Philadelphia created the Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage, which became known as the Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage.
- Quakers who continued to keep slaves were either “read out” or ejected from the meetinghouse for their actions.
- Escaped slaves had been making their way to the Free states for quite some time, with assistance from Quakers, free blacks, and others along the route.
- Former slaves were once regarded free once they were able to go to a free state.
- Under the Fugitive Slave Act, slave hunters were permitted to enter Free States in order to chase down escaped slaves.
Anyone found guilty of assisting fugitives by supplying them with food, lodging, or any other form of help might face a $1,000 fine and a term of 6 months in jail if convicted.
This, combined with the fact that it was close to Delaware and Maryland, resulted in a thriving Underground Railroad in the area.
Eighty-two of them were Quakers, while thirty-one were free blacks.
Eusebius was married to Sarah Painter, daughter of Enos and Hannah Painter and sister to Minshall and Jacob.
Elizabeth Barnard and Sarah Painter are two of the most important figures in the history of literature.
Because of the strong assistance provided by Quakers in these locations, these routes were thought to be quite secure at the time.
The Honeycomb A.M.E.
Located on Barren Road, close to Tyler Arboretum, this church serves the local community.
Several strands of Jacob and Minshall Painter’s lives were intertwined with the Underground Railroad.
A known “conductor” is even mentioned by Minshall Painter in his journal as sending an escaped slave to Lachford Hall, according to Minshall Painter’s diary.
Because the Underground Railroad was illegal, and the penalties for participation were severe, the persons engaged were generally reluctant to record information that may be used against them, putting their lives and their efforts at risk.
Are you interested in the history of the Quakers? Swarthmore College’s Friends Historical Library is a worthwhile stop. a link to the page’s load
The Underground Railroad in Ohio
| Topic | The Underground Railroad in Ohio |
| Time Period | Early to mid 1800s |
| Keyword(s) | Slavery, Underground Railroad, African Americans, Abolition |
| Grade level(s) | 6-12 |
| Learning standard(s) | (Grade 8 Social Studies) History Strand: Historical Thinking and Skills, Content Statement 1; Colonization to Independence, Content Statement 4; Civil War and Reconstruction, Content Statement 12 / (High School Social Studies) American History: Historical Thinking and Skills, Content Statement 2; Industrialization and Progressivism, Content Statement 13 |
Underground Railroad is a word used to describe a secret network of individuals and locations that supported runaway slaves in their attempts to flee slavery in the southern United States.” This activity was most prevalent during the three decades leading up to the Civil War, and it was concentrated mostly in the regions bordering slave states, with the Ohio River serving as the focal point of much of the action.
- It is important to note that Beneath Train activities did not physically take place underground or along a railroad track, nor was it a formal group with a well defined organizational structure.
- Those who believed in abolitionist principles were at the center of the Underground Railroad campaign.
- They were members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).
- The dissemination of abolitionist ideals then extended westward into the territory that would become Indiana and Ohio in the following decades.
- The conflicting features of independence for a society that still kept enslaved people were also considered by others, which prompted many to get involved in the Underground Railroad.” Thanks to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center for this image.
- The Underground Railroad as seen in photographs Portraits of those involved in the Underground Railroad Conductors The Underground Railroad: Its History and Legacy There is also anAdditional Resourceslist and aTeaching Guidefollowing the major source items.
The Underground Railroad
A word that refers to a secret network of persons and locations who supported runaway slaves as they attempted to flee slavery in the southern United States. This activity was most prevalent during the three decades leading up to the Civil War, and it was concentrated mostly in the regions bordering slave states, with the Ohio River serving as the focal point of much of it. It is important to note that Underground Train activities did not physically take place underground or along a railroad track, nor was it a formal organization with a well defined structure and membership.
- The abolitionist movement’s principles were at the heart of the Underground Railroad’s success.
- They were members of the Religious Society of Friends at the time.
- The dissemination of abolitionist ideals then extended westward into the areas that would become Indiana and Ohio in the following decades.
- Others questioned the conflicting features of independence for a country that harbored enslaved people, which prompted many to get involved in the Underground Railroad.
- The Underground Railroad is a term used to describe a system of transportation that allows people to flee their homes and seek asylum elsewhere in the country.
Additional Resources
- National Underground Railroad Freedom Center — “The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is a museum of conscience, an education center, a facilitator of discussion, and a beacon of light for inclusive freedom across the world,” according to the center’s mission statement. “It is located in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio.”
