The Underground Railroad had many notable participants, including John Fairfield in Ohio, the son of a slaveholding family, who made many daring rescues, Levi Coffin, a Quaker who assisted more than 3,000 slaves, and Harriet Tubman, who made 19 trips into the South and escorted over 300 slaves to freedom.
What was the Underground Railroad and who ran it?
- What Was the Underground Railroad? Who Ran the Underground Railroad? The Underground Railroad was a network of people, African American as well as white, offering shelter and aid to escaped enslaved people from the South. It developed as a convergence of several different clandestine efforts.
Who was the best known rescuer on the Underground Railroad?
Harriet Tubman is perhaps the best-known figure related to the underground railroad. She made by some accounts 19 or more rescue trips to the south and helped more than 300 people escape slavery.
Where did the Underground Railroad go through?
Routes. Underground Railroad routes went north to free states and Canada, to the Caribbean, into United States western territories, and Indian territories. Some freedom seekers (escaped slaves) travelled South into Mexico for their freedom.
How old would Harriet Tubman be today?
Harriet Tubman’s exact age would be 201 years 10 months 28 days old if alive. Total 73,747 days. Harriet Tubman was a social life and political activist known for her difficult life and plenty of work directed on promoting the ideas of slavery abolishment.
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.
Is Gertie Davis died?
Harriet Tubman was born around 1820 on a plantation in Dorchester County, Maryland. Her parents, Harriet (“Rit”) Green and Benjamin Ross, named her Araminta Ross and called her “Minty.”
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.
What state ended slavery first?
In 1780, Pennsylvania became the first state to abolish slavery when it adopted a statute that provided for the freedom of every slave born after its enactment (once that individual reached the age of majority). Massachusetts was the first to abolish slavery outright, doing so by judicial decree in 1783.
How quilts were used in the Underground Railroad?
The seamstress would hang the quilts in full view one at a time, allowing the slaves to reinforce their memory of the pattern and its associated meaning. When slaves made their escape, they used their memory of the quilts as a mnemonic device to guide them safely along their journey, according to McDaniel.
Travel on the
Program Segments During 1-2 Class Periods Sydney Still’s Freedom Run is a grassroots campaign for freedom in Australia. Freedom’s Land is the home of the Chief Conductor.
NYS Core Curriculum – Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science and Technical Subjects, 6-12
Reading – Key Concepts and Specifics (pull info from Primary and Secondary sources) – The integration of knowledge and concepts (Integrate information from maps) Writing – Different Types of Text and Their Purposes (support claim and reasoning why, and formatting and multimedia use) – Production and Distribution of Writing (use of technology, organize suited to job) (use of technology, organize appropriate to task) – Conducting research in order to accumulate and disseminate knowledge (Gather information, draw evidence from support)
NCSS Themes
Time, Continuity, and Change III. People, Places, and Environments IV. Individual Development and Identity V. Individuals, Groups, and Institutions VIII. Science, Technology, and Society IX. Global Connections Introduction
Objectives
Time, Continuity, and Change III. People, Places, and Environments IV. Individual Development and Identity V. Individuals, Groups, and Institutions VIII. Science, Technology, and Society IX. International Connections
Key Concepts
Conductors, stations, geography, and transportation are all mentioned. Underground Railroad: The William Still Story DVD – Underground Railroad Worksheet – Instructional Resources (213.5 KB) -A blank map of North America is provided (990.5 KB) – Colored pencils in various shades – Computers to access Google Maps on the internet (maps.google.com)
Procedures
1. Take a look at the portions from The William Still Story: The Underground Railroad. 2.Students should complete the Underground Railroad Worksheet while viewing bits of the television presentation. 3.After the segments have concluded, engage in a conversation based on the program and the worksheet. 4.Then, using the map, instruct the pupils to assume that they are slaves and to create an escape path to Canada for themselves. Trace the route taken by a fugitive slave from a plantation in Mississippi, pausing in Philadelphia (where William Still lived), and continuing on to Canada with an arrow line.
- – Which rivers did you cross or pass near throughout your journey?
- Do you have an estimate for how long your travel will take?
- After giving the kids a quick explanation of how to map routes using Google Maps, have them plot an escape route.
- Begin at Richmond, Virginia; go through Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and finally arrive in Montreal, Quebec (Canadian province).
- Catharines, Ontario.
Discussion regarding the number of miles each route is and how long it would take to drive each route should be held at this point. Make a point of pointing out how much longer it would take on foot and without modern-day transportation.
