The Underground Railroad

The Underground Railroad was a system of people helping runaway slaves to freedom. The people along this roadway didn't believe in slavery and were trying to help any way they could. The conductors, as they were called, consisted of blacks that had already escaped like Harriet Tubman, also known as Moses, and Fredrick Douglas. There were blacks that had been born free like William Still. Then there were kind whites such as Thomas Garret and Susan B. Anthony.

The fugitives traveling on the Underground Railroad used the North Star as a sense of direction. They were scared to trust anybody and were being pursued by slave hunters. They had to be brave and have stamina to make it all the way to Canada. If they were caught, they were to be returned to their owners, who would probably beat them. I think the thought of being owned again helped them keep moving.

People who were offering food and shelter or guiding the slaves had certain signs and such things to tell slaves they were helping them. An example is a lantern hanging on a hitching post.