The underground railroad
The Underground Railroad was a network throughout the United States that helped slaves escape to the Northern States, Canada, Great Britain, Mexico, Africa, and maroon colonies. It is thought to have began near the end of the 18th century with reports of slaves being missing. Conductors would help the escaped slaves along the Underground Railroad to freedom. From 1810 to 1850 there was an estimated 100,000 slaves that escaped the underground railroad. Until the 13th amendment abolished slavery everywhere in the united states the underground railroad continued to help slaves escape from the south.
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Shows paths slaves would take along the Underground Railroad
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The Underground Railroad was know for leading slaves to freedom, but that wasn't always the case. Sometimes slaves would be recaptured and sent back down to the south, they could be abused along the way, or they could be killed. Conductors also faced danger along these paths. Those found harboring slaves could be fined and sent to jail. Also encounters between Abolitionists or conductors, and slave catchers could turn deadly. The fugitive slaves law, which ordered all citizens to help in the recapture of runaway slaves caused more slaves to go to Canada and other countries instead of the Northern States. Even if free there was still the danger of being kidnapped and sold into slavery.
Reward Poster for Runaway Slaves
The Underground Railroad diminished around the time of the civil war. Through it thousands of slaves were now free in the northern states or in other countries. It is now known as one of the biggest acts against human bondage in the history of the United States of America. |
There were many famous Conductors who worked along the Underground Railroad. They included, Levi Coffin, Frederick Douglass, William Still, Reverend John Rankin, Thomas Garret, and the most famous of them, Harriet Tubman. Some conductors would pretend to be slaves so that they could lead escaped slaves along the Underground Railroad right from the start. Conductors would lead slaves from 10 to 20 miles each nigh on foot, boat, horse, or train.
The process of getting slaves free was much more complicated than just following an course to freedom. Escaped slaves would need new clothes to blend in and people would often donate money to pay for supplies. Vigilance committees came up in the north. They supplied many of the materials needed for escaped slaves such as the money; also they would find lodging for slaves. Picture of Harriet Tubman, one of the best know Conductors
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