Post by Auset on Mar 14, 2004 18:18:23 GMT -5
Despite the name, the Underground Railroad was not really a railroad, but was a network of people who assisted fugitive slaves. Many fugitives who escaped to the North and Canada received assistance along the way from individuals who were involved in this network. By the early 19th century, the organization became so successful that it is estimated that between 1810 and 1850, 100,000 slaves escaped from the South through the Underground Railroad.
The abolition of slavery had been a concern for anti-slavery advocates since the inception of slavery. The first abolitionist society was organized in 1775 in Pennsylvania. From thereafter abolitionists actively tried to free slaves, inform the public about the evil of slavery, and promoted alternatives to slavery. In time, individual anti-slavery advocates directly assisted in fugitive escapes. Soon advocates became aware of the others who also helped and a secret organization was formed.
After 1831, the term "The Underground Railroad" was used to describe this newly created organization of people who helped fugitive slaves. The origin of the name is believed to have come from a story about an escaped slave named Tice Davids. According to the story, as Davids tried to escape from Kentucky to Ohio, his master was not far behind. When he came to the Ohio River he began to swim across. His master was determined not to lose site of him, so kept his eyes upon him while he found a boat. The master followed Davids by boat, and was careful to keep him in sight. Davids made it ashore, and within an instant he disappeared. The master searched ashore, but was unsuccessful. When he returned to Kentucky, he reported that his slave must have escaped by way of an underground railroad. From thereafter, the Underground Railroad was used to describe the network of people who helped fugitive slaves.
It was not a coincidence that it was called the Underground Railroad. Steam railroads had just emerged and the terms used to describe the people who helped and the fugitives were related to the railroad line. Fugitive slaves were called "parcels" and "passengers", the helpers were the "conductors", the people who provided their homes as refuge were called "stationmasters," and the homes were referred to as "depots" or "stations".
The route used was an important part of a successful escape. There were numerous secret routes that a conductor could use. The one used depended upon where the search parties and slave catchers were stationed. Some trips required the use of many different routes. If it appeared that they might be in danger, a guide would change paths. Some guides and fugitives even hid out in bushes and swamps for many days until it was safe to continue on. Quickness was not the main concern, instead safety was most important, and as a result they often zigzagged in order to avoid capture.
There were two main factors that determined the route that would be used, the geographic location and the availability of Underground workers. For instance, Iowa was bordered on slave territory, but it was newly developed so there were long distances between stations. As a result, there were fewer routes. On the other hand, Ohio had at least twenty routes. Its population was larger, so there was less distance between stops and it had many rivers with tributaries that provided quick travel routes. The availability of workers also dictated where the routes were established. The number of routes in Ohio was attributed to its many workers who were made up of Quakers, antislavery residents, and Ottawa Indians.
Those who offered assistance to fugitives faced financial, legal, and social ramifications. Often, their neighbors ostracized them, and many were arrested for their involvement and charged expensive fines that could be as high as $4000. While some paid these fines out of their own pocket, anti-slavery societies also assisted. But as these fines accumulated, many suffered financially.
Free African Americans and escaped slaves also assisted fugitives. After Josiah Henson escaped, he helped other slaves escape and provided support for them after they gained their freedom. He created a movement for black ownership of land, established a manual labor school and sawmill that made wood for pianos, and started the Dawn Settlement community. The most well known fugitive slave was Harriet Tubman, who after her own escape, returned to help others escape to the north and Canada. She was referred to as "Moses" and became known her toughness. Any fugitive she helped was not allowed to turn back, and if they tried Tubman gave them two choices, death or continue on to the North. No one ever turned back. It is estimated that she helped 300 slaves escape.
Even after escaping, slaves always faced the potential of being captured and returned to their owner. This threat became more prevalent after the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law in 1850. Under the new law, the identification of a fugitive slave was based upon the word of the slave catcher and he was not required to find out if the identification was true. Additionally, it required citizens to assist in the recovery of slaves, it made the filing process easier for slave owners, it denied the right to a jury trial and instead special commissioners handled the cases and were paid $5 if the fugitive was released and $10 if the fugitive was sent to the slave owner. The effect of the law posed a significant threat to fugitive slaves. Consequently, whole communities of fugitives in the northern states left for Canada. Within the next ten years as many as 20,000 blacks moved to Canada.
