Underground Railroad By Karley Wells

The underground Railroad was a term used for a network of people, homes, and hideouts that slaves in southern United States used to escape to freedom in the Northern United States and Canada. Levi Coffin's home was considered the Grand Central Station of the Underground Railroad

Conductors and stations The Underground Railroad used railroad terms in its organization. People who led the slaves along the route were called conductors. Hideouts and homes where slaves hid along the way were called stations or depots. Even people who helped by giving money and food were sometimes called stockholders.

Was it dangerous ? Yes, it was dangerous! Not only for slaves who had escaped, but also for those trying to help them. It was against the law to help escaped slaves and, in many southern states, conductors could be put to death by hanging.

When did the underground railroad run ? The underground railroad ran from around 1810 to the 1860s. It was at its peak right before the civil war in the 1850s.

Interesting Facts about the Underground Railroad Slave owners really wanted Harriet Tubman, a famous conductor for the railroad, arrested. They offered a reward of $40,000 for her capture. That was a LOT of money back then. One hero of the Underground Railroad was Levi Coffin, a Quaker who is said to have helped around 3,000 slaves gain their freedom. The most common route for people to escape was north into the northern United States or Canada, but some slaves in the deep south escaped to Mexico or Florida. Canada was often called the "Promised Land" by slaves. The Mississippi River was called the "River Jordon" from the Bible. In keeping with the railroad terminology, escaping slaves were often referred to as passengers or cargo.

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