The Underground Railroad stands as a testament to the bravery and resilience of individuals who risked everything to help enslaved people escape to freedom during the 19th century. While the tales of heroism and courage are well-documented, one aspect that continues to challenge historians and researchers is the accurate verification of statistics regarding the number […]
Its most famous conductor was. The (UR) was not underground nor was it a railroad. It was called “underground” because of its secretive nature and “railroad” because it was an emerging form of transportation. The UR was an informal network and had many routes. Most routes went to northern states and after 1850, to Canada. […]
Harriet Tubman is the most famous conductor. Over a decade she took 19 trips back to the south to guide friends and family to freedom. Every trip was a dangerous trek but it meant freedom for those she cared. Each journey was different and along the years she built up a network of stations owned […]
Date and place of birth: c.1820; Dorchester County, Maryland. Date and place of death: March 10, 1913; Auburn, New York. Background: Harriet Tubman was born a slave, her parents named her Araminta “Minty” Ross. She changed her name in 1849 when she escaped. She adopted the name Harriet after her mother and the last name […]
The Underground Railroad (UR) reached its height between 1850 and 1860. The passage of the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850 made it more dangerous for those who helped slaves escape or offered them shelter. The consequence could be jail or a hefty fine. Here is a list of a few of the most prominent supporters […]
used words railroad conductors employed everyday to create their own code as secret language in order to help slaves escape. Railroad language was chosen because the railroad was an emerging form of transportation and its communication language was not widespread. Code words would be used in letters to “agents” so that if they were intercepted they […]
Harriet Tubman is the most widely recognized symbol of the . When on September 17, 1849, Tubman was aided by members of the Underground Railroad. To her, freedom felt empty unless she could share it with people she loved so she resolved to go back and rescue friends and family. Harriet was nicknamed “Moses” by […]
Harriet Tubman’s actual birthday is unknown. It is believed that she was born between 1819 and 1823. Her birth name was Araminta Ross. She was nicknamed “Minty” by her mother. Tubman’s maternal grandmother, Modesty, arrived on a slave ship from Africa. There is no information about her other ancestors. Harriet had eight siblings: Linah (1808), […]
The Underground Railroad was formed in the early 19th century and reached its height between 1850 and 1860. Much of what we know today comes from accounts after the Civil War and accurate statistics about fugitive slaves using the Underground Railway may never be verifiable. It is believed that around 100,000 slaves between 1810 and […]
