The Underground Railroad
Jennifer Lee and Andrew Njo
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a network of safe havens and paths used by slaves to escape to the North or Canada. The Underground Railroad consisted of meeting points, secret routes, transportation, and safe havens, and personal aid provided by abolitionists. Slaves would travel by foot, train, or boat at night. To reduce the risk of being captured the "conductors" who would act as a slave coming to work at a plantation would lead/transport the escaping slaves to each "station." Each "station" was usually in barns, under church floors, or in hiding places in caves and hollowed-out riverbanks. After the slaves arrive at the "station" they would rest. While the slaves rested, a message would be delivered to the next "conductor" that they would have a groups of incoming slaves that needed guidance.
Fun Facts
The Underground Railroad was not an actual, "Underground Railroad" but figuratively speaking it was rather known as the "Underground Resistance."
Slaves would use biblical references to the Underground Railroad.
(Example: "The Promised Land" refers to Canada.)
Harriet Tubman was one of the few woman who actually escaped. She made 19 trips back to the South and saved 300 slaves. Her bounty was up to $40,000.
Citations
Sources:
- PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2014. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2944.html>.
- "Underground Railroad." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2014. <http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/underground-railroad>.
Pictures:
- "Harriet Tubman." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_Tubman>.
- "Underground Railroad." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underground_Railroad>.
- "Underground Railroad." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2014. <http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/underground-railroad>.