Why Did The Underground Railroad Stop In Canada? (Professionals recommend)

They had to go to Canada to make sure they would be safe. The reason was that the United States Congress passed a law in 1850 called The Fugitive Slave Act. The Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church in Philadelphia was an important stop on the Underground Railroad as the “passengers” headed North to freedom.

Did the Underground Railroad end in Canada?

The Canadian Terminus Between 1850 and 1860 alone, 15,000 to 20,000 fugitives reached the Province of Canada. It became the main terminus of the Underground Railroad. The newcomers migrated to various parts of what is now Ontario.

What brought the Underground Railroad to an end?

The Underground Railroad ceased operations about 1863, during the Civil War. In reality, its work moved aboveground as part of the Union effort against the Confederacy.

Who stopped slavery in Canada?

Abolishment of slavery in Canada In 1793, Governor John Graves Simcoe passed the Anti-slavery Act. This law freed enslaved people aged 25 and over and made it illegal to bring enslaved people into Upper Canada.

When did Canada stop slavery?

The Slavery Abolition Act came into effect on 1 August 1834, abolishing slavery throughout the British Empire, including British North America. The Act made enslavement officially illegal in every province and freed the last remaining enslaved people in Canada.

Why did slaves go to Canada?

Many Black people migrated to Canada in search of work and became porters with the railroad companies in Ontario, Quebec, and the Western provinces or worked in mines in the Maritimes. Between 1909 and 1911 over 1500 migrated from Oklahoma as farmers and moved to Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.

Did Harriet Tubman live in Canada?

Tubman had been living in North Street in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada West since 1851; that was her home and her base of operation. She had brought her parents and her entire family to St. Catharines where they lived safe from slave catchers.

How many slaves escaped to Canada using the Underground Railroad?

In all 30,000 slaves fled to Canada, many with the help of the underground railroad – a secret network of free blacks and white sympathizers who helped runaways.

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.

How many slaves did Harriet Tubman save?

Fact: According to Tubman’s own words, and extensive documentation on her rescue missions, we know that she rescued about 70 people —family and friends—during approximately 13 trips to Maryland.

Why was there no slavery in Canada?

Those in what is now called Canada typically came from the American colonies, as no shiploads of human chattel went to Canada directly from Africa. There were no large plantations in Canada, and therefore no need for a large slave work force of the sort that existed in most European colonies in the Americas.

How many slaves are in Canada today?

Prevalence. The Global Slavery Index estimates that on any given day in 2016 there were 17,000 people living in conditions of modern slavery in Canada, a prevalence of 0.5 victims for every thousand people in the country.

What countries still have slaves?

Countries That Still Have Slavery 2021

• India (18.4 million)
• China (3.4 million)
• Pakistan (2.1 million)
• Bangladesh (1.5 million)
• Uzbekistan (1.2 million)
• North Korea (1.1 million)

Who ended slavery?

In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation declaring “all persons held as slaves… shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free,” effective January 1, 1863. It was not until the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, in 1865, that slavery was formally abolished ( here ).

What was the last country to abolish slavery?

The last country to abolish slavery was Mauritania (1981).

What percent of Toronto is black?

City of Toronto The 2016 Census indicates that 51.5% of Toronto’s population is composed of visible minorities, compared with 49.1% in 2011, and 13.6% in 1981.

To Canada and Back Again: Immigration from the United States on the Underground Railroad (1840-1860)

The MA Public History Program at Western University students created this video.

Fugitive or Free?

Prior to 1850, runaway slaves who managed to make their way from the southern United States to the northern states were regarded to have gained their freedom. However, with the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850, the northern states were no longer considered a safe haven for fugitive slaves. Slavecatchers may be able to apprehend and return escaped slaves to their respective masters. In addition, anyone who had escaped slavery by emigrating to a free state years previously may be deported back to servitude under certain circumstances.

The same threat existed for all free blacks, regardless of race.

Once they had crossed into Upper Canada, all men, women, and children were free to go wherever they wanted.

LC-USZC4-4550 is the Library of Congress’s catalog number for this item.

The Underground Railroad

In the United States, the Underground Railroad was a network of safe houses operated by abolitionists in both free and slave states, as well as Canada and the United Kingdom. Slavery was abolished because of the efforts of those who assisted slaves on their way to freedom – free blacks, Quakers, and other campaigners – who risked their lives fighting against it. Despite the fact that there was never a true railroad, safehouses were referred to as stations, and those who lived in them were referred to as stationmasters.

