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How Did The Underground Railroad Contribute To The American Civil War?

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How did hope shed the light of those shackled by slavery, and change the course of history, one literal step at a time? This is the Underground Railroad, one of which remains one of the most remarkable chapters in American history, a symbol of resilience and bravery among those who fought against the injustice of slavery. The Underground Railroad, a secret network of people, safe houses, and routes used in the 19th century to aid escaped enslaved individuals from the South and seek freedom. This essay explores the combined actions of abolitionists, free African Americans, and allies in the fight against slavery and how they contributed to the success of the Underground Railroad’s operations. This essay will go into detail of aspects of the …show more content…

Abolitionists were the architects of the network, people like Levi Coffin, also known as the “President of the Underground Railroad”, provided leadership and were responsible in the formation of many of the safe houses such as churches and schoolhouses and routes that made up the Underground Railroad. On the other hand, free African Americans were important as they served as “conductors,” guiding escapees along the routes and providing them with shelter and other necessities (Onion, 2009). With their knowledge of the local area, they were perfect in assisting freedom seekers on their way to freedom. The collaborative effort between peers strengthened the operations of the railroad. The Underground Railroad was not a centralized organization, rather people from diverse backgrounds united for one common goal. Every conductor and operator in the mission of the Underground Railroad found their morale and solidarity through the commitment of aiding the escapees during their journey for …show more content…

The Underground Railroad was a perilous journey faced by abolitionists, free African Americans, and allies supporting the cause. One of the biggest risks encountered during the operation was getting caught by the slave catchers after The Fugitive Slave Acts of 1793 and 1850 were enacted, meaning they mandated the capture of escaped slaves, even from free states. The journey to freedom was hundreds of miles long and weather conditions were harsh, so members of the Railroad worked together to plan out safehouses with supplies every other mile or so (AllAboutTheUndergroundRailroad, 2010). People like Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and John Brown played vital roles in doing their best (even if risking their lives) to make certain that everyone is safe during the journey (Onion, 2009). The courage and resilience displayed by the Underground Railroad not only led to successful escapes, but the effectiveness of the abolition of slavery through the solidarity they upheld. International connections and support were crucial to the success of the Underground Railroad. Specifically, Canada is known as the safe haven for those feeling their

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Hariet Tubman Abolition: the action or an act of abolishing a system, practice, or institution. From the early 1800s to the end of the civil war in 1865, the abolition movement worked to end slavery in the United States of America. Several figures played important roles in this movement, one of said figures being Hariet Tubman. Hariet Tubman is one of the most well-known members of the Abolitionist Movement, and she was an extremely important part of it by conducting the underground railroad, pushing past the challenges that she faced, and making several trips from the north to the south without getting caught or losing a passenger. Hariet Tubman was known as a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad, which wasn’t actually an underground or

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The Underground Railroad was a network of homes owned by people who disagreed with slavery. Slaves would travel through the designated routes during the day, and take shelter in these abolitionist owned homes and buildings in the day. Tubman’s bravery and selflessness is what saved the lives of many on the Underground Railroad. How Tubman escaped the Underground Railroad herself is very significant to the rest of the events that followed, making it very significant. In Document A, a map is presented that shows Tubman’s route from Dorchester, Maryland to Philadelphia.

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The “Underground Railroad” wasn’t really a railroad at all, in fact it wasn’t underground either. The Underground Railroad was a metaphor that described a way that slaves were transported from their plantations in the south all the way to Canada. Harriet Tubman was a woman who inspired many and is known for her bravery in working on the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman’s work and bravery on the Underground Railroad continued her legacy, and together they all contributed to the abolitionist movement. Harriet Tubman’s most well known contribution to the abolitionist movement is her work on the “Underground Railroad.”

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The “Underground Railroad” wasn’t really a railroad at all, in fact it wasn’t underground either. The Underground Railroad was a metaphor that described a way that slaves were transported from their plantations in the south all the way to Canada. Harriet Tubman was a woman who inspired many and is known for her bravery in working on the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman’s work and bravery on the Underground Railroad continued her legacy, and together they all contributed to the abolitionist movement. Harriet Tubman’s most well known contribution to the abolitionist movement is her work on the “Underground Railroad.”

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The Underground Railroad was a physical, social, and political movement where individuals of African descent sought their own liberation. They were often aided by free people of color and white individuals, emphasizing the importance of movement in their quest for freedom. 1 The Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved African Americans to escape to free states or Canada. This movement's purpose was to provide a means of escape and freedom for those seeking to break free from slavery.