- A historical summary of the Underground Railroad and Ohio’s role in it is offered by the Ohio History Connection in this page titled “Ohio History Central: Underground Railroad” (subscription required). The National Afro-American Museum is located in Washington, D.C. Center for the Arts – At this museum in Wilberforce, Ohio, which is home to two historically black institutions, Wilberforce and Central State, visitors may take part in frequently changing exhibitions and special activities that celebrate African American history, art, and culture. Underground Railroad —A discussion and description of the Underground Railroad, as well as biographical information about abolitionists from the Detroit, Michigan region – Detroit Historical Society Underground Railroad
Teaching Guide
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center – “The National Underground Railroad Freedom Institution is a museum of conscience, an education center, a facilitator of conversation, and a beacon of light for inclusive freedom across the world,” according to the center’s mission. “Cincinnati, Ohio is the location.” ; A historical account of the Underground Railroad and Ohio’s involvement in it is offered by the Ohio History Connection in this page titled “Ohio History Central, Underground Railroad.” The National Afro-American Museum is a museum dedicated to African-American culture and heritage.
This museum in Wilberforce, Ohio, which is home to two historically black institutions, Wilberforce and Central State, offers frequently changing exhibitions and special activities that teach about African American history, art, and culture.
- In order to get to the North, escaping slaves would have to cross the Underground Railroad. After their journeys on the subterranean railroad, where would individuals who had traveled there choose to live? What towns and localities in Ohio did fugitive slaves pass through on their journey to freedom in Canada? Exactly where would fugitive slaves be hidden by subterranean railroad conductors
- In your county, do you know of any underground railroad stops that are still there and may be visited?
In order to get to the North, escaping slaves would have to traverse the underground railroad. After their journeys on the subterranean railroad, where would individuals who had traveled there choose to settle? Where in Ohio did fugitive slaves travel through on their journey to freedom in the north; Exactly where would fugitive slaves be hidden by subterranean railroad conductors Exist any subterranean train stations in your county that are still operational and can be visited?
- Were fugitive slaves from other states uniformly welcomed in Ohio? Investigate the history of the Fugitive Slave Laws of 1793 and 1850, including how they influenced the operations of the Underground Railroad, as well as the perspectives of Ohioans on slavery during the nineteenth century. Visit the National Park Service’s list of official Underground Railroad locations for further information. Individuals or small groups can participate in this activity. Choose one to research for a brief presentation for the class (individual) OR one to research for a short presentation for the class (group) Divide the class into small groups and assign each group a different Ohio location for a group presentation. Imagine that you, or you and a group of people, have managed to flee the southern United States and make your way north
- Using the information you’ve learned about the Underground Railroad, write a first-person account of what it would have been like to make this perilous journey, either alone or with a group of other people. Consider the hazards you would face along the journey, the route you would take to get to safety, and how you would have felt about the individuals who assisted you
- Think about the people who aided you.
The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a network of people, both black and white, who came together to provide safety and assistance to enslaved people fleeing the American South. As a consequence of multiple independent covert operations coming together, it became what it is today. Although the exact date of its establishment is uncertain, it operated from the late 18th century until the Civil War, when its attempts to undermine the Confederacy became less secret.
Quakers Abolitionist
It was a group of both Black and white people who came together to provide safety and assistance to enslaved people who were fleeing the Southern United States of America (South). Many different covert operations came together to form the organization as a whole. No one knows exactly when it was established, but it was active from the late 18th century until the Civil War, when its attempts to destabilize the Confederacy became less discreet.
What Did the Underground Railroad necessarily involve?
It was in 1831 that the Underground Railroad was first mentioned, when an enslaved man named Tice Davids managed to escape from Kentucky into Ohio and his master attributed his freedom to a “underground railroad.” In 1839, a Washington newspaper reported that an escaped enslaved man named Jim had confessed to his intention to journey north over a “underground railroad to Boston” while being tortured, according to the newspaper.
As a result of their attempts to protect fugitive enslaved individuals from bounty hunters, Vigilance Committees, which were created in New York in 1835 and Philadelphia in 1838, quickly expanded their efforts to provide guidance to enslaved individuals who were on the run.
By the 1840s, the term “Underground Railroad” had begun to be heard more frequently in the United States.
How the Underground Railroad Functioned?
