The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a dramatic protest against slavery in the United States. It confronted human bondage without any direct demands or intended violence, but its efforts played a significant role in the destruction of slavery. The operations of secret escape networks began in the 1500s, and were later connected with organized abolitionist activity of the 1800s. It was not "underground" or a "railroad," but a loosely constructed network of escape routes that originated in the South, wove through the North, and eventually ended in Canada. Escape routes also extended into western territories, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Typically, enslaved African Americans who fled from plantations and cities northern to Virginia were more likely to take refuge in northern states, Canada, and western territories. Those who lived in the Deep South often ensured their freedom by escaping into Mexico and the Caribbean. Among other locations to which they fled were maroon societies, Native American groups like the Seminoles, and large southern cities such as Baltimore, New Orleans, and Charleston, South Carolina. The Underground Railroad was named unofficially in 1833. An enslaved runaway, Tice Davids, fled f
Runaways usually commuted either alone or in small groups at nightfall and rested during the daytime. The north star occasionally led the way for slaves on clear nights. Runaways received food, shelter, and money at stations, but it was very little. These shelters were normally found about ten to thirty miles. Some operators notified runaways of the stations through unobtrusive signals such as a brightly lit candle in a window or by a shimmering lantern strategically positioned in the front yard. Once safety was ensured, the temporary havens provided runaways rest in concealed rooms, attics, and cellars. When stations were not readily available, runaways took protection in caves, swamps, hills, and trenches. Underground operations often relied on secret codes to alert "passengers" when travel was safe. Some spiritual songs such as "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," "Steal Away to Jesus," and "Go Down Moses" carried coded messages related to escape. Runaways faced the risks of natural disasters, personal betrayal, and being sold back into slavery. Runaways refrained from using conventional roads patrolled by slave catchers. To avoid capture, they relied on "railways" such as back roads, waterways, mountains, swamps, forests, and fields to escape. Later, runaways sometimes traveled by wagon, steamship, boat, and railroad train. Conveyances sometimes had to be paid for. Most runaways were men whose ages ranged from sixteen to thirty-five years. The numbers of women and children were small because they were more likely to be captured. Although these inhumane conditions inspired some to flee, the desire for personal liberty played a leading part in causing most slaves to flee. For the slave, running away to the North was not easy. The first step was to escape from the slave holder. For many slave
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Approximate Word count = 1212
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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