Question

help

Answer 1

The Underground Railroad

The Underground Railroad is a term for the covert network of people and places that assisted fugitive slaves as they escaped from slavery in the South. Most widespread during the three decades prior to the Civil War, this activity primarily took place in the regions bordering slave states, with the Ohio River being the center of much of the activity. Of course, Underground Railroad activity did not literally take place underground or via a railroad, nor was it an official organization with defined structure. It was simply a loose network of people who attempted to move enslaved individuals escaping from slavery to and from safe places in a quick and largely secretive manner.
At the heart of the Underground Railroad were the beliefs of the abolitionist movement. The 18th Century Quakers, members of the Religious Society of Friends, were the first organized abolitionists, believing that slavery violated Christian principles. By the first decades of the 1800s, every state in the North had legally abolished slavery. Abolitionist ideas then spread West into the territories that would soon become Indiana and Ohio. Abolitionists firmly believed that slavery was against their Christian faith. Others considered the contradictory aspects of independence for a country that held enslaved individuals, which led many to become active on the Underground Railroad.
People involved with the Underground Railroad developed their own terminology to describe participants, safe places and other codes that needed to be kept secret. People who guided slaves from place to place were called "conductors." Locations where slaves could safely find protection, food or a place to sleep were called "safe houses" or "stations." Those who hid fugitive slaves in their homes, barns or churches were called "station masters." Slaves who were in the safekeeping of a conductor or station master were "cargo." Code words were also used to enable fugitive slaves to find their way North. The Big Dipper, whose handle pointed towards the North Star, was referred to as the "drinking gourd." The Ohio River was frequently referred to by a biblical reference, the River Jordan. Canada, one of the final safe havens for many fugitive slaves, was called the "Promised Land" (Although Canada was the destination that many runaway enslaved individuals strived to reach, it was not the only destination for those escaping. Many enslaved people escaped to cities in the North or went to Mexico, the Caribbean Islands, South America or even to remote areas of the South and West). These terms allowed people to communicate about the Underground Railroad without being obvious about their true intentions.

Answer 2

They took place in the border states because it was easier to get slaves out of those states

Answer 3

@Ultrilliam

Answer 4

They were snuggling southern laves into the north, as thr northerneers typically werentas harsh towards slaves, and any children born while the mother on the run was considered born free

Answer 5

Sorry for poor punctuation nd grammar, I am on mobile

Answer 6

its okay.. Thanks, are you able to help with more?

Answer 7

Sure.

Answer 8

Why do you think people used railroad terminology to describe the Underground Railroad and for those involved? For example, conductors & passengers were terms used for slaves and abolitionists involved and stations used to describe safe locations for slaves.

Answer 9

Because the "conductors" often brought slaves across borders hidden in actual cargo, and since they were conducting illegal activities, it was referred to as "underground"

Answer 10

Beyond language (dialogue & song) what other codes do you think slaves used or could have used to convey messages about the Underground Railroad?

Answer 11

btw ur saving my life rn cuz i was so suck on this

Answer 12

Thanks so much

Answer 13

@Bearclaws72

Answer 14

Whats the question?

Answer 15

lemme shortan this up

Answer 16

ill just start a new qiestion

Answer 17

ok