New Land, New Life

In Canada West (previously Upper Canada), black males were granted the ability to own property and vote if they satisfied certain qualifications regarding ownership of property. It was possible for all black people to make a living, get married, and establish a family. Building a new life in Canada was made possible thanks to the help of the Canadian government and abolitionist organisations in both Canada and the United States of America. Refugees were permitted to purchase land at a discounted cost, and educational subsidies were made available to them.

Did You Know?

The province of Upper Canada was renamed Canada West in 1841, and now it is a component of the modern-day Canadian province of Ontario.

Reception

When escaped slaves first arrived in Canada West, the vast majority of them chose to live near the United States border. Because of this, they were able to remain closer to family relatives who were distributed around the United States. During this time period, white folks acted in a largely neutral manner toward them. When fugitive slaves began to arrive in greater numbers in the United States around 1840, white residents began to feel threatened. Some people were concerned that these escaped slaves would be unable to work and would be forced to rely on government help instead.

The petition was eventually signed by over 100,000 people. Following the abolition of slavery, they were concerned about an uncontrollable flood of freshly liberated blacks.

Creating Community

Black immigrants settled in a variety of towns and communities, including Hamilton, St. Catharine’s, Windsor, and Toronto, as well as other locations. The Chatham-Kent region of Canada West has the highest population of black immigrants and refugees, according to the United Nations High Commission on Refugees. In the 1820s, a handful of all-black towns were formed in the United States. William Wilberforce, a former slave who created Wilberforce, was the world’s first community of this type. The Dawn Settlement was established in 1834 by escaped slave Josiah Henson.

• Later, the towns of Wilberforce and the Dawn Settlement were either abandoned or incorporated into other cities.
• The Buxton Mission is still in operation today in the town of North Buxton, Ontario.
• Some claimed it was the most effective means of protecting oneself, while others were concerned that it was contributing to the continuation of inequality.
• Elgin Settlement, located in what is now Chatham, Ontario, was established in 1849.
• The Elgin Settlement as seen on a map from 1860.

Josiah Henson

Josiah Henson was born a slave in Maryland in 1789, and he and his family finally escaped to Canada in 1830, where they settled. Dawn Township, which later became known as the Dawn Colony, was built by him as an all-Black settlement. Henson made a name for himself as a Methodist preacher in the area, and he believed strongly in the significance of providing work and educational opportunities for black immigrants. Harriet Beecher Stowe’s anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which was first published in 1852, was based on the life of Uncle Tom.

A neighborhood leader and “conductor” on the Underground Railroad, Josiah Henson was well-respected in his day.

Making Their Mark

Wherever they landed across Canada, black immigrants who arrived to the country via the Underground Railroad made significant contributions to the well-being of their respective communities. Many of them went on to become farmers, raising crops such as wheat, peas, tobacco, and hemp. Others were experienced tradespeople who worked as blacksmiths, shoemakers, and wagon makers, among other things. The majority of black women, like their white counterparts, did not have jobs outside the house.

They cared for their children or earned a living as seamstresses and washerwomen in the factories. What’s more, they demonstrated that, when given the opportunity, they were capable of creating and engaging in community activities.

EXTRA EXTRA!

Mrs. Mary Ann Shadd Cary (1823-1893), the daughter of an Underground Railroad “station master,” was an abolitionist pioneer and advocate for black refugees who came to Canada during the American Civil War. C-029977 is the number assigned by Library and Archives Canada. A number of publications were established in order to raise awareness of the opportunities available to black people in Canada, to disseminate news, and to advocate for the abolition of slavery. One of the early black newspapers in Canada, The Voice of the Fugitive was established in Sandwich, Canada West, in 1851 and was one of the country’s first black publications.

Following that, Mary Ann Shadd Cary started another newspaper, the Provincial Freeman, which she published until her death.

Shadd Cary was the first black woman to be elected to political office in the United States.

The Voice of the Fugitive was one of the first periodicals in Canada West to be published in order to raise awareness of the possibilities and services available to African-Americans.

Did You Know?

After meeting certain requirements, black men were granted the right to vote upon their arrival in Canada. Women in Canada were not granted the right to vote in federal elections until 1919, and Aboriginal people were not granted the right to vote until 1960.

Conclusion

While on the surface, life looked to be far better in Canada, this newfound independence had its limitations. Despite the fact that slaves were granted freedom in Canada, they were nevertheless subjected to racism, persecution, and discrimination. Blacks were pushed away from Canada as a result of these beliefs, while other circumstances drew them back towards the United States over time. The passage of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which ended slavery, resulted in a significant improvement in the conditions of black people in the United States.

Those who remained in Canada continued to make contributions to their communities, and over time, they were successful in breaking down many racial barriers.