Assessment Tasks
1. Take a look at the excerpts from The William Still Story: Underground Railroad. 2.While watching portions of the presentation, students should complete the Underground Railroad Worksheet. Once the segments have concluded, hold a discussion based on the presentation and the worksheet. 3. 4.Then, using the map, instruct the pupils to assume that they are slaves and to calculate their escape path to the Canadian mainland. To illustrate, trace the journey of a runaway slave who fled from a plantation in Mississippi and made his way to Philadelphia (where William Still lived) before making his way to Canada.
- – Participate in a class discussion.
- Where would you like to go and why?
- Allow the pupils to work in groups using computers in the sixth grade.
- Have the children create an escape route using Google Maps after giving them a quick understanding of the process.
- From Savannah, Georgia, travel north to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and then south to the Canadian city of St.
- Begin in Jackson, Mississippi; continue on to Detroit, Michigan; and end in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
- Insist on the fact that traveling on foot and without modern transportation would take significantly longer.
Extension Activity
1.Watch the portions from the Underground Railroad: The William Still Story. 2.Students should complete the Underground Railroad Worksheet while viewing bits of the presentation. 3.After the segments have concluded, hold a conversation based on the program and the worksheet. 4.Have the pupils assume that they are slaves and calculate their escape path to Canada using the map provided. Draw an arrow tracing the route taken by a fugitive slave fleeing from a Mississippi plantation, pausing in Philadelphia (where William Still lived), and continuing on to Canada.
- – Which rivers did you cross or pass near while on your journey?
- Do you have an estimate of how long your travel will take?
- After a quick introduction to the process of mapping routes using Google Maps, instruct the students to create an escape route for themselves.
- Begin at Richmond, Virginia; go through Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and finally arrive in Montreal, Quebec.
Catharines. Begin at Jackson, Mississippi; continue on via Detroit, Michigan; and end in Windsor, Canada. 7.Discuss how many miles each route is and how long it would take to travel each route. Make a point of pointing out how much longer it would take on foot and without modern transportation.
Program Segments for Lesson Plan
1. Take a look at the Underground Railroad: The William Still Story parts. 2.Students should complete the Underground Railroad Worksheet while viewing bits of the show. 3.After the segments are finished, have a conversation based on the program and the worksheet. 4.Then, using the map, have the pupils believe that they are slaves and calculate their escape path to Canada. Draw an arrow tracing the route taken by a fugitive slave fleeing from a plantation in Mississippi, pausing in Philadelphia (where William Still lived), and continuing on to Canada.
- – Which rivers did you cross or pass near on your journey?
- – How long do you expect your travel to take?
- After a quick introduction to the process of planning routes using Google Maps, instruct the students to create an escape route.
- – Begin in Richmond, Virginia, then go through Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, before arriving in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
- 7.Have a conversation about how many miles each route is and how long it would take to travel each route.
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.
By the 1840s, the phrase “Underground Railroad” had become part of the common lexicon in the United States. 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
Enslaved man Tice Davids fled from Kentucky into Ohio in 1831, and his master blamed a “underground railroad” for assisting Davids in his release. This was the first time the Underground Railroad was mentioned in print. In 1839, a Washington newspaper stated that an escaped enslaved man called Jim had divulged, after being tortured, his intention to go north through a “underground railroad to Boston” in order to avoid capture. After being established in New York in 1835 and Philadelphia in 1838 to safeguard fugitive enslaved individuals from bounty hunters, Vigilance Committees quickly expanded its duties to include guiding runaway slaves.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE READ THESE STATEMENTS.
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.
Tubman transported groups of fugitives to Canada on a regular basis, believing that the United States would not treat them favorably.
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.
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.
Fairfield’s strategy was to go around the southern United States appearing as a slave broker. He managed to elude capture twice. He died in 1860 in Tennessee, during the American Reconstruction Era.
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.