However, the law had another effect as well. The number of volunteers increased and abolitionists became even more dedicated. Between 1850 and 1860 the number of slaves who escaped through the Underground Railroad reached its peak. But abolitionist received their greatest victory at the end of the Civil War when all slaves were freed.
The abolition of slavery had been a concern for anti-slavery advocates since the inception of slavery. The first abolitionist society was organized in 1775 in Pennsylvania. From thereafter abolitionists actively tried to free slaves, inform the public about the evil of slavery, and promoted alternatives to slavery. In time, individual anti-slavery advocates directly assisted in fugitive escapes. Soon advocates became aware of the others who also helped and a secret organization was formed.
After 1831, the term "The Underground Railroad" was used to describe this newly created organization of people who helped fugitive slaves. The origin of the name is believed to have come from a story about an escaped slave named Tice Davids. According to the story, as Davids tried to escape from Kentucky to Ohio, his master was not far behind. When he came to the Ohio River he began to swim across. His master was determined not to lose site of him, so kept his eyes upon him while he found a boat. The master followed Davids by boat, and was careful to keep him in sight. Davids made it ashore, and within an instant he disappeared. The master searched ashore, but was unsuccessful. When he returned to Kentucky, he reported that his slave must have escaped by way of an underground railroad. From thereafter, the Underground Railroad was used to describe the network of people who helped fugitive slaves.
It was not a coincidence that it was called the Underground Railroad. Steam railroads had just emerged and the terms used to describe the people who helped and the fugitives were related to the railroad line. Fugitive slaves were called "parcels" and "passengers", the helpers were the "conductors", the people who provided their homes as refuge were called "stationmasters," and the homes were referred to as "depots" or "stations".
The route used was an important part of a successful escape. There were numerous secret routes that a conductor could use. The one used depended upon where the search parties and slave catchers were stationed. Some trips required the use of many different routes. If it appeared that they might be in danger, a guide would change paths. Some guides and fugitives even hid out in bushes and swamps for many days until it was safe to continue on. Quickness was not the main concern, instead safety was most important, and as a result they often zigzagged in order to avoid capture.
There were two main factors that determined the route that would be used, the geographic location and the availability of Underground workers. For instance, Iowa was bordered on slave territory, but it was newly developed so there were long distances between stations. As a result, there were fewer routes. On the other hand, Ohio had at least twenty routes. Its population was larger, so there was less distance between stops and it had many rivers with tributaries that provided quick travel routes. The availability of workers also dictated where the routes were established. The number of routes in Ohio was attributed to its many workers who were made up of Quakers, antislavery residents, and Ottawa Indians.
Those who offered assistance to fugitives faced financial, legal, and social ramifications. Often, their neighbors ostracized them, and many were arrested for their involvement and charged expensive fines that could be as high as $4000. While some paid these fines out of their own pocket, anti-slavery societies also assisted. But as these fines accumulated, many suffered financially.
Free African Americans and escaped slaves also assisted fugitives. After Josiah Henson escaped, he helped other slaves escape and provided support for them after they gained their freedom. He created a movement for black ownership of land, established a manual labor school and sawmill that made wood for pianos, and started the Dawn Settlement community. The most well known fugitive slave was Harriet Tubman, who after her own escape, returned to help others escape to the north and Canada. She was referred to as "Moses" and became known her toughness. Any fugitive she helped was not allowed to turn back, and if they tried Tubman gave them two choices, death or continue on to the North. No one ever turned back. It is estimated that she helped 300 slaves escape.
Even after escaping, slaves always faced the potential of being captured and returned to their owner. This threat became more prevalent after the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law in 1850. Under the new law, the identification of a fugitive slave was based upon the word of the slave catcher and he was not required to find out if the identification was true. Additionally, it required citizens to assist in the recovery of slaves, it made the filing process easier for slave owners, it denied the right to a jury trial and instead special commissioners handled the cases and were paid $5 if the fugitive was released and $10 if the fugitive was sent to the slave owner. The effect of the law posed a significant threat to fugitive slaves. Consequently, whole communities of fugitives in the northern states left for Canada. Within the next ten years as many as 20,000 blacks moved to Canada.
However, the law had another effect as well. The number of volunteers increased and abolitionists became even more dedicated. Between 1850 and 1860 the number of slaves who escaped through the Underground Railroad reached its peak. But abolitionist received their greatest victory at the end of the Civil War when all slaves were freed.
