underground railroad
The Underground Railroad was developed before the Civil War. It was a secret network organized by people who helped men, women and children escape Slavery. The reason it was called the Underground Railroad, was because things underground were considered hidden. Many people couldn't find the pathways of how the slaves were escaping, which led to the name; Underground Railroad.
People who helped the slaves escape are called conductors or engineers. Engineers were the leaders of the railroads. The places/stops along the way are called stations. Also, people escaping slaves were called passengers, cargo, or goods.
The conductors provided shelter, hiding places, food, jobs, and transportation for fugitives. Conductors gave directions for the slaves to get to the North faster. Conductors not only gave slaves shelter and food, they would tell slaves where the next station was. The farthest slaves went was to Canada because, yes the North was safe, but if you were caught by your slave owner, you would be taken back and beaten. Others would return back to the South to help fellow slaves get to freedom.
Southerners hated the north for taking their slaves and helping them be free. Northerners hated the South for owning slaves and treating them so horribly. This caused each region of the United States to have two total different opinions. Although, some Southerners didn't believe in slavery and would help as many slaves as possible to be free through the Underground Railroad.
The conductors provided shelter, hiding places, food, jobs, and transportation for fugitives. Conductors gave directions for the slaves to get to the North faster. Conductors not only gave slaves shelter and food, they would tell slaves where the next station was. The farthest slaves went was to Canada because, yes the North was safe, but if you were caught by your slave owner, you would be taken back and beaten. Others would return back to the South to help fellow slaves get to freedom.
Southerners hated the north for taking their slaves and helping them be free. Northerners hated the South for owning slaves and treating them so horribly. This caused each region of the United States to have two total different opinions. Although, some Southerners didn't believe in slavery and would help as many slaves as possible to be free through the Underground Railroad.
Harriet Tubman was the most famous slave in history. She saved over 300 slaves in a total of 19 trips. Harriet Tubman never was caught, and would always safely free the slaves she helped. If one had second thoughts on leaving, she would force them to keep walking because she knew how bad the South was.