List of Sites for the Underground Railroad Travel Itinerary
KANSAS 1.John Brown Cabin -Osawatomie 2.Fort Scott National Historic Site- Bourbon County | |
|
|
IOWA1.Tabor Antislavery Historic District -Tabor2. George B. Hitchcock House -Lewis vicinity3.Henderson Lewelling House -Salem4.Jordan House -West Des Moines | |
|
|
WISCONSIN 1.Milton House -Milton | |
|
|
ILLINOIS 1.Owen Lovejoy House -Princeton 2.John Hossack House -Ottawa3.Dr. Richard Eells House -Quincy 4.Beecher Hall -Jacksonville5.Rutherford House- Oakland | |
|
|
MICHIGAN1.Dr. Nathan Thomas House -Schoolcraft2.SecondBaptist Church -Detroit | |
|
|
INDIANA 1.Bethel AME Church -Indianapolis 2.Levi Coffin House -Fountain City 3.Eleutherian College Classroom and Chapel Building -Lancaster4.Lyman and Asenath Hoyt House -Madison5.Madison Historic District -Madison | |
|
|
OHIO 1.Harriet Beecher Stowe House -Cincinnati2.JohnP. Parker House -Ripley3.John Rankin House -Ripley 4.Village of Mt. Pleasant Historic District -Mt. Pleasant 5.Wilson Bruce Evans House -Oberlin6.RushR. Sloane House -Sandusky7.Daniel Howell Hise House -Salem 8.Col. William Hubbard House -Ashtabula9. Reuben Benedict House -Marengo10.Samuel and SallyWilson House -Cincinnati11.James and Sophia ClemensFarmstead -Greenville12.Spring Hill -Massillon13.Putnam Historic District -Zanesville | |
|
|
PENNSYLVANIA 1.F. Julius LeMoyne House -Washington2.JohnBrown House -Chambersburg3.Bethel AME Zion Church -Reading 4.Oakdale -Chadds Ford5.White HorseFarm -Phoenixville6.Johnson House -Philadelphia | |
|
|
NEW YORK 1.Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged, Residence and ThompsonAME Zion Church -Auburn 2.St. James AME Zion Church -Ithaca 3.Gerrit Smith Estate and Land Office -Peterboro 4.John Brown Farm and Gravesite -Lake Placid 5.Foster Memorial AME Zion Church -Tarrytown6.Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims -Brooklyn7.Asa and Caroline Wing House -Oswego8.Edwin W. and Charlotte Clarke House -Oswego9.John P. and Lydia Edwards House -Oswego10.Orson Ames House -Oswego11.Starr Clock Tinshop -Mexico | |
|
|
VERMONT 1.Rokeby -Ferrisburgh | |
|
|
MAINE 1.Harriet Beecher Stowe House -Brunswick2.Abyssinian Meeting House -Portland | |
|
|
MASSACHUSETTS 1.African American National Historic Site -Boston 2.WilliamLloyd Garrison House -Boston 3.William Ingersoll Bowditch House -Brookline4.The Wayside -Concord5.Liberty Farm -Worcester6.Nathan and Mary Johnson House -New Bedford7.Jackson Homestead -Newton8.Ross Farm (Hill Ross Farm)Northampton9.Dorsey-Jones House- Northampton10.Mount Auburn Cemetary -Cambridge | |
|
|
CONNECTICUT 1.Austin F. Williams Carriagehouse and House -Farmington | |
|
|
NEW JERSEY 1.The Grimes Homestead -Mountain Lakes2.PeterMott House -Lawnside Borough3.Bethel AME Church -Greenwich4.Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church and Mount ZionCemetery -Woolwich Township | |
|
|
DELAWARE 1.Appoquinimink Friends Meeting House -Odessa2.Friends Meeting House -Wilmington3.New Castle County Courthouse -New Castle | |
|
|
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 1.Frederick Douglass National Historic Site 2.Mary Ann Shadd Cary House | |
|
|
MARYLAND 1.John Brown’s Headquarters -Sample’s Manor 2.Riley-Bolten House -North Bethesda | |
|
|
VIRGINIA 1.Bruin’s Slave Jail-Alexandria 2.Fort Monroe -Richmond3.Moncure Conway House -Falmouth4.Theodore Roosevelt Island- Rosslyn | |
|
|
WEST VIRGINIA1.Jefferson County Courthouse -Charles Town2.HarpersFerry National Historical Park -Harpers Ferry | |
|
|
FLORIDA 1.British Fort -Sumatra vicinity2.Ft.Mose Site -St. John’s County | |
|
|
COLORADO1.Barney L. Ford Building -Denver | |
|
|
NEBRASKA 1.Mayhew Cabin -Nebraska City | |
|
|
Kentucky 1.Camp Nelson -Jessamine County | |
Main Map |Home |
|
|
|
|
The Underground Railroad Route
Students will learn how to distinguish between slave states and free states during the time of the Underground Railroad, as well as the difficulties of escaping and choosing the path they would have chosen. Geography, Human Geography, and Physical Geography are the subjects covered. Students should be able to distinguish between slave and free states throughout the time of the Underground Railroad. Each pupil should be given a copy of the map titled “Routes to Freedom.” Inform pupils that the Underground Railroad aided enslaved individuals as they traveled from the South to the North during the American Civil War.
Afterwards, instruct pupils to locate each slave state on the map as you pronounce its name:
- Alabama
- sArkansas
- sDelaware
- sFlorida
- sGeorgia
- sKentucky
- sLouisiana
- sMaryland
- sMississippi
- sMissouri
- sMontana This state does not display on the map since it is not included in the list. Make use of a wall map of the United States to instruct students on where Montana is located.) North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia are among the states represented.
