Riding the Riding the Underground Underground

Railroad Railroad Journey back in time.Journey back in time.

What was the What was the Underground Railroad?Underground Railroad?

It was not a subway or It was not a subway or any other type of train any other type of train that ran underground.that ran underground.

The UGRR was a The UGRR was a cooperative effort of cooperative effort of enslaved Africans who enslaved Africans who badly wanted badly wanted freedom.freedom.

The UGRR operated The UGRR operated without formal without formal organizationorganization..

Why was it called an Why was it called an “Underground “Underground

Railroad?”Railroad?” The Underground Railroad was called The Underground Railroad was called

a 'railroad' because there were a 'railroad' because there were multiple stops along the way for multiple stops along the way for slaves to get food, clothes, and other slaves to get food, clothes, and other supplies. supplies.

It was called the 'underground' It was called the 'underground' railroad because it was a mostly railroad because it was a mostly secret operation to get slaves from secret operation to get slaves from the South to the North and to Canadathe South to the North and to Canada

What railroad terms were What railroad terms were used?used?

A “passenger” - an escaping slaveA “passenger” - an escaping slave

““Stations” were stopping places what a Stations” were stopping places what a fugitive could go to sleep, eat, and receive fugitive could go to sleep, eat, and receive medical caremedical care

A “coach” or “train” was the code name A “coach” or “train” was the code name for any mode of transportationfor any mode of transportation

A “conductor” - the person who took A “conductor” - the person who took passengers from one station to anotherpassengers from one station to another

Who operated the UGRR Who operated the UGRR stations?stations?

People who were People who were against slavery were against slavery were called Abolitionists called Abolitionists

White, black, and White, black, and Native Americans all Native Americans all helped runaways helped runaways escapeescape

Many religious groups Many religious groups such as the Quakers!!such as the Quakers!!

Why Try to Capture a Why Try to Capture a Runaway?Runaway?

Slaves were highly valuable on the large Slaves were highly valuable on the large southern cotton plantationssouthern cotton plantations

Their masters were dependent on a large amount Their masters were dependent on a large amount of slave labor and were usually controlling and of slave labor and were usually controlling and vigilant. vigilant.

The African slave trade was banned in 1808, The African slave trade was banned in 1808, increasing the value of each individual slave, increasing the value of each individual slave,

Now owners became even more possessive of Now owners became even more possessive of their slaves, and punishments for attempts to their slaves, and punishments for attempts to escape were extremely harsh.escape were extremely harsh.

What were the risks?What were the risks? The Fugitive Slave Act of The Fugitive Slave Act of

1850 allowed runaways to 1850 allowed runaways to be recapture and sent be recapture and sent back to their mastersback to their masters

People who helped People who helped runaways would be runaways would be heavily fined and/or heavily fined and/or imprisonedimprisoned

It was not uncommon to It was not uncommon to enslave a “Free” African enslave a “Free” African AmericanAmerican

The Most Famous The Most Famous ConductorConductor

Harriet Tubman Harriet Tubman helped hundreds of helped hundreds of slaves escapeslaves escape

She risked her own She risked her own freedom 19 times to freedom 19 times to help othershelp others

She was never She was never caught and died in caught and died in New York at age 93New York at age 93

Why Canada?Why Canada?

Life was better in CanadaLife was better in Canada

Slaves could work AND be paid for Slaves could work AND be paid for their labortheir labor

Could get marriedCould get married

Could LEGALLY learn how to read, Could LEGALLY learn how to read, write, and be educated write, and be educated

Methods of EscapeMethods of Escape Passed by word-of-mouth, in stories, and Passed by word-of-mouth, in stories, and

through songsthrough songs Guided by the stars Guided by the stars

Follow the Drinking Gourd was code for the Big Follow the Drinking Gourd was code for the Big DipperDipper

Traveled mainly at night and on footTraveled mainly at night and on foot Used the protected of nature- swamps, Used the protected of nature- swamps,

forests, and waterwaysforests, and waterways Would rub red onion or spruce pine on Would rub red onion or spruce pine on

themselves to throw off the scent of the themselves to throw off the scent of the dogsdogs

Which way is North?Which way is North? The sun rises in the The sun rises in the

East and sets in the East and sets in the WestWest

Your shadow is on Your shadow is on your right in the your right in the morning and your left morning and your left in the afternoonin the afternoon

Moss grows on the Moss grows on the north side of treesnorth side of trees

Rivers usually flow Rivers usually flow southsouth

Slaves in the Deep SouthSlaves in the Deep South Very few managed to escape the Deep Very few managed to escape the Deep

South.South. Since they were far away from the free Since they were far away from the free

states, the slaves had little information about states, the slaves had little information about the kind of life they could have as free the kind of life they could have as free people. people.

Also, they knew less about the Underground Also, they knew less about the Underground Railroad than slaves in the border states. Railroad than slaves in the border states.

If slaves managed to escape from the Deep If slaves managed to escape from the Deep South, they usually ran to Spanish-controlled South, they usually ran to Spanish-controlled Florida or Mexico, rather than to the North, Florida or Mexico, rather than to the North, which would have been a much longer which would have been a much longer journey. journey.

Answer the Following:Answer the Following:

What significance What significance did the did the Underground Underground Railroad have Railroad have besides helping besides helping slaves escape? slaves escape? 3 Sentences 3 Sentences

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If you were a If you were a slave, would you slave, would you risk your life and risk your life and travel on the travel on the Underground Underground Railroad? Explain Railroad? Explain why or why not.why or why not. 4 Sentences 4 Sentences

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The End!The End!