ipl-logo

The Underground Railroad

451 Words2 Pages

Many slaves have escaped through the course of history, each pursuing freedom in various ways. While some were successful, others ended in failure and were punished severely. Some made it through pure luck while others went through careful planning.

The first and most common escape strategy was through music. “The riverbank makes a very good road...left foot, peg foot...follow the drinking gourd...the first quail calls…” (Metrolyrics, Nov. 14) The Drinking Gourd, or the Big Dipper suggests to go north and “the first quail calls” implies that one should flee during the winter months, due to the Ohio River freezing up, thus allowing the fugitives to cross. The code woven into these lyrics provide tips and information, essential for escapes. People were able to communicate these while laboring in fields.

Another method used was disguising oneself, allowing slaves to pass under any …show more content…

This was a network of abolitionists, the majority being black. “Various routes were lines, stopping places were called stations, those who aided along the way were conductors and their charges were known as packages or freight.” (History, Nov. ) The underground railroad was a vast and connected system of escape for slaves. Slaves, directed by “conductors” would be directed to different houses and “stations” that provided a safe shelter and food. Even when they’ve reached the point where people are supportive and willing to help, the slaves are not entirely out of harm’s way. Their wits had to remain about them in order to truly escape slavery. No matter how intricate or simplistic, all of these strategies had one aim. Freedom. No matter what race, gender, or ethnicity, humans all seek freedom. One tends to let pride get in the way of freedom and equality. Slavery results from pride. Everyone has pride. Everyone seeks freedom. When put in the right circumstances, is it wrong to say that all are the

Show More
Related
353 Words | 2 Pages

Slaves helped end slavery by passing information to Union lines(Doc. 1). Since they were in the South, they could hear plans of the Confederacy(OI). Then they could head North to Union lines and tell them the Information(Doc. 2)(Doc. 5).

Read More
878 Words | 4 Pages

The Underground Railroad was one of the more popular ways slaves could escape from their bondage and obtain their freedom. Many people would not assume that New York City was an important station on the Underground Railroad. Eric Foner, a professor and prominent historian from Columbia University, has published a monograph about the Underground Railroad. His monograph, titled Gateway to Freedom: The Hidden History of the Underground Railroad describes how New York City “was a crucial waystation in the metropolitan corridor through which fugitive slaves made their way from the Upper South” (Foner, 2015, pg. 7). Foner also explains about how the fugitive slaves issue affected the coming of the Civil War and the national debate about it.

Read More
1630 Words | 7 Pages

Slaves had hard trials and struggles through wanting freedom and being separated, but looked to the family they had around them to console them and give them comfort for their pains and

Read More
655 Words | 3 Pages

People who joint the Underground Railroad were the ones who cared about the slaves and were willing to give them a hand despite the risks of helping the

Read More
134 Words | 1 Pages

The under ground railroad was not an actual railroad. It was, "a network of paths through the woods and fields, river crossings, boat and ships, trains and wagons." This story makes me think of all the times people have been trying to fight for equal rights, and all the current events with politics. Why is it called the

Read More
919 Words | 4 Pages

The conductors were abolitionists seeking to help the slaves find freedom. The Underground Railroad reached its height from 1850-1860. It is estimated 100,000 slaves were able to escape using the secure network. The Underground Railroad was able to successfully save so many escaping slaves lives due to the determined abolitionists, the secret language and songs, and the sneaky routes and safe houses.

Read More
1642 Words | 7 Pages

Literature is often credited with the ability to enhance one’s understanding of history by providing a view of a former conflict. In doing so, the reader is able to gain both an emotional and logistical understanding of a historically significant event. Additionally, literature provides context that can help the reader develop a deeper understanding of the political climate of a time period. Within the text of The Underground Railroad, by Colson Whitehead’s, the use of literary elements such as imagery, metaphor, and paradox amplifies the reader’s understanding of early 19th century slavery and its role in the South of the United States of America. Throughout the novel, Whitehead utilizes a girl named Cora to navigate the political and personal consequences of escaping slavery, the Underground Railroad, and her transition

Read More
275 Words | 2 Pages

The cotton gin was a machine that was able to pick the seeds from cottons faster than the slaves and the machine was able to sell more profits for the south then ever before although the cotton gin was able to pick cotton seeds it also demanded the need for more slaves to pick the cotton from the fields which gave a negative impact for the slaves themselves. The Underground Railroad was an underground tunnel system that allowed African Americans slaves to escape from their slave owners. The system had a conductor, lines, stations, and freight to help them in the underground tunnels which is why people call it an underground railroad. Conductors were people that would help the slaves most of the conductors were Men and Women, The lines were

Read More
1019 Words | 5 Pages

The Underground Railroad wasn’t underground or a railroad, but because it was carried in a secret of darkness it got its name and they used the term railway by those involved with the system to describe how it would work. It was used to describe a network of people who helped slaves escape. Those who were most active assisted slaves to escape by the railroad were free black community. Most active railroad workers were the Northern free black who had no or little support from the whites Conductors moved fugitives from one station to another. Harriet Tubman, which is why I chose to do The Underground Railroad was a famous conductor she made 19 returns to the south and helped 300 slaves escape.

Read More
1899 Words | 8 Pages

Cooperation and coordination were also critical for the Underground Railroad. Everyone involved had to do what they were told, whether they had an explanation or not. Everything had to work like clockwork, even if something might not be going quite as planned. They all had to be flexible, in order to adapt to problems that were certain to come up. All involved with the Underground Railroad also had to have a special heart to be willing to aid slaves in escaping to freedom.

Read More
566 Words | 3 Pages

The slaves, feeling the same homesickness that plagued the indentured servants, took one step further and tried to escape the boats by jumping overboard, such was their desire to return

Read More
531 Words | 3 Pages

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).

Read More
1353 Words | 6 Pages

Detaching from slavery through their diverse cultural foundations allowed for them to be able to connect with other slaves and hold onto their humanity. The assembly among slaves kept the diversity between slave and master. After a long day of being beaten and working under extreme conditions slaves found a way to disconnect from their danger. They used songs to get through a tough work day out in the fields. By singing they would connect with other slaves and find a way to make a terrible situation better.

Read More
1358 Words | 6 Pages

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”.

Read More
452 Words | 2 Pages

The Songs On The Radio Are Okay As an avid music listener, I tend to tune into the local radio stations when wanting a daily dose of music, but in these last few years I’d rather dig out my old iPod and aux cord than endure the repetitive new age nonsense that plays on a continuous loop every two hours. No matter what button your finger eagerly clicks, you’ll have at least three stations playing the same Justin Bieber song about loving oneself or some offspring sound with a regurgitated beat and an earworm of a chorus to help the singer achieve millionaire status with your hard earned money. While artist like Judah and the Lion and Black Map get zero radio play because their music is vastly unknown to people who refuse to broaden their musical horizon from Taylor Swift and Drake.

Read More

More about The Underground Railroad

Related Topics

Open Document