Explain to pupils that enslaved individuals did not have access to maps, compasses, or GPS systems throughout their time in slavery. The majority of enslaved individuals were never permitted to get an education, and as a result, they were unable to read or write. Consider the following question: How do you suppose enslaved people knew they were heading in the correct direction? Students should be informed that enslaved individuals resorted to guides on the Underground Railroad, as well as memory, visuals, and spoken communication to survive.
Talk about the difficulties you’ve encountered on your path.
Instruct pupils to examine the map and make note of any physical characteristics of the region that made the voyage challenging.
In order to demonstrate proper shading techniques, students should go to Alabama, then northeast via Maine and into Canada to see how the Applachian Mountains are shaded.
Students should be given the opportunity to tint their own maps. Ask:Can you think of anything else that made the travel difficult? Challenge them to come up with ideas for problems such as:
- Being outside in the cold and snow during the winter
- Being unable to feed oneself
- Tiredness accompanied by inability to relax
- The necessity of swimming over or across bodies of water
- Needing to travel for lengthy periods of time
- Evading or avoiding people or animals
3. Ask pupils to identify the route they would have chosen if they were in their shoes. Students should be divided into small groups. Ask each group to look at the map and choose the route they would have gone to freedom if they had been able to do so. Students should choose their selections based on the states, rivers, and mountain ranges that they would have to cover on their journey. Ask each group to describe the path they would have followed and why they would have done so.
Informal Assessment
Students should discuss what they believe to be the most difficult obstacles to fleeing enslaved people, such as distance, weather, mountains, wildlife, bodies of water, or densely inhabited places, among other things. Inquire as to how their chosen method might have assisted enslaved individuals in avoiding the difficulties they were faced with.
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to:
- The student will be able to identify slave states and free states during the time period when the Underground Railroad was active
- Describe the difficulties encountered throughout the voyage
- Indicate the path they would have followed, and explain their reasons.
Teaching Approach
- Common Core Standard 1: How to interpret and share information via the use of maps and other geographic representations, geospatial technology, and spatial thinking
- Standard 17: How to use geography to understand and interpret the past.
What You’ll Need
- Highlighters, paper, pencils, and pens, as well as a wall map of the United States
Required Technology
- Internet access is optional
- Technological setup includes one computer per classroom and a projector.
Physical Space
With the exception of promotional graphics, which normally link to another page that carries the media credit, all audio, artwork, photos, and videos are attributed beneath the media asset they are associated with. In the case of media, the Rights Holder is the individual or group that gets credited.
Writer
Naomi Friedman holds a Master’s degree in political science.
Editor
Christina Riska Simmons is a model and actress.
Educator Reviewer
Jessica Wallace-Weaver is a certified educational consultant.
Sources
- Based on the National Geographic Xpeditions lesson “Finding Your Way: The Underground Railroad,” this activity was created. Permissions Granted to Users Users’ permissions are detailed in our Terms of Service, which you can see by clicking here. Alternatively, if you have any issues regarding how to reference something from our website in your project or classroom presentation, please speak with your instructor. They will be the most knowledgeable about the selected format. When you contact them, you will need to provide them with the page title, URL, and the date on which you visited the item.
Media
If a media asset is available for download, a download button will show in the lower right corner of the media viewer window. If no download or save button displays, you will be unable to download or save the material.
Text
The text on this page is printable and may be used in accordance with our Terms of Service agreement.
Interactives
- Any interactives on this page can only be accessed and used while you are currently browsing our site. You will not be able to download interactives.
OurStory : Activities : Slave Live and the Underground Railroad : More Information
The Underground Railroad’s historical context Harriet Tubman was a conductor on the Underground Railroad. The Library of Congress has provided permission to use this image. During the 1800s, nearly one hundred thousand slaves attempted to gain their freedom by fleeing their masters’ possessions. These courageous Black Americans walked north toward free states and Canada via hidden routes known as the Underground Railroad, or south into Mexico on routes known as the Underground Railroad. Through their assistance to the runaways, free Blacks, Whites, Native Americans, and former slaves served as “conductors.” The vast majority of those who contributed were everyday individuals, such as storekeepers, housewives, carpenters, clergy, farmers, and educators.
- Others, referred to as “agents,” sought to liberate the slaves by providing them with new clothing, collecting money for food and medication, training them to read and write, and giving lectures to persuade others that slavery was immoral.
- A slave grinding grain with a mortar and pestle.
- Smithsonian Institution |
- View a bigger version Passengers were the term used to refer to slaves who traveled on the Underground Railroad.
