Underground Railroad

Underground Railroad: Road to Freedom or Death?

I'm writing this are to explain how the underground rail road started, why, when and how it was like. My sources were only books.

You may be wondering what the under ground rail road is, well it is the term given to slaves escape routes.It helped runaway slaves to reach safety of the northern or in Canada. Slavery was illegal in Canada. The rail road routes led from the south to the north. (Although they were not really railroads at all, but routes where people would go from place to place).

The Underground Railroad sprang up and grew over time as more people helped run away slaves move north. Even though it was illegal, they helped them because they believed that no person should own another person. Although many lucky slaves made it to freedom, other unlucky slaves didn't make it at all. They were often hunted down while trying to escape. They were sometimes beaten and even shot when captured. As another punishment for trying to escape. Slave owners would cut off their fingers, heels or toes.

At the end of the war of 1812, U.S. soldiers spread the word that Canada was a safe place for run away slaves. So some slaves began the long and life threating journey to the North. Many slaves each had their own idea of a good hiding place such as houses,farm's,barn's, cave's secret compartments and even grave yards.

Slaves took directions from the north star and moss that grew on tree trunks. People who helped run away slaves were called Conductors. Conductors had secret codes that helped slaves get to their destination safely; like quilts and stones the tapping of stones meant for slaves that it wasn't safe to come out at the moment. A bear claw patterned quilt meant for the slaves to follow bear tracks over mountains.

The most famous conductors were Uncle Billy Marshal and Harriet Tubman. It is believed that they helped over 300 run away slaves make it to freedom. Alexander Ross was also a conductors, but even more impressing he was a white doctor with a big heart. He helped many slaves by providing them with supplies and Canada directions.

By the 1860 many states have passed laws for or against of slavery. That same year, Abraham Lincoln was elected as the U.S president. He did not believe in slavery even thought it was legal under the U.S constitution. He thought the federal government had no power to out law slavery. He said each state should decide if it was legal.

The Underground Railroad was a dramatic protest action against slavery. This secret operation was part of a organized abolitionist activity in the 1800's. The story of the under ground rail road includes the many brave slaves determined to reach freedom, as well as the people who helped them. Although there were many routs slaves could take only few from each slave states made it to freedom, the nearest were either were captured or they died of starvation or extreme weather. Slavery started in 1501 and it ended completely in 1865, that's a lot of years that remaining slaves had to put up with. Many say it was worth it, at least they were free for ever.

Photo Credit

Library of Congress

Public Domain