Underground Railroad

8 Pages 1901 Words

ay slaves seems to have begun towards the end of the 18th century. The system grew, and around 1831 it was dubbed "The Underground Railroad," after the then emerging steam railroads. The system even used terms found in the railroading business: the homes and businesses where fugitives would rest and eat were called "stations" and "depots" and were run by "stationmasters." Those who contributed money or goods were "stockholders," and the "conductor" was responsible for moving fugitives from one station to the next.
In response to the increased need and danger for fleeing fugitives, the Underground Railroad increased in size and activity. Many residents of the northern states joined the movement and put the lives, security, and freedom of their families in jeopardy to shelter and assist runaways to reach the safety of Canada. It is estimated that more than 500 African Americans were regular "conductors" on the Underground Railroad, and that the Railroad was responsible for the freedom of over 75,000 former slaves during its existence.
For the slave, running away to the North was anything but easy. The first step was to escape from the slaveholder. For many slaves, this meant relying on his or her own resources. Sometimes a "conductor", posing as a slave, would enter a plantation and then guide the runaways northward. The fugitives would move at night. They would generally travel between 10 and 20 miles to the next station...