- A group of volunteers called “agents” tried to free the slaves by providing them with new clothes, collecting money for food and medication, training them to read and write, and giving lectures to persuade people that slavery was immoral.
- Everyone who took part in the Underground Railroad shown incredible bravery.
- The people who assisted slaves were likewise in grave risk, yet they persisted in their efforts because they regarded slavery to be unconstitutional.
With Minty, a novel created by Alan Schroeder, you may learn more about Harriet Tubman when she was a tiny girl who dreamed of independence. return to the Slave Life and the Underground Railroad page
Eastern Illinois University : Teaching with Primary Sources
However, many of the intriguing and lesser known elements of the Underground Railroad are not included in many textbooks, despite the fact that it is an essential part of our nation’s history. It is intended that this booklet will serve as a window into the past by presenting a number of original documents pertaining to the Underground Railroad. Broadsides, prize posters, newspaper clippings, historical records, sheet music, pictures, and memoirs connected to the Underground Railroad are among the primary sources included in this collection.
- The Underground Railroad was a covert structure established to assist fugitive slaves on their journey to freedom in the United States.
- As a result, secret codes were developed to aid in the protection of themselves and their purpose.
- Runaway slaves were referred to as cargo, and the free persons who assisted them on their journey to freedom were referred to as conductors.
- These stations would be identified by a lantern that was lighted and hung outside.
A Dangerous Path to Freedom
Traveling through the Underground Railroad to seek their freedom was a lengthy and risky trek for escaped slaves. Runaway slaves were forced to travel long distances, sometimes on foot, in a short amount of time in order to escape. They accomplished this while surviving on little or no food and with little protection from the slave hunters who were rushing after them in the night. Slave owners were not the only ones who sought for and apprehended fleeing slaves. For the purpose of encouraging people to aid in the capture of these slaves, their owners would post reward posters offering monetary compensation for assisting in the capture of their property.
- Numerous arrested fugitive slaves were beaten, branded, imprisoned, sold back into slavery, or sometimes killed once they were apprehended.
- They would have to fend off creatures that wanted to kill and devour them while trekking for lengthy periods of time in the wilderness, as well as cross dangerous terrain and endure extreme temperatures.
- The Fleeing Slave Law of 1850 permitted and promoted the arrest of fugitive slaves since they were regarded as stolen property rather than mistreated human beings under the law at the time.
- They would not be able to achieve safety and freedom until they crossed the border into Canada.
- Aside from that, there were Underground Railroad routes that ran south, on their way to Mexico and the Caribbean.
- He was kidnapped from his northern abode, arrested, and prosecuted in Boston, Massachusetts, under the provisions of this legislation.
- After the trial, Burns was returned to the harshness of the southern states, from which he had thought he had fled.
American Memory and America’s Library are two names for the Library of Congress’ American Memory and America’s Library collections.
He did not escape via the Underground Railroad, but rather on a regular railroad.
Since he was a fugitive slave who did not have any “free papers,” he had to borrow a seaman’s protection certificate, which indicated that a seaman was a citizen of the United States, in order to prove that he was free.
Unfortunately, not all fugitive slaves were successful in their quest for freedom.
Harriet Tubman, Henry Bibb, Anthony Burns, Addison White, Josiah Henson, and John Parker were just a few of the people who managed to escape slavery using the Underground Railroad system.
He shipped himself from Richmond, Virginia, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in a box that measured three feet long, two and a half feet deep, and two feet in diameter. When he was finally let out of the crate, he burst out singing.
ConductorsAbolitionists
Fugitive slaves who wanted to escape to freedom had a long and risky trip ahead of them on the Underground Railroad. It was necessary for runaway slaves to travel great distances in a short period of time, sometimes on foot. They did this while surviving on little or no food and with little protection from the slave hunters who were following after them in the streets. The pursuit of fleeing slaves was not limited to slave owners. For the purpose of enticing people to aid in the capture of these slaves, their owners would post reward posters promising cash to anybody who assisted in the capture of their property.
- Numerous apprehended fugitive slaves were beaten, branded, imprisoned, sold back into slavery, or sometimes killed once they were captured.
- In order to live lengthy amounts of time in the wilderness, people would have to battle off creatures that wanted to kill and devour them, navigate dangerous terrain, and contend with extreme temperatures.
- The Fleeing Slave Law of 1850 permitted and promoted the apprehension of fugitive slaves since they were viewed as stolen property rather than mistreated human beings under the terms of the legislation.
- Only after crossing into Canadian territory would they find safety and liberty.
- Aside from that, there were Underground Railroad routes that ran south from the United States to Mexico and the Caribbean.