Timeline:

Upper Canada’s John Graves Simcoe signs the Act Against Slavery into law in the year 1793. The British Emancipation Act of 1834 formally abolishes the system of slavery across the British Empire, with the exception of the colonies. The Dawn Settlement is established near Dresden, Canada West, in the year 1842. The Elgin Settlement, Canada West, is established in 1849. The Fugitive Slave Act is passed in the United States of America in 1850. Sandwich, Canada West, is the site of the inaugural publication of The Voice of the Fugitive newspaper in 1851.

Henry W.

The American Civil War began in 1861.

The American Civil War comes to a conclusion in 1865. Josiah Henson passes away in Dresden, Ontario, in the year 1883. – In Washington, D.C., Mary Ann Shadd Cary succumbs to her injuries. What If I Told You?

Underground Railroad

Upper Canada’s John Graves Simcoe signs the Act Against Slavery into law in 1793. During the year 1834, the British Emancipation Act legally abolished the system of slavery throughout the whole British Empire. The Dawn Settlement, located near Dresden in Canada West, is established in 1842. It is formed in 1849, the Elgin Settlement in Canada West. United States President Abraham Lincoln signs The Fugitive Slave Act into law. It is initially published in Sandwich, Canada West, in 1851, as TheVoice of the Fugitivenewspaper.

1. In 1854, at the age of 39, Henry W.
2. It is the year 1861, and the American Civil War has begun.
3. The American Civil War comes to a close in 1865, according to historians.
4. – In Washington, D.C., Mary Ann Shadd Cary dies at the age of 76.

Origins

When the 1793 Act to Limit Slavery was passed, a clause specified that any enslaved person who made it to Upper Canada would be declared free upon arrival. In response to this, a limited number of enslaved African Americans in quest of freedom were urged to enter Canada, mostly on their own. During and after the War of 1812, word traveled even further that independence was possible in Canada. The enslaved slaves of US military commanders in the South carried news back to the North that there were free “Black men in red coats” in British North America, which was confirmed by the British.

It gave slavecatchers the authority to track down fugitives in northern states.

Organization

When the 1793 Act to Limit Slavery was passed, a clause specified that any enslaved person who made it to Upper Canada would be freed upon arrival. There was an increase in immigration to Canada from the United States, especially by enslaved African Americans seeking freedom. Following the War of 1812, word of the possibility of independence in Canada travelled even wider. The enslaved slaves of US military commanders in the South carried news back to the North that there were free “Black men in red coats” in British North America, which sparked a national outcry.

After the passing of the American Fugitive Slave Act in 1850, the number of freedom-seekers arriving in Upper Canada surged considerably.

Symbols and Codes

In order to conceal the clandestine actions of the network, railroad language and symbols were employed. This also assisted in keeping the general public and slaveholders in the dark. Escaped slaves were referred to as “conductors” by those who assisted them on their voyage. It was their job to guide fugitives via the Underground Railroad’s routes, which included numerous kinds of transit on land and sea. Harriet Tubman was one of the most well-known conductors in history. The names “passengers,” “cargo,” “package,” and “freight” all referred to fugitive slaves on their way to freedom.

Terminals, which were stations located in numerous cities and towns, were referred to as “terminals.” Occasionally, lighted candles in windows or strategically positioned lanterns in the front yard may be used to identify these ephemeral havens of safety.

Station Masters

“Station masters” were in charge of running the safe houses. They welcomed fugitives into their house and gave them with meals, a change of clothing, and a safe haven to rest and hide from the authorities. Prior to delivering them to the next transfer location, they would frequently give them money. WilliamStill, a black abolitionist who lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was in command of a station there. He accompanied a large number of freedom seekers on their way to Canada. He kept a list of the men, women, and children that came to his station, including Tubman and her passengers, and he transcribed their names.

• He was the owner and operator of a radio station in Syracuse, New York.
• Catharines, both in Upper Canada, from 1837 until 1841, when he decided to permanently move there.
• A large number of women worked as station masters as well.
• A large number of other women worked alongside their spouses to own radio stations.

Ticket Agents

“Ticket agents” assisted freedom-seekers in coordinating safe excursions and making travel arrangements by putting them in touch with station masters or conductors, among other things. It was not uncommon for ticket agents to be people who traveled for a living, such as circuit preachers or physicians, to work. They were able to hide their abolitionist operations as a result of this. Among those who served on the Underground Railroad were doctors such as Alexander Milton Ross (born in Belleville).

He also gave them with a few basic items so that they could get started on their escape.

Ways to the Promised Land

“Lines” were the names given to the pathways that people took in order to reach freedom. In total, 14 northern states and two British North American colonies — Upper Canada and Lower Canada — were connected by the network of roads. At the end of the line lay “heaven,” also known as “the Promised Land,” which was undeveloped land in Canada or the Northern United States. A nod to the Big Dipper constellation, which points to the North Star and serves as a navigational aid for freedom-seekers seeking their way north, “the drinking gourd” was a reference to the Big Dipper.