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In this essay I will examine the Underground Railroad over a period of turbulence that spanned ten years and focus on some of the key figures involved and the significance of their roles. Harriet Tubman and Harriet Breecher Stowe were both central to the movement during this time and although they focused their attention on vastly different areas of the Railroad both women had a profound and positive impact. Harriet Beecher Stowe was a white woman from Cincinnati Ohio. When the Fugitive Slave Act 1850 came into effect it ironically galvanised a new era in the Underground Railroad where Stowe, like many other whites was spurred into action. Not only did Stowe personally aid escaping slaves by welcoming them into her home temporarily

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The Underground Railroad was a network of safe houses owned by people who hated the slavery and despited the Fugitive Slave Act. This gave a route to help slaves escape from the South and travel to Northern states and Canada. On Document A it illustrates the route she took to help people escape from slavery. According to Document B it discusses, “Imagine being led by a five-foot tall, 38-year old woman, on a dark December night, wading across a river waist deep. Light snow falling, there seven fugitives including babies in arms.

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It created a chain reaction that continued to grow. These same people not only helped slaves but also help create the networks to help many people escape the horrors of slavery. The networks created were a major key of success of the Underground Railroad. Many networks created were west through Ohio and Indiana while others were north through Pennsylvania and into New England through Detroit on their way to Canada.

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It saved more lives through escaping and freed so many more individuals. They were running away, but many times the slave would return to their owners after a short period of time. If they did indeed remain an escapee then they would hid in areas such as swamps and other remote areas as to not get caught and returned to their owners, to be brutally punished. Many escaped to the North through stowing away in ships and even the Underground Railroad aided in the moving of the slaves. The Underground Railroad was composed of approximately 3,200 free black and white sympathizers who aided about 130,000 individuals escape to the North and to New Mexico.

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In the 1800’s, railroads were flourishing across America; the ideas of trains and a better way of transportation was a popular subject. However, a different “railroad” was set across the country; one that was hidden from sight. Although the Underground Railroad was not an actual “railroad” and was not underground, it played a significant part in transporting slaves across the country into freedom. Many Quakers and abolitionists served as “conductors” and helped runaway slaves, providing them with food, shelter, and a save journey to the North. One of the Underground Railroads most famous and successful conductors was Harriet Tubman.

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The purpose of the Underground Railroad was to help slaves escape from bondage and reach safety in free states or Canada. The network was not a formal organization, but rather a loose collection of individuals and groups who were committed to the abolitionist cause. Conductors, who were often former slaves themselves, would guide slaves to safe houses along the route, where they could rest and receive food and medical care. From there, they would be passed on to the next station until they reached their final destination. The Underground Railroad was a dangerous and illegal operation, and those involved risked severe punishment if caught.

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Slavery is know to be one of the darkest periods in human history; yet, the fight for freedom in the United States was beyond imaginable. The most well-known fight for the abolition of slavery was the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was a passageway created by free African-Americans and white folks to help slaves escape their lives and find refuge in free states. The Underground Railroad was neither underground nor a railroad. Instead, it was called “underground” due to it being top secret and it was a called “railroad” because it was a path for slaves to take in order to escape.

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The Underground Railroad was a network of safe houses African American slaves used to escape freedom. As the speaker said, it could be operated by anyone of any race or social status to help assist slaves to freedom. They helped by providing food, medicine, and places to hide for escapees on their way to freedom. The speaker mentioned that music was embedded in African Americans because it was embedded in them. They often sang of hope and expressed that with one another through song, but they also sang to express to one another secretly how they would either escape or meet up secretly.

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One of the most influential modes of unorganized revolution was through running away. Thousands of slaves would take their families or escape on their own to the north, where many abolitionists and free black men lived and would take them in. However, crossing the border states was difficult, as news reports about runaway slaves quickly spread and they would soon be captured by local townsfolk. To make escape more effective and safe, an underground railroad was adopted. The underground railroad was “a loosely organized network of safe houses in the border states, [and they] helped more than 20,000 runaways make their way to freedom (PBS).

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The Underground Railroad. A metaphor as it was, it was neither a railroad nor was it even underground. In the time where slavery became a divided issue with the status of legality in various parts of the country, the underground railroad found its beginnings through collective organized efforts from abolitionists and allies alike to help enslaved African americans to escape to territories and states where they could be free from slavery. It was a loosely-developed system that also included series of routes led by “conductors” such as Harriet Tubman, for escaping slaves, or “passengers”.

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