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The '''Underground Railroad''' was a secret network of routes and [[safe house]]s used by [[African American|black]] [[Slavery in the United States|slaves]] in the United States to escape to [[free state (United States)|free states]] and [[Canada]] with the help of [[Abolitionism|abolitionists]] and those who had sympathy to their cause.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=dictionary.com |quote=A network of houses and other places abolitionists used to help slaves escape to freedom in the northern states or in Canada...' —American Heritage Dictionary|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Underground%20Railroad |title=Underground Railroad |accessdate=July 17, 2011}}</ref> The term is also applied to the abolitionists, both black and white, free and enslaved, who helped the slaves.<ref name="PBS">{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2944.html |publisher=Public Broadcasting Service|title=The Underground Railroad|accessdate=July 25, 2007}}</ref> Other various routes led to [[Mexico]] or overseas.<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/undergroundrr/purpose.htm "Purpose and Background"]. ''Taking the Train to Freedom''. [[National Park Service]]. Retrieved July 17, 2011</ref> Created in the early 1800s, the Underground Railroad was at its biggest between 1850 and 1860.<ref name="afroamhistory">Vox, Lisa, [http://afroamhistory.about.com/od/slavery/a/How-Did-Slaves-Resist-Slavery.htm "How Did Slaves Resist Slavery?"], ''African-American History'', About.com, Retrieved July 17, 2011.</ref> One statistic suggests that by 1850, 100,000 slaves had escaped by the "Railroad".<ref name="afroamhistory" /> [[British North America]], where slavery was not allowed, was a popular stopping point, as its long border gave many points of access. More than 30,000 people were said to have escaped there using the network at its best,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do?id=10166|work=Historica|quote=Between 1840 and 1860, more than 30,000 American slaves came secretly to Canada and freedom|title=Settling Canada Underground Railroad}}</ref> although [[United States Census|U.S. Census]] statistics shows only 6,000.<ref>[http://www.cdva.ca.gov/news/GV%202-2-07.pdf "From slavery to freedom"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713234430/http://www.cdva.ca.gov/news/GV%202-2-07.pdf |date=2007-07-13 }}, ''The Grapevine'', pp. 3–5.</ref> The Underground Railroad fugitives' stories are recorded in [[the Underground Railroad Records]].
The '''Underground Railroad''' was a secret network of routes and [[safe house]]s in the [[United States]]. [[African American|Black]] [[Slavery in the United States|slaves]] used the Underground Railroad to escape from [[slavery]]. It was created in the early 1800s, and was at its biggest between 1850 and 1860.<ref name="afroamhistory">Vox, Lisa, [http://afroamhistory.about.com/od/slavery/a/How-Did-Slaves-Resist-Slavery.htm "How Did Slaves Resist Slavery?"], ''African-American History'', About.com, Retrieved July 17, 2011.</ref> The term “Underground Railroad” also describes the [[Abolitionism|abolitionists]], both black and white, free and enslaved, who helped the slaves along the way.<ref name="PBS">{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2944.html|publisher=Public Broadcasting Service|title=The Underground Railroad|accessdate=July 25, 2007}}</ref>

Routes on the Underground Railroad led to [[free state (United States)|free states]], [[Canada]], [[Mexico]] and overseas.<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/undergroundrr/purpose.htm "Purpose and Background"]. ''Taking the Train to Freedom''. [[National Park Service]]. Retrieved July 17, 2011</ref> While traveling along these routes, slaves received help from [[Abolitionism|abolitionists]] and those who had sympathy to their cause.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=dictionary.com|quote=A network of houses and other places abolitionists used to help slaves escape to freedom in the northern states or in Canada...' —American Heritage Dictionary|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Underground%20Railroad|title=Underground Railroad|accessdate=July 17, 2011}}</ref> [[British North America]] was another popular stopping point. Slavery was not allowed there, and its long [[border]] gave many points of access. More than 30,000 people were said to have escaped there using the network at its best,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do?id=10166|work=Historica|quote=Between 1840 and 1860, more than 30,000 American slaves came secretly to Canada and freedom|title=Settling Canada Underground Railroad}}</ref> although [[United States Census|U.S. Census]] statistics shows only 6,000.<ref>[http://www.cdva.ca.gov/news/GV%202-2-07.pdf "From slavery to freedom"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713234430/http://www.cdva.ca.gov/news/GV%202-2-07.pdf|date=2007-07-13}}, ''The Grapevine'', pp. 3–5.</ref>

One statistic suggests that by 1850, about 100,000 slaves had escaped to freedom by the "Railroad".<ref name="afroamhistory" />

The Underground Railroad [[Fugitive slave laws|fugitives]]' stories are recorded in [[the Underground Railroad Records]].


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 04:41, 6 January 2022

The Underground Railroad was a secret network of routes and safe houses in the United States. Black slaves used the Underground Railroad to escape from slavery. It was created in the early 1800s, and was at its biggest between 1850 and 1860.[1] The term “Underground Railroad” also describes the abolitionists, both black and white, free and enslaved, who helped the slaves along the way.[2]

Routes on the Underground Railroad led to free states, Canada, Mexico and overseas.[3] While traveling along these routes, slaves received help from abolitionists and those who had sympathy to their cause.[4] British North America was another popular stopping point. Slavery was not allowed there, and its long border gave many points of access. More than 30,000 people were said to have escaped there using the network at its best,[5] although U.S. Census statistics shows only 6,000.[6]

One statistic suggests that by 1850, about 100,000 slaves had escaped to freedom by the "Railroad".[1]

The Underground Railroad fugitives' stories are recorded in the Underground Railroad Records.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Vox, Lisa, "How Did Slaves Resist Slavery?", African-American History, About.com, Retrieved July 17, 2011.
  2. "The Underground Railroad". Public Broadcasting Service. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  3. "Purpose and Background". Taking the Train to Freedom. National Park Service. Retrieved July 17, 2011
  4. "Underground Railroad". dictionary.com. Retrieved July 17, 2011. A network of houses and other places abolitionists used to help slaves escape to freedom in the northern states or in Canada...' —American Heritage Dictionary
  5. "Settling Canada Underground Railroad". Historica. Between 1840 and 1860, more than 30,000 American slaves came secretly to Canada and freedom
  6. "From slavery to freedom" Archived 2007-07-13 at the Wayback Machine, The Grapevine, pp. 3–5.

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