- The man was apprehended at his northern residence, arrested, and prosecuted in Boston, Massachusetts, under the provisions of this law.
- Then, following the trial, Burns was returned to the harshness of the South, from which he had believed himself to have fled.
Both the American Memory and America’s Library divisions of the Libray of Congress are located in Washington, DC.
Frederick Douglass was yet another fugitive slave who managed to flee from his master’s grasp.
He pretended to be a sailor, but it was not enough to fool the authorities into believing he was one.
Fortunately, the train conductor did not pay careful attention to Douglass’ documents, and he was able to board the train and travel to his final destination of liberty.
Although some were successful in escaping slavery, many of those who did were inspired to share their experiences with those who were still enslaved and to assist other slaves who were not yet free.
Another escaping slave, Henry “Box” Brown, managed to get away in a different fashion.
He shipped himself from Richmond, Virginia, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in a box that measured three feet long, two and a half feet deep, and two feet wide, and weighed two pounds. His singing was heard as soon as he was freed from the box.
Efforts of Abolitionists Telling Their Story:Fugitive Slave Narratives
Henry Bibb was born into slavery in Kentucky in the year 1815, and he was the son of a slave owner. After several failed efforts to emancipate himself from slavery, he maintained the strength and persistence to continue his struggle for freedom despite being captured and imprisoned numerous times. His determination paid off when he was able to successfully escape to the northern states and then on to Canada with the assistance of the Underground Railroad, which had been highly anticipated. The following is an excerpt from his tale, in which he detailed one of his numerous escapes and the difficulties he faced as a result of his efforts.
- I began making preparations for the potentially lethal experiment of breading the shackles that tied me as a slave as soon as the clock struck twelve.
- On the twenty-fifth of December, 1837, the long-awaited day had finally arrived when I would put into effect my previous determination, which was to flee for Liberty or accept death as a slave, as I had previously stated.
- It took every ounce of moral strength I have to keep my emotions under control as I said goodbye to my small family.
- Despite the fact that every incentive was extended to me in order to flee if I want to be free, and the call of liberty was booming in my own spirit, ‘Be free, oh, man!
- I was up against a slew of hurdles that had gathered around my mind, attempting to bind my wounded soul, which was still imprisoned in the dark prison of mental degeneration.
- Furthermore, the danger of being killed or arrested and deported to the far South, where I would be forced to spend the rest of my days in hopeless bondage on a cotton or sugar plantation, all conspired to discourage me.
- The moment has come for me to follow through on my commitment.
- This marked the beginning of the construction of what was known as the underground rail route to Canada.
For nearly forty-eight hours, I pushed myself to complete my journey without food or rest, battling against external difficulties that no one who has never experienced them can comprehend: “not knowing when I might be captured while traveling among strangers, through cold and fear, braving the north winds while wearing only a thin layer of clothing, pelted by snow storms through the dark hours of the night, and not a single house in which I could enter to protect me from the storm.” This is merely one of several accounts penned by runaway slaves who were on the run from their masters.
Sojourner Truth was another former slave who became well-known for her work to bring slavery to an end.
Green and many others, including Josiah Henson, authored autobiographies in which they described their own personal experiences.
Perhaps a large number of escaped slaves opted to write down their experiences in order to assist people better comprehend their struggles and tribulations; or perhaps they did so in order to help folks learn from the mistakes of the past in order to create a better future for themselves.
Traveling The Underground Railroad: A Visitor’s Guide to More Than 300 Sites: Bruce Chadwick: 9780806520933: Amazon.com: Books
On September 26, 2017, a verified purchase was reviewed in the United States. This is a really useful book. I purchased two copies of the book, one of which I gave as a gift to a friend who is now traveling to many of the locations described in it. It comes highly recommended by me. This was reviewed on May 7, 2018 in the United States. Purchase that has been verified It is my intention to travel this summer! verified purchaseReviewed on May 13, 2015 in the United States of America On August 19, 2016, a review was published in the United States.
- It also lasts for quite some time.
- My great-grandfather was an abolitionist who published editorials in our town’s newspaper to help the cause; in southern Indiana, being strong on this issue caused him annoyance and some risk, but it also brought him a lot of sympathy from other like-minded individuals, which he appreciated.
- It is particularly fascinating to understand how slaves passed on information and advice about escaping, given that virtually all of them were deprived of the regular public information sources (printed publications, civic meetings, written correspondence).
- I’m so delighted I happened to come find it!
- On February 6, 2003, a review was conducted in the United States.
- Bruce Chadwick’s succinct and thrilling chronicle of the history of the Underground Railroad is wonderfully written, and it is a must-read for everyone interested in history.
