The Underground Railroad
The Journey to Freedom
By: Angelina Perez
What was the Underground Railroad?
The Underground Railroad was a network used by enslaved black Americans to obtain their freedom. To gain that freedom the slaves would have to escape to Canada. Also, The Underground Railroad was never a railroad, It was a group of people who just wanted to help the slaves gain their freedom.
The Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act was a law that said that the Slaves who escaped to a free state could be returned back to their owners. This law just made it harder for the slaves and this is also the reason why the slaves either had to escape to Canada or to another country that doesn't believe in slavery.
Secret codes
Slaves and the Abolitionists had secret codes for their journey. Those who guided the slaves to freedom were called "Condutors", The slaves were called "Passengers", and the people's home or businesses where the slaves and conductors can hide and gain safety were called "Stations".
Some of the Conducters
Harriet Tubman
Harriet was a woman who escaped from her master and fled to Canada. Once she reached Canada, She came back to the U.S to help her family escape also. She escorted over 300 slaves to freedom.
Levi Coffin
Levi was the president of the Underground Railroad. he would offer slaves shelter, and gave them the supplies they needed for their journey.
Thomas Garrett
Thomas would help the slaves travel on the Railroad. He had helped about 2700 slaves. He had also used his home as a station for the slaves.
Sources
- "Underground Railroad Secret Codes." Harriet Tubman. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2016.
- "The Underground Railroad." National Geographic Education. N.p., 16 Nov. 2011. Web. 18 Mar. 2016.
- Sawyer, Kem Knapp. The Underground Railroad in American History. Springfield, NJ: Enslow, 1997. Print.
- Rau, Dana Meachen. Harriet Tubman. Minneapolis, MN: Compass Point, 2001. Print.
- Martin, Michael. Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. Mankato, MN: Capstone, 2005. Print