A large number of people undertook the perilous journey on foot.

The Underground Railroad, on the other hand, did not simply operate on land. Additionally, passengers traveled by boat through lakes, oceans, and rivers. They traveled at night and slept throughout the day on a regular basis.

The Canadian Terminus

During the last decades of enslavement in the United States, an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 freedom seekers crossed the border into Canada. Approximately 15,000 to 20,000 fugitives entered the Province of Canada between 1850 and 1860 alone. Because of this, it became the primary terminal for the Underground Railroad. The immigrants settled in various sections of what is now the province of Ontario. Among these were Niagara Falls, Buxton, Chatham, Owen Sound, Windsor, Sandwich (now a part of Windsor), Hamilton, Brantford, London, Oakville, and Toronto.

1. Following this huge migration, Black Canadians assisted in the creation of strong communities and made significant contributions to the development of the provinces in where they lived and worked.
2. The Provincial Freeman newspaper published a thorough report of a specific case in its publication.
3. They were on the lookout for a young man by the name of Joseph Alexander.
4. Alexandra was present among the throngs of people and had a brief verbal encounter with his previous owner.
5. The guys were forced to flee town after the mob refused to allow them to steal Alexander’s possessions.

Legacy

The Underground Railroad functioned until the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibited slavery, was ratified in 1865. Freedom-seekers, free Blacks, and descendants of Black Loyalists settled throughout British North America during the American Revolutionary War. It is possible that some of them resided in all-Black colonies, such as the Elgin Settlement and the Buxton Mission in Ontario, the Queen’s Bush Settlement and the DawnSettlement near Dresden in Ontario, as well as Birchtown and Africaville in Nova Scotia, although this is not certain.

• Early African Canadian settlers were hardworking and forward-thinking members of society.
• Religious, educational, social, and cultural institutions, political groupings, and community-building organizations were all founded by black people in the United States.
• (See, for example, Mary Ann Shadd.) African-American men and women held and contributed to a diverse variety of skills and abilities during the time period of the Underground Railroad.
• They also owned and operated saw companies, frozen food distributors, livery stables, pharmacies, herbal treatment services and carpentry firms.
• Black people took an active role in the struggle for racial equality.
• In their communities, they waged war on the prejudice and discrimination they met in their daily lives in Canada by getting meaningful jobs, securing homes, and ensuring that their children received an education.
• Many people were refused the right to dwell in particular neighborhoods because of their color.
• Through publications, conferences, and other public activities, such as Emancipation Day celebrations, Black groups expressed their opposition to racial prejudice and worked to make society a better place for everyone.
• Beginning with their search for independence, security, wealth, and human rights, early Black colonists worked to create a better life for themselves, their descendents, and their fellow citizens in the United States.

In addition, see: Underground Railroad (Plain Language Summary); Black Enslavement in Canada (Plain Language Summary); Chloe Cooley and the Act to Limit Slavery in Upper Canada; Anti-slavery Society of Canada; Josiah Henson; Albert Jackson; Richard Pierpoint; and Editorial: Black Female Freedom Fighters (in English and French).

Underground Railroad

During the 1850s and 1860s, slaves fleeing the hardships of plantation life in the American South found shelter in British North America, which became a favorite destination for them. In all, 30,000 slaves escaped to Canada, many with the assistance of the underground railroad, which was a hidden network of free blacks and white supporters who assisted runaways in their escape. Canada was seen as a secure sanctuary where a black person may live without fear of persecution. Slavery has been banned in Upper Canada (formally known as Canada West) since the end of the 1700s, according to historical records.

• Mary Ann Shadd was a freeborn black lady from Delaware who was not born into slavery and who eventually migrated in Canada.
• “In Canada, like in other newly populated nations, there is a lot of work to be done, but there are only a few people available to do it.
• In exchange for a shot at freedom, many black people were ready to risk everything, and one of their heroes was a black lady named Harriet Tubman.
• After fleeing to the north in search of freedom, she rose to become one of the most important organizers of the underground railroad.
• If I couldn’t have one, I’d take the other, because no man should be allowed to steal my life “Tubman shared his thoughts.
• They followed rivers, concealed in bogs and forests, and were continually on the lookout for slave-hunters lurking behind them.
• Tubman made 19 visits to the South between 1850 and 1860, resulting in the liberation of around 300 persons.

Anti-slavery societies arose in the cities and towns of British North America as a response to the influx of newly arrived Africans.