- Chadwick tells exciting stories of emancipation from slavery, including narratives such as the well-known escape of Henry “Box” Brown, as well as lesser-known riches that I will not ruin by recounting them here in this review.
It also includes an introduction to the Underground Railroad, which is considered to be the book’s sine qua non.
When it comes to the prior Amazon reviewer’s hatred for this work, I’m curious as to if there was any personal hostility between the reviewer and Dr.
There is little reason to believe the claims of historical inaccuracy and fraudulent acknowledgements leveled against him.
Read this book and have a good time on your travels!
I checked through this information to see what could be available in my immediate vicinity and in my state.
He is true in stating that Quincy was a significant subterranean railroad station; nevertheless, Grau Mill is not located in the city.
The specifics are correct, including the location at the crossroads of York and Spring Roads, among other things.
When it comes to travel planning, I would be cautious with this book.
I really want to give this book a 0 star rating or a -5 rating.
Chadwick was not alive and working as a conductor during the 1800s, or I would have been lost, captured, and sold back into slavery based on his descriptions of only one section of the Ohio Underground Railroad.
Despite the fact that there are several sights around the United States and Canada that I am confident Vince DeForest could have pointed out, he appears to have spent an inordinate lot of time in Ohio.
A tour of the Kelton House would have been impossible for him to complete without falling asleep.
What is its relevance in the history of the Underground Railroad, and what is its significance today?
“Bragging about going more than 25,000 miles,” he remembered about Benjamin Lundy as the sole thing that lingered in his memory about him.
What about the Free Labor Store, is it still in operation? I could go on, but I’ll leave a few points for others to consider. I believe you get the sarcasm. He receives a failing grade in historical accuracy, but an A+ in ambiguous research. This book should not be read.
Underground Railroad
On September 26, 2017, a customer in the United States reviewed the product. I found this to be a really useful resource book. A buddy of mine who is now traveling to many of the locations featured in the book received one of my two copies as a present. I would strongly advise you to try it out! Reviewed on May 7th, 2018 in the United States Purchase has been verified This summer, I’m going on a vacation. verified purchaseReviewed on May 13th, 2015 in the United States on the 19th of August, 2016, in the United States After borrowing it from the library, I’m thoroughly enjoying it.
- However, because the book is so extensive as a history (at least, it appears to be) and so wonderfully written, I’m taking my time and appreciating every page of the book.
- Because of this, reading about the genuine giants of that movement and the allies (even those in slave states) who made it possible for many escaping slaves to achieve freedom is fascinating.
- In contrast to a previous book that includes steel tracks in tunnels, this tiny volume is quite factual and a satisfying read.
- I read a lot of library books on my Kindle Fire since it is so easy, but there is something to be said for spending an hour at a real library because there is so much more chance for accidental discovery like this one.
- on the 6th of February, 2003, it was reviewed in the United States ‘The Underground Railroad’ by Dr.
- This book may be appreciated by both academics and laypeople since it is adventurous and refreshing from the start.
Even though this book is not intended to be a comprehensive historical account of Underground Railroad history or Civil War daily life, it does include descriptions of more than 300 sites that are currently listed as being part of the Underground Railroad, as well as an introduction to the Underground Railroad, which is the book’s central focus.
- Regarding the prior Amazonreviewer’s hatred for this work, I’m curious as to if there was any personal hostility between the reviewer and Dr.
- There is no reason to believe the claims of historical inaccuracy and fake acknowledgements leveled against the president and his administration.
- Read this book and have a good time on your adventure!
- In order to find out what could be available in my immediate vicinity and state, I browsed through this resource guide.
- He is true in stating that Quincy was a significant underground railroad station; however, Grau Mill is not located within the city.
- Even the position at the crossroads of York and Spring Roads is correct, as is every other detail.
- With this book, I would be cautious about making travel plans.
A 0 or a -5 would be ideal for me in regards to this book.
Chadwick was not alive and working as a conductor during the 1800s, or I would have been lost, captured, and sold back into slavery based on his tales of only one day in Ohio.
In spite of the fact that Vince DeForest spent a significant amount of time in Ohio, there are several sights around the United States and Canada that he could have mentioned.
A tour of the Kelton House would have been impossible for him to complete without falling asleep on the way.
In terms of the Underground Railroad’s historical significance, what can you say about it?
“Bragging about flying more than 25,000 miles,” he remembered about Benjamin Lundy as the sole thing that lingered in his mind.
Is the Free Labor Store still up for business?
I could go on, but I’ll stop here and leave a few remarks for others to read and think on. Yes, I believe you get the sarcastic tone. He receives a failing grade in historical accuracy, but an A+ in ambiguous research This is a book that you should avoid reading.