The great majority of enslaved people who were assisted by the Underground Railroad came from border states such as Kentucky, Virginia, and Maryland, according to historical records. Fugitive enslaved persons became a profitable industry in the deep South with the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793, and there were fewer hiding places for them as a result. Fleeing slaves were usually left to their own devices until they reached certain locations further north in the United States. The escaping enslaved people were escorted by individuals known as “conductors,” who were in charge of their transportation.
“Stations,” “safe houses,” and “depots” were all terms used to describe these locations.
From Ohio to Indiana and Iowa, a number of well-traveled routes connected the two states.
Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman was a well-known Underground Railroad guide during the nineteenth century. Having been born into slavery in Maryland, Araminta Ross adopted the name Harriet (Tubman, which was her marital name) after fleeing with two of her brothers from a farm there in 1849. They returned a few weeks later, but this time Tubman went on her own and made her way to the state of Pennsylvania via the Underground Railroad. Tubman later returned to the plantation on many occasions to assist family members and other people.
Later, she became a member of the Underground Railroad and began supporting other fugitive slaves on their way to Maryland.
Various strategies used by Harriet Tubman and others to escape along the Underground Railroad
Despite the horrors of slavery, fleeing was not a simple proposition for many people. Escaping usually included abandoning family and traveling into the unknown, where terrible weather and a scarcity of food would be in store for the adventurer. Then there was the constant fear of being apprehended by the authorities. On both sides of the Mason-Dixon line, slave catchers and their dogs hunted for runaways and free Black persons such as Solomon Northup, catching and transporting them back to the plantation, where they were beaten, tortured, burned, or murdered.
In the decades leading up to the Civil War, around 100,000 African Americans were able to flee from slavery in total.
Some sought shelter in Mexico or Spanish-controlled Florida, while others sought sanctuary in the forest or on the coast. The vast majority, on the other hand, moved to either the Northern Free States or Canada, depending on the source.
1.Getting Support
There were just a few of enslaved people who were able to liberate themselves without the aid of others, no matter how brave or intelligent they were. A simple kind of assistance might be as easy as word-of-mouth recommendations on how to get away and who to trust. On the other hand, those who were lucky enough to escape slavery did so by following so-called “conductors,” such as Harriet Tubman, who after escaping slavery in 1849 dedicated her whole life to the Underground Railroad. After returning to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where she had been abused as an enslaved girl, Tubman was able to free around 70 people, the most of whom were family and acquaintances, in approximately 13 visits.
Tubman, like her other conductors, developed a network of accomplices, including “stationmasters” who kept her charges in barns and other safe houses along the route.
She was aware of the officials who were susceptible to bribes and how to avoid them.
She’d sing particular melodies or make an attempt to impersonate an owl to signal when it was time to flee or when it was too risky to come out from the cover of darkness.
2.Planning
To keep her pursuers at bay, Tubman used a number of novel strategies during the course of her career. For starters, she often worked during the winter months, when the longer nights permitted her to cover more distance in less time. She also decided to go on Saturday because she knew there would be no alerts about runaways in the newspaper until Monday, which she thought would be a good day to leave (since there was no paper on Sunday.) Tubman carried a revolver, both for her own protection and to terrify anybody in her care who contemplated returning to their homeland.
The railroad engineer would subsequently claim that “I never drove my train off the track” and that he “never lost a passenger.”
3.Codes, Secret Routes
To put her pursuers at bay, Tubman used a number of novel strategies during the course of her life. Because of the longer evenings, she was able to cover more area during the winter months, when she worked most of the year. Leaving on Saturday was also preferable for her since she knew there would be no alerts about runaways in the papers until Monday, which was her chosen day to go (since there was no paper on Sunday.) For her own protection and to intimidate anybody in her care who contemplated returning to their own country, Tubman always carried a revolver.
Aside from that, she carried drugs with her, which she administered when a baby’s screams threatened to reveal the location of her group. The railroad engineer would subsequently claim that “I never ran my train off the track” and that “I never lost a passenger.”
4.Buying Freedom
The Underground Railways, on the other hand, continued to operate openly and bluntly for the majority of their existence, despite the passage of the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act, which imposed harsh penalties on anyone found to have assisted a slave escape. Some stationmasters claimed to have hosted thousands of fugitive slaves, and they even went so far as to publicize their actions. The Underground Railroad depot in Syracuse, New York, was kept by a former enslaved man who became the city’s stationmaster.