Each pro-elimination assembly was followed by one advocating for the abolition of black immigration.

The people of the United States should carry the weight of their misdeeds, according to one colonist.

Uncertain opinions concerning blacks and their status in the colonies were brought to light by one particular instance.

If the slave-hunters were unable to locate the individual they were seeking for, they would occasionally take someone else to sell into slavery.

According to the plan, the youngster would be transported to the Southern states aboard a train that would pass via Chatham, a town of 3,585 people in which half the population was black.

The raid on the train, despite the fact that Venus turned out to be a freeborn black woman, nonetheless caused consternation among some white Canadians.

Some Negroes made the discovery here and telegraphed it to the coloured people in Chatham, who gathered a mob of three hundred people and, when the train arrived at the station, they forcibly removed the boy from his master, despite the fact that the child cried and expressed his reluctance to be taken away.

When they were unable to pay the hefty penalties, some of them were sentenced to prison.

William, Isaac’s aunt, wrote to him from her residence in Delaware.

The American gold rush will eventually come to an end, and Canada will be transformed into a hunting field for the American bloodhound.” Despite this, many slaves were able to find refuge in Canada, where they became a part of a new country that was on the cusp of transformation.

Underground Railroad

See how abolitionists in the United States, like as Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and Thomas Garrett, assisted enslaved people in their attempts to escape to freedom. Learn about the abolitionist movement in the United States, as well as the importance of the Underground Railroad in this historical period. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. is a publishing company that publishes encyclopedias. View all of the videos related to this topic. When escaped slaves from the South were secretly assisted by sympathetic Northerners, in defiance of the Fugitive Slave Acts, to reach safe havens in the North or Canada, this was referred to as the Underground Railroad in the United States.

Even though it was neither underground nor a railroad, it was given this name because its actions had to be carried out in secret, either via the use of darkness or disguise, and because railroad words were employed in relation to the system’s operation.

In all directions, the network of channels stretched over 14 northern states and into “the promised land” of Canada, where fugitive-slave hunters were unable to track them down or capture them.

Harriet Beecher Stowe, best known for her novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, obtained firsthand experience of escaped slaves via her association with the Underground Railroad in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she lived for a time during the Civil War.

The existence of the Underground Railroad, despite the fact that it was only a small minority of Northerners who took part in it, did much to arouse Northern sympathy for the plight of slaves during the antebellum period, while also convincing many Southerners that the North as a whole would never peacefully allow the institution of slavery to remain unchallenged.

When was the first time a sitting president of the United States appeared on television?

Amy Tikkanen has made the most current revisions and updates to this page.

International Underground Railroad Month Event

September has been designated as International Underground Railroad Month in Maryland by Governor Larry Hogan, who took office in January 2019. Since then, several states have joined in the commemoration of the heritage of Freedom Seekers in the United States and Canada by designating this month as Freedom Seekers Month. Because of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, which connects historical sites across the country, many of which are hosting unique programs during September, the National Park Service has established a network of connections between them.

The significance of the Underground Railroad in both Canadian and American history, the relevance of this history today, and the long-lasting legacy of Freedom Seekers will all be discussed throughout the panel discussion.

Selected Quotes

Spencer Crew is a fictional character created by author Spencer Crew. “It is preferable to conceive of the Underground Railroad as a loose network of individuals from many areas of life who are opposed to enslavement and who are prepared to seek freedom for themselves or to assist others in gaining their freedom.” It is significant because it is also an inter-racial operation with a long history in both of our countries, which we can be quite proud of and which we shall endeavor to better comprehend.

• However, there is no specific date that we could point to as the beginning of the Underground Railroad.
• Some would say this represents the early beginnings of the Underground Railroad.” Bryan Wall is a writer who lives in the United States.
• From a personal standpoint, I believe the Underground Railroad to be a historically neutral event.
• No fingers are pointed, which is one of the most beautiful aspects of the narrative; instead, it is a story of liberation in which everyone and everything is a part of the equation for freedom; it is a theme and message that is much needed in our modern world.
• It is my hope that this book will help to place the Underground Railroad in a more comprehensive context.

False myths have distorted the way we think about the Underground Railroad, and it is as a result of the long Jim Crow era that the true history of the Underground Railroad and its significance, particularly its biracial nature, have been submerged beneath the waves of forgetfulness, obscuring the true significance of the Underground Railroad.

1. However, in both the United States and Canada, this phenomenon known as the Underground Railroad had a significant role, far more than it has been given credit for in the United States.
2. That it was the first interracial movement in the United States, and it was profoundly multiracial, with Black Americans often bearing equal responsibility for making the system function was a significant achievement.
3. You could call them whatever you wanted.
4. Many groups were largely African American, but many others were not.
5. In this way, it increased the likelihood of its success.
6. A large number of northerners experienced slaves for the first time when former slaves were delivered into what had previously been exclusively White communities.
7. Hearing the accounts of escaped slaves inspired those who had never considered abolitionism before to become abolitionists,” says the author.
8. Canada was the starting point for former slaves who traveled there and were able to rebuild or construct lives in freedom for the first time.

Former slaves who have settled in Canada have acquired property, started businesses, started careers, and made money, making them the first Black North Americans in North America to be able to shape their own futures based on their own desires and ideals for the first time in North America’s history.

“I believe that there is a huge movement going place right now that has a political and moral component, as well as a profound personal dimension.” Irene Moore is a writer and actress who lives in New York City.

Nonetheless, we can never fail to be startled, astonished, and so inspired by the inventiveness and tenacity of these individuals, as well as their passion, fortitude, and critical thinking as they set out on their trip.

That is the kind of work I hope this month will inspire us all to get started on.” ‘The Underground Railroad is such a vital component of Canada’s history, and its significance cannot be overstated.’ It’s quite essential, and it truly contributes to the formation of our feeling of national identity as Canadians.

• A common misconception is that they had it easy and that Canada was just a kind and friendly place, which is not true.
• “I suppose I’d want to attempt to put the Underground Railroad in a historical context.in much of my writing, I’ve argued that the American Revolution did not come to a close in 1781 or 1783, but rather in 1781 and 1783.
• I’d want to make an attempt to situate the Underground Railroad in that framework as well.
• I’d want to see it evolve into something more than just a network.
• The Underground Railroad, I believe, should be considered an agent or tool of the American Revolution, rather than a means to its completion.
• Activists throughout the United States, Canada, and even Europe are collaborating on projects.
• As a result, from that perspective, the Underground Railroad is transformed into a community of amazing and multiracial individuals committed to the cause of liberation.

This is vitally crucial to understand.

When the Underground Railroad is seen in this context, it becomes much more than a fiction of scattered safe homes and abolitionists; it becomes a movement that begins to push slaves from the movement as soon as slavery takes root in America and continues until freedom is attained.

One of my pupils raised his hand to express his interest.

To me, that corresponded to what the legends of the Underground Railroad and the learning struggle for freedom had been passed down down the generations.

“It is a history that spans continents.

Canada, the Caribbean, and the diaspora do not recognize it as a legitimate part of their own cultures.

It just depends on your perspective of view.” “It’s important to remember that the Underground Railroad was not owned by a single country or by a single group of people; it was multicultural, it was international, and it was a movement.” The world’s first civil rights movement was launched in this year.

It is owned by everyone, and we need to know that tale in order to understand how we should go forward in the world today, and where that story fits in now.”

Underground Railroad

Escapees from slavery travelled north in order to reclaim their freedom and escape harsh living conditions in their home countries. They required daring and cunning in order to elude law enforcement agents and professional slave catchers, who were paid handsomely for returning them to their masters’ possession. Southerners were extremely resentful of people in the North who helped the slaves in their plight. They invented the name “Underground Railroad” to refer to a well-organized network dedicated to keeping slaves away from their masters, which occasionally extended as far as crossing the Canadian border.

In 1850, Congress created the Fugitive Slave Law, which imposed severe fines on anybody found guilty of assisting slaves in their attempts to flee.

Underground Railroad “Stations” Develop in Iowa

Iowa shares a southern border with Missouri, which was a slave state during the American Civil War. The abolitionist movement (those who desired to abolish slavery) built a system of “stations” in the 1840s and 1850s that could transport runaways from the Mississippi River to Illinois on their route to freedom. Activists from two religious movements, the Congregationalists and the Quakers, played crucial roles in the abolitionist movement. They were also involved in the Underground Railroad’s operations in the state of New York.

1. According to one source, there are more than 100 Iowans who are participating in the endeavor.
2. The Hitchcock House, located in Cass County near Lewis, is another well-known destination on the Underground Railroad in one form or another.
3. George Hitchcock escorted “passengers” to the next destination on his route.
4. Several of these locations are now public museums that are available to the general public.
5. Individual families also reacted when they were approached for assistance.
6. When the Civil War broke out and the Fugitive Slave Law could no longer be enforced in the northern states, a large number of slaves fled into the state and eventually settled there permanently.

Iowa became the first state to offer black males the right to vote in 1868. It was determined that segregated schools and discrimination in public accommodations were both unconstitutional in Iowa by the Supreme Court.