Facts, information and articles about the Underground Railroad
Aproximate year of birth: 1780
Ended
The beginnings of the American Civil War occurred around the year 1862.
Slaves Freed
Estimates range between 6,000 and 10,000.
Prominent Figures
Harriet Tubman is a historical figure. William Still is a well-known author and poet. Levi Coffin is a fictional character created by author Levi Coffin. John Fairfield is a well-known author.
Related Reading:
The Story of How Canada Became the Final Station on the Underground Railroad Harriet Tubman’s Legacy as a Freedom Fighter and a Spion is well documented.
The Beginnings Of the Underground Railroad
Even before the nineteenth century, it appears that a mechanism to assist runaways existed. In 1786, George Washington expressed dissatisfaction with the assistance provided to one of his escaped slaves by “a organization of Quakers, founded for such purposes.” The Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers as they are more officially known, were among the first abolitionist organizations to emerge. Their influence may have played a role in Pennsylvania becoming the first state to abolish slavery, which was home to a large number of Quakers.
In recognition of his contributions, Levi is often referred to as the “president of the Underground Railroad.” In Fountain City, Ohio, on Ohio’s western border, the eight-room Indiana home they bought and used as a “station” before they came to Cincinnati has been preserved and is now a National Historic Landmark.
The Underground Railroad Gets Its Name
Runaway assistance appears to have occurred well before the nineteenth century. During the Revolutionary War, George Washington expressed dissatisfaction with the assistance provided to one of his fugitive slaves by “a organization of Quakers, created specifically for this reason.” The Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers as they are more officially known, were among the first abolitionist organizations to emerge in the nineteenth century. It is possible that their influence had a role in Pennsylvania becoming the first state to abolish slavery, given it was home to many Quakers at the time.
Due to his role in the Underground Railroad, Levi is sometimes referred to as its president.
“Eliza” was one of the slaves who hid within it, and her narrative served as the inspiration for the character of the same name in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s abolitionist novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin (published in 1852).
Conductors On The Railroad
A “conductor,” who pretended to be a slave, would sometimes accompany fugitives to a plantation in order to lead them on their journey. Harriet Tubman, a former slave who traveled to slave states 19 times and liberated more than 300 people, is one of the most well-known “conductors.” She used her shotgun to threaten death to any captives who lost heart and sought to return to slavery. The Underground Railroad’s operators faced their own set of risks as well. If someone living in the North was convicted of assisting fugitives in their escape, he or she could face fines of hundreds or even thousands of dollars, which was a significant sum at the time; however, in areas where abolitionism was strong, the “secret” railroad was openly operated, and no one was arrested.
His position as the most significant commander of the Underground Railroad in and around Albany grew as time went on.
However, in previous times of American history, the phrase “vigilance committee” generally refers to citizen organizations that took the law into their own hands, prosecuting and hanging those suspected of crimes when there was no local government or when they considered the local authority was corrupt or weak.
White males who were found assisting slaves in their escape were subjected to heavier punishments than white women, but both were likely to face at the very least incarceration.
The most severe punishments, such as hundreds of lashing with a whip, burning, or hanging, were reserved for any blacks who were discovered in the process of assisting fugitive fugitives on the loose.
The Civil War On The Horizon
A “conductor,” who pretended to be a slave, would sometimes accompany fugitives to a plantation in order to direct them on their journey. Harriet Tubman, a former slave who traveled to slave states 19 times and liberated more than 300 people, is one of the most well-known “conductors.” She used her shotgun to threaten the lives of those who lost hope and sought to return to slavery. The Underground Railroad’s operators faced their own set of perils while they worked. In the North, if someone was convicted of assisting fugitives in their escape, he or she could face fines of hundreds or even thousands of dollars, which was a significant sum at the time; however, in areas where abolitionism was strong, the “secret” railroad operated in full view of the general public.
His position as the most prominent commander of the Underground Railroad in and around Albany grew as time went along.
However, in other eras of American history, the term “vigilance committee” was frequently used to refer to citizen groups that took the law into their own hands, prosecuting and lynching people accused of crimes when no local authority existed or when they believed that authority was corrupt or insufficient.
Stricter punishments were meted out to white males who assisted slaves in escaping than to white women, but both were likely to face at the very least incarceration.
The Reverse Underground Railroad
A “reverse Underground Railroad” arose in the northern states surrounding the Ohio River during the Civil War. The black men and women of those states, whether or not they had previously been slaves, were occasionally kidnapped and concealed in homes, barns, and other structures until they could be transported to the South and sold as slaves.