Underground Railroad Essay - 726 Words

The Undergorund Railroad served as a gateway to heaven for slaves of the southern United States. It provided slaves a way to get north to the freeland, where they would not be forced into slavery. It was the best way for slaves to get away. The Underground Railroad was a network of people that helped fugitive slaves get to the freeland (northern U.S. and Canada). It was not ran/maintained by one person or organization, instead it was made up of lots of individuals. Some of these people were white, but most were black. It effectively moved hundreds of slaves northward yearly (according to an estimate, 100,000 slaves were moved up north between the years 1810 and 1850). Though that seems to be a big number, still, lots of slaves were†¦show more content†¦But before they were let loose towards another station, the stockholders would provide money and clothing, making the slaves be less of a sore thumb when out in public. After that, they would repeat the process until they reach their desired destination, which was freedom and states away from slavery. There were many names that should be noticed for providing valiant efforts towards freeing the fugitive slaves. Harriet Tubman, who made about 19 trips into the so uth, freeing over 300 slaves in her journeys; John Fairfield, the son of a slaveowner who daringly rescued some slaves at his fathers plantation; and John Coffin, a Quaker that escorted over 3,000 slaves. The usage of the Underground Railroad seemed to be rather active, but one event caused it and its users to make even more haste in their operations. This event was the Fugitive Slave Act. It made it to where if someone came across a fugitive slave, they MUST return them to their owner, the slavemaster. If they were caught with a slave, and had no plans to return him/her, they could be jailed and fined since it was looked at as a crime. This caused the Underground Railroad operations speed up because slaves were no longer free near the south, and it would be easier to get caught and be returned to their slavemasters. So even the already free slaves in the south went farther/farthest up north (U.S., mainly Canada) to where the lawShow MoreRelated The Underground Railroad: Escaping Slavery Essays818 Words   |  4 Pages The Underground Railroad was what many slaves used to escape slavery. It was not an actual railroad, although it could easily be compared to one. It was a route, with safe houses and many other hiding spots for the slaves to use. The paths had conductors telling you where to go and people who would drive you to the next safe house. You had to be quick, you had to be strong, and you had to be very courageous. The Underground Railroad led all the way to Canada. There were many people helping the slavesRead MoreSigns, Symbols and Signals of the Underground Railroad Essay3216 Words   |  13 PagesSigns, Symbols and Signals of the Underground Railroad A journey of hundreds of miles lies before you, through swamp, forest and mountain pass. Your supplies are meager, only what can be comfortably carried so as not to slow your progress to the Promised Land – Canada. The stars and coded messages for guidance, you set out through the night, the path illuminated by the intermittent flash of lightning. Without a map and no real knowledge of the surrounding area, your mind races before youRead More The Underground Railroad Essay1451 Words   |  6 PagesThe Underground Railroad The Underground Railroad was one of the most remarkable protests against slavery in United States history. It was a fight for personal survival, which many slaves lost in trying to attain their freedom. 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This applies to Unwind due to the way the kids are treated and theRead MoreThe Underground Railroad Essay2058 Words   |  9 PagesHistory and Literary Thinking Underground Railroad The Underground Railroad was located in the American South. A system created to free slaves in the American South, but it was not actually a railroad or underground it was a secret pathway that slaves took to escape from their master. This pathway that the runaway slave took was very secret. They would know when to go out to the railroad because of the songs that they sung. The Underground Railroad not only helped black slaves but also poor whiteRead MoreEssay on underground railroad1680 Words   |  7 Pagesnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Introduction nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The Underground Railroad, the pathway to freedom which led a numerous amount of African Americans to escape beginning as early as the 1700‘s, it still remains a mystery to many as to exactly when it started and why. (Carrasco). The Underground Railroad is known by many as one of the earliest parts of the antislavery movement. Although the system was neither underground nor a railroad, it was a huge success that will never be forgotten. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;IRead MoreThe Underground Railroad Essay1530 Words   |  7 Pagesthe Underground Railroad. During this time, not all white folks agreed with enslaving other human beings so a group of White-Americans, called abolitionists, helped aid hundreds of slaves to freedom (Salzman 2225). There are several historical fiction novels that help explain this period of slavery accurately. Historical fiction novels convey a certain time period and usually borrow characteristics from this time period, but the actual story is fictitious. The novel, The Underground Railroad, byRead MoreEssay on The Underground Railroad1801 Words   |  8 Pagesfor freedom that they escaped through The Underground Railroad. A number of working conditions required the slaves to interact with one another; this made it easier for them to communicate. Much of this communication was made through code talk so only the slaves would understand; this played in their favor, allowing the slaves to plan their freedom. Along with these points, many wonder what measures supported the forward movement of The Underground Railroad and what procedures obstructed its progressRead MoreThe Underground Railroad : The United States History1456 Words   |  6 PagesThe Underground Railroad is a popular topic in United States history, but many of the stories told about it are more myth than fact. Quilts have been often used as a symbol in children s picture books to further the understanding of one of the darkest periods of United States history: slavery. Parents and teachers have eagerly embraced these illustrated books as a way to understand and teach past turmoil. Many of these books suggest that people who participated in the Underground Railroad used quiltsRead MoreEssay about The Underground Railroad1092 Words   |  5 Pageswere beaten. For these reasons, many slaves decided to risk their lives and run away in search of freedom. The Underground Railroad was formed in 1810 and more than 100,000 slaves escaped between 1810 and 1850. Following the Fugitive Slave Law of 1793, northern and southern abolitionists, Native Americans, religious groups, and freed slaves acted as â€Å"conductors† on the Underground Railroad. Safe houses were called â€Å"stations† and the owner and operator of the safe house was the â€Å"stationmaster†. People