Iowa: A Free State Willing to Let Slavery Exist

Slavery has been a contentious topic in the United States since its inception, and it continues to be so today. As new states entered the Union, the early fights did not revolve over slavery in the South but rather its expansion. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 created an east-west line along the southern boundary of Missouri, which would remain in place for the rest of time, separating free and slave settlement. States to the south could accept slavery, however states to the north (with the exception of slave state Missouri) could not.

• The majority of Iowans were ready to allow slavery to continue in the South.
• They enacted legislation in an attempt to deter black people from settling in the state.
• Iowa did have a tiny community of abolitionists who believed that slavery was a moral evil and should be abolished worldwide.
• This increased the likelihood that Nebraska, which borders Iowa on its western border, would become a slave state.
• The Republican Party has evolved as a staunch opponent of any future expansion of slavery into western areas in the United States.

Supporting Questions

• $200 Reward: Poster for the Return of Formerly-Enslaved People, October 1, 1847 (Document)
• “Effects of the Fugitive-Slave-Law” Print, 1850 (Image)
• Fugitive Slave Law, 1850 (Document)
• Poster for the Return of Formerly-Enslaved People, October 1, 1847 (Document)
• Poster for the Return of Formerly-Enslaved People, October 1, 1847 (Do

How did runaway slaves rely on the help of abolitionists to escape to freedom?

• Article from the Anti-Slavery Bugle titled “William and Ellen Craft,” published on February 23, 1849 (Document)
• Anti-Slavery Bugle Article titled “Underground Railroad,” published on September 16, 1854 (Document)
• “A Presbyterian Clergyman Suspended for Being Connected with the Underground Railroad” Article published on November 8, 1855 (Document)
• William Maxson Home in West Liberty, Iowa, circa 1890 (Image)
• “Fugitive

How did some runaway slaves create their own opportunities to escape?

• A newspaper article entitled “The ‘Running of Slaves’ – The Extraordinary Escape of Henry Box Brown” published on June 23, 1849 (Document)
• The Henry “Box” Brown Song and the Engraved Box, published in 1850 (Image, Document)
• “The Resurrection of Henry ‘Box’ Brown at Philadelphia” illustration published in 1850 (Image)
• Robert Smalls: “The Steamer ‘Planter’ and Her Captor,” published on June 14, 1862 (Do

$200 Reward: Poster for the Return of Formerly-Enslaved People, October 1, 1847

After escaping enslavement, many people depended on northern whites to guide them securely to the northern free states and eventually to Canadian territory. For someone who had previously been forced into slavery, life may be quite perilous. There were incentives for capturing them, as well as adverts such as the one seen below for a prize. More information may be found here.

“Effects of the Fugitive-Slave-Law” Illustration, 1850

Written in strong opposition to the Runaway Slave Act, which was approved by Congress in September 1850 and expanded federal and free-state duty for the return of fugitive slaves, this letter is full of anger. The bill called for the appointment of federal commissioners who would have the authority to enact regulations. More information may be found here.

Fugitive Slave Law, 1850

As a result of the Fleeing Slave Law of 1850, it became unlawful for anybody in the northern United States to aid fugitive slaves in their quest for freedom. This statute supplemented the 1793 Fugitive Slave Act with additional clauses addressing runaways, and it imposed even harsher sanctions for interfering with their escape. More information may be found here.

Anti-Slavery Bugle Article – “William and Ellen Craft,” February 23, 1849

In this article from the abolitionist journal, The Anti-Slavery Bugle, the narrative of Ellen and William Craft’s emancipation from slavery is described in detail.

Ellen disguised herself as a male in order to pass as the master, while her husband, William, claimed to be her servant as they made their way out of the building. More information may be found here.

Anti-Slavery Bugle Article – “Underground Railroad,” September 16, 1854

The Anti-Slavery Bugle article indicates the number of runaway slaves in northern cities in 1854, based on a survey conducted by the organization. This group contained nine slaves from Boone County, Kentucky, who were seeking refuge in the United States. Their captors were said to be on the lookout for them in Cincinnati, and they were found. More information may be found here.

“A Presbyterian Clergyman Suspended for Being Connected with the Underground Railroad” Article, November 8, 1855

This newspaper story was written in Fayettville, Tennessee, in 1855 and is a good example of historical journalism. When Rev. T. B. McCormick, a priest in Indiana, was suspended for his membership in the Underground Railroad, the article details his ordeal in detail. In the narrative, he is accused of supporting escaped slaves on their way to freedom. More information may be found here.

William Maxson Home in West Liberty, Iowa, 1890

It was published in the Fayetteville, Tennessee, newspaper in 1855, and is a good example of historical journalism. When Rev. T. B. McCormick, a clergyman in Indiana, was suspended for his membership in the Underground Railroad, the article tells what happened. In the narrative, he is accused of supporting fugitive slaves on their way out of the country. More information may be found at.