In some cases, abolitionists would simply purchase the freedom of an enslaved individual, as they did with Sojourner Truth, in order to achieve their goals.
Furthermore, they worked to change public opinion by funding speeches by Truth and a slew of other former slaves in order to bring the horrors of bondage to the public’s attention.
5.Fighting
Underground Railroad members would band together when everything else failed to release escaped slaves and intimidate slave hunters into going home with nothing in their possession. Surprisingly, John Brown was an advocate of the use of force. In the months before his failed rebellion in Harpers Ferry, Brown led an armed gang of abolitionists into Missouri, where they rescued 11 enslaved persons and murdered an enslaver. With pro-slavery forces on his tail, Brown followed the fugitives on a 1,500-mile journey across numerous states, finally bringing them to safety in Canada.
Fugitive Slave Acts
The Fugitive Slave Acts were a major motivator for many fugitive slaves who made their way to Canada. Originally approved in 1793, the first act empowered local governments to apprehend and deport fugitive enslaved individuals from inside the borders of free states back to their places of origin, as well as to penalize anybody who supported the fleeing enslaved persons. Personal Liberty Laws were enacted in certain Northern states in an attempt to counteract this, but were eventually dismissed by the Supreme Court in 1842.
Due to this reform, hefty fines were instituted, and a system of commissioners was established, which fostered bias toward owners of enslaved individuals and resulted in the recapture of some formerly enslaved individuals.
In the interim, Canada granted Black people the freedom to reside anywhere they wanted, to serve on juries, to run for public office, and to do a variety of other things.
Some Underground Railroad operators were in Canada at the time, and they were assisting the fugitives who were on their way. In certain cases, Underground Railroad operators established themselves in Canada and supported fugitives in establishing themselves there.
Frederick Douglass and other prominent activists
For many fugitive slaves, the Fugitive Slave Acts provided the impetus for their escape to Canada. Originally approved in 1793, the first act empowered local governments to apprehend and deport fugitive enslaved persons from inside the borders of free states back to their places of origin, as well as to penalize anybody who supported the fleeing enslaved people. As a countermeasure, certain Northern states passed Personal Liberty Laws, which were eventually overturned in 1842 by the Supreme Court of the United States.
Due to this reform, hefty penalties were instituted, and a system of commissioners was established, which fostered bias toward owners of enslaved individuals while also resulting in the recapture of some formerly enslaved individuals.
Over time, Canada granted African Americans the right to reside anywhere they wanted, to serve on juries, to run for public office, and to do many other things.
In certain cases, Underground Railroad operators established themselves in Canada and supported fugitives in establishing into their new home.
Who was in command of the Underground Railroad?
Many Underground Railroad operatives were everyday people, like as farmers and business owners, as well as preachers and religious leaders. One such operator was Gerrit Smith, a rich businessman who is also a politician and an activist, among other notable figures. In 1841, Smith purchased and freed a family of enslaved people from Kentucky, who had been held there for generations. Levi Coffin, a Quaker from North Carolina, is credited with being one of the first documented individuals to aid escaped enslaved people.
It was revealed by Coffin that he had located their hiding places and had sought them out to aid them on their mission.
In following years, Coffin travelled to Indiana and eventually Ohio, where he continued to provide assistance to escaped enslaved individuals wherever he traveled.
John Brown
Farmers and business proprietors, as well as preachers, were among the many Underground Railroad operatives who were ordinary folks. Others were well-known figures, such as Gerrit Smith (a businessman, politician, and activist), among others. In 1841, Smith purchased and freed a family of enslaved people from Kentucky, who had been held captive for generations. Quaker Levi Coffin of North Carolina was one of the earliest documented individuals to aid runaway slaves people fleeing their masters’ grasp of the law.
He claimed to have identified their hiding places and tracked them down in order to aid them on their journey.
Finally, they were able to track him down. In subsequent years, Coffin migrated to Indiana and eventually Ohio, where he continued to provide assistance to fugitive slaves everywhere he went.
The last stop of Underground Railroad
Operation of the Underground Railroad came to a halt about 1863, during the American Civil War. In actuality, the Union’s activities were relocated above ground as part of the Union’s battle against the Confederacy during the American Civil War. Another crucial role was played by Harriet Tubman during the Civil War, this time as a commander of intelligence operations and as a commanding officer in Union Army operations to rescue enslaved persons who had been emancipated. Citations: