Underground Railroad

We. Ignore. The two children can we think of trouble in the world God's gonna trouble the war to. Almost everyone has heard about The Underground Railroad. What many folks don't realize is that it was not a railroad at all. The Underground Railroad was an organized secret network of abolitionist and free blacks, lending their assistance in helping slaves find freedom. They offered runaway slaves a place to hide and to sleep, during their journeys north to the free states. Many of these shelters were tunnels, sheds, and people's homes. The Underground Railroad began roughly around the 1820s, and continued right up until the Civil War. Runaway slaves fled the southern states and risked everything for a better life in northern territories. Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Canada were the most popular places to live. The free blacks living in the north played the biggest part in the planning and execution of escapes. In most cases, slaves needed to find their way to the borders of the free states. And from there, the organized networks guided them to safe shelters where they could eat and sleep before heading further north. Even though runaway slaves made it to a free state, they still were not guaranteed freedom. However, northern states created stronger personal liberty laws, making it increasingly difficult for slave owners to recover their escaped slaves. In 1793, and again, in 1850, a civil laws were passed by Congress, known as the fugitive slave laws. These laws guaranteed a slave owner that if his slave was captured in the north, that slave would be returned to him. Many slave hunters began chasing runaways into the north and along The Underground Railroad routes. Legend has it that The Underground Railroad got its name when a fugitive slave suddenly vanished while being hunted by slave chasers. One of the slave chasers commented, he must have gone on an underground road. Soon after, the network of abolitionists and free blacks referred to those who provided 8 inch shelter as station masters or conductors. Holmes and hideouts were called stations and depots. Runaways began using terms like catching the next train when they talked about escaping. Northerners would be told to expect packages or freights. Runaway slaves were referred to as passengers, while en route to the north. One of the most popular conductors of The Underground Railroad was Harriet Tubman. Harriet Tubman was born around 1821 and lived as a slave in the south until 1849 when she escaped to freedom. She made it safely to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and learned of The Underground Railroad. Tubman returned to the southern states to rescue as many slaves as she could at great risk to her own life. She helped roughly 300 slaves gain their freedom by leading them to the northern states. Harriet became known as the Moses of her people. Tubman was a tough woman who threatened, tired and exhausted slaves with a loaded pistol in order to keep them moving. The president of The Underground Railroad was levied coffin. Levi coffin helped almost 5000 runaways, gained their freedom. He had slaves in his home for over 21 years. His home was known as the grand central station of The Underground Railroad. The secret network of houses and routes the slaves used to find freedom were known through songs. The song followed the drinking gourd, was really a hidden message that gave fugitives directions on which way to head to freedom. Follow the drinking gourd, follow the drinking gourd for the old man is waiting to carry you to freedom. If you follow the drinking gourd, when the sun comes back and the first quail calls follow the drinking gourd for the old man is waiting to carry you to freedom. If you follow the drinking gourd, the river bank makes a very good road. The dead trees will show you the way. Left foot take foot traveling on, following the drinking gourd. The drinking gourd was another term for the big dipper, the tip of the big dipper always points to the north star, telling runaways which direction they should head. Follow the drinking gore follow the drinking gourd for the old man is a way before the cab here to freedom follow the drinking goal all the drinking going far the drinking God the old man is waiting for the coward freedom follow the drink and go when the sun comes back and the first quill calls follow the drinking gourd for the old man is a waiting for the cab for you to freedom I know the drinking go home follow the drink didn't go follow the drinking God the old man is waiting for the carrier to freedom follow the drinking goal the river bank would make a mighty good road. We'll show you the way left foot pig foot traveling on the drinking door follow the drinking garden follow.