“Fugitive Slave Case Was Tried” – A Daily Gate City Article, April 13, 1915

This story, which was published in the Keokuk, Iowa, newspaper The Daily Gate City in 1915, is about a trial that took place in Burlington in 1850. Buel Daggs, the plaintiff, sought $10,000 in damages as recompense for the services of nine slaves who had fled from Missouri and had worked for him as slaves. More information may be found here.

“The ‘Running of Slaves’ – The Extraordinary Escape of Henry ‘Box’ Brown” Article, June 23, 1849

It was published in the Keokuk, Iowa newspaper The Daily Gate City in 1915 and is about a trial that took place in Burlington, Iowa, in 1850 and was published in The Daily Gate City. Buel Daggs, the plaintiff, sought $10,000 in damages as recompense for the services of nine slaves who had escaped from Missouri and had been working for him. More information may be found at.

Henry “Box” Brown Song and the Engraved Box, 1850

Image of the engraving on the box that Henry “Box” Brown built and used to send himself to freedom in Virginia. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. There is a label on the box that says “Right side up with care.” During his first appearance out of the box in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the attached song, Henry “Box” Brown sang a song that is included here. More information may be found here.

“The Resurrection of Henry ‘Box’ Brown at Philadelphia” Illustration, 1850

Henry “Box” Brown, a slave who escaped from Richmond, Virginia, in a box measuring three feet long, two and a half feet deep, and two and a half feet broad, is depicted in a somewhat comical but sympathetic manner in this artwork. In the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society’s administrative offices. More information may be found here.

Robert Smalls: “The Steamer ‘Planter’ and Her Captor,” June 14, 1862

The escape of Robert Smalls and other members of his family and friends from slavery was chronicled in detail in an article published in Harper’s Weekly. Smalls was an enslaved African American who acquired freedom during and after the American Civil War and went on to work as a ship’s pilot on the high seas. More information may be found here.

“A Bold Stroke for Freedom” Illustration, 1872

The image from 1872 depicts African Americans, most likely fleeing slaves, standing in front of a wagon and brandishing firearms towards slave-catchers.

A group of young enslaved persons who had escaped from Loudon by wagon are said to be shown in the cartoon on Christmas Eve in 1855, when patrollers caught up with them. More information may be found here.

Additional Resources:

• Harriet Tubman Day is observed annually on March 31. The statement issued by the State of Delaware on the observance of Harriet Ross Tubman Day on March 10, 2017 may be seen on the website. Governor John Carney and Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long both signed the statement. Harriet Tubman – A Guide to Online Resources A wide range of material linked with Harriet Tubman may be found in these digital collections from the Library of Congress, which include manuscripts, pictures, and publications. It is the goal of this guide to consolidate connections to digital materials about Harriet Tubman that are available throughout the Library of Congress website. Scenes from Harriet Tubman’s Life and Times The website, which is accessible through the Digital Public Library of America, contains portions from the novel Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman, written by Sarah Bradford in 1869 and published by the American Library Association.

Maryland’s Pathways to Freedom: The Underground Railroad in the State of Maryland On this page, you can find primary materials pertaining to Maryland and the Underground Railroad. This includes information from three former slaves, Samuel Green, Phoebe Myers, and their descendants today. “The Underground Railroad: A Secret History” by Eric Foner is a book on the history of the Underground Railroad. Among the topics covered in this piece from The Atlantic is the Underground Railroad’s “secret history,” which includes the reality that the network was not nearly as covert as many people believed.

Iowa Core Social Studies Standards (8th Grade)

The content anchor requirements for Iowa Core Social Studies that are most accurately reflected in this source collection are listed below. The subject requirements that have been implemented to this set are appropriate for middle school pupils and cover the major areas that make up social studies for eighth grade students in the United States.

• S.8.13.Explain the rights and obligations of people, political parties, and the media in the context of a range of governmental and nonprofit organizations and institutions. (Skills for the twenty-first century)
• SS.8.19.Explain how immigration and migration were influenced by push and pull influences in early American history. SS.8.21.Examine the relationships and linkages between early American historical events and developments in the context of wider historical settings
• In your explanation of how and why prevalent social, cultural, and political viewpoints altered over early American history, please include the following information: SS.8.23.Explain the numerous causes, impacts, and changes that occurred in early American history
• And The Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, Washington’s Farewell Address, the Louisiana Purchase Treaty with France, the Monroe Doctrine, the Indian Removal Act, the Missouri Compromise, Dred Scott v. Sanford, and the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo are examples of primary and secondary sources of information that should be critiqued with consideration for the source of the document, its context, accuracy, and usefulness.