1. The Underground Railroad
Objective: Understand the purpose and success of the Underground Railroad for helping slaves escape.

2. Quick Write
If you were a slave, would you try and escape? If yes, how would you do it?

3. Fugitive Slaves A fugitive is someone who is running away from custody
As many as 100,000 slaves escaped during the time that slavery was legal in the United States
Large rewards would be posted for those who helped recapture fugitive slaves

4. Freedom in the North
Slaves would flee to the Northern States, where slavery was frowned upon
Even in the North they were not guaranteed safety
Free blacks in the North were at risk of being mistaken for a slave and captured

5. The Underground Railroad
Religious groups in the North who were against slavery began helping fugitive slaves escape
Started in 1816 and continued till after the Civil War
Northerners would shelter slaves in their houses and provide food and other materials.

6. Harriet Tubman
Born into slavery but was eventually able to escape to the North
There she became an Abolitionist and spent her life helping other slaves
She led 13 missions South to bring Slaves into freedom

7. Why didn’t more slaves escape?
Those born into slavery knew nothing else, and could hardly imagine freedom
Strict and brutal overseers made many slaves afraid of running away
Some slaves who were eager to please their masters would report fugitives

8. The Fugitive Slave Act Passed by Congress on September 18th, 1850
Part of the Compromise of 1850 between Northern and Southern states
Forced Northerners to cooperate and help return escaped slaves
This made escaping that much more difficult, as anyone helping a slave was breaking the law