Underground Underground RailroadRailroad

Start of SlaveryStart of SlaverySlavery first started in the United States Slavery first started in the United States

around around 1619 as well as the use of indentured servants to increase the labor base in the Southern colonies.

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 prohibited The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 prohibited slavery in the Interior/Central States.slavery in the Interior/Central States.

The importation of slaves into the United The importation of slaves into the United

States was banned in States was banned in 18001800, but, but

did not ban the internal slave did not ban the internal slave

tradetrade

A Harsh LifeA Harsh Life Cotton picking was back Cotton picking was back

breaking workbreaking work -Living conditions were terrible & punishment were cruel

-Families were separated

2) Slaves were treated as property, not people

North’s Feelings on North’s Feelings on SlaverySlavery

-slavery not important to the economy of the -slavery not important to the economy of the Northern States why because Industry Northern States why because Industry didn’t need themdidn’t need them

By the 1800’s many states were against By the 1800’s many states were against slavery. The North (north of Ohio River and slavery. The North (north of Ohio River and Mason-Dixon line) was one continuous area Mason-Dixon line) was one continuous area that was anti-slavery.that was anti-slavery.

The first 2 state prohibited slavery were: The first 2 state prohibited slavery were: Massachusetts & VermontMassachusetts & Vermont

This separation of a free North and an This separation of a free North and an enslaved South launched a massive enslaved South launched a massive political, cultural and economic struggle.political, cultural and economic struggle.

Color in the areas of free and slave Color in the areas of free and slave state and include the Mason-Dixon state and include the Mason-Dixon LineLine

The Southern economy was The Southern economy was based on: based on: AgricultureAgriculture

-The invention of -The invention of the Cotton gin the Cotton gin (1794) sped up (1794) sped up the cleaning the cleaning process, making process, making slavery more slavery more profitable and profitable and popular and popular and more plantations more plantations started out started out WestWest..

-Slavery was -Slavery was costly to the costly to the cotton farmers cotton farmers because it was a because it was a very labor very labor intensive intensive process to grow process to grow and clean the and clean the cotton seedscotton seeds

Impact of Increased Impact of Increased ProductivityProductivity

Southern Plantation owners made a lot Southern Plantation owners made a lot more money than the industrialized more money than the industrialized

Northern workersNorthern workers

Did you knowDid you know that in 1850 that in 1850 most of the nation’s millionaires most of the nation’s millionaires lived in the Southlived in the South

How could the increased cotton How could the increased cotton production impact the northern states?production impact the northern states?

More cotton was available to be made More cotton was available to be made into fabric in the factoriesinto fabric in the factories

Working Towards Working Towards ChangeChange Abolitionists & Vigilance committeesAbolitionists & Vigilance committees

organized in the early to mid 1800’s organized in the early to mid 1800’s to care and protect escaping slave to care and protect escaping slave

Who were some of the abolitionists?Who were some of the abolitionists?

WilliaWilliam m GarrisGarrisonon

Fredrick Douglass

John Brown

What do you think of when What do you think of when you hear the words you hear the words

Underground Railroad?Underground Railroad? True or False: the underground True or False: the underground

railroad was a real railroadrailroad was a real railroad

FALSE!-Even though the UGRR had -Even though the UGRR had “conductors” and “stations” there “conductors” and “stations” there were no physical engines, stations, were no physical engines, stations, or rail cars. or rail cars.

--It was a loose system of people It was a loose system of people helping escaped slaves reach helping escaped slaves reach freedom.freedom.

Why did the Underground Rail Road Why did the Underground Rail Road (UGRR) start?(UGRR) start?

Abolitionists (people against slavery) Abolitionists (people against slavery) wanted to help assist slaves to freedomwanted to help assist slaves to freedom

Who helped escaped slaves on the UGRR? Who helped escaped slaves on the UGRR? Everyday people who did not believe in Everyday people who did not believe in

slaveryslavery

Not many records were kept about the Not many records were kept about the UGRR. UGRR.

Why do you think this?Why do you think this?

It was dangerous for all the people involved It was dangerous for all the people involved so so secrecy was needed for safety reasonssecrecy was needed for safety reasons

SecrecySecrecy The The use of songs filled with code wordsuse of songs filled with code words

helped spread the word of the Underground helped spread the word of the Underground Railroad without revealing plans. Railroad without revealing plans.

Many slaves couldn’t write or readMany slaves couldn’t write or read, so this , so this was not a good method to spread news of was not a good method to spread news of the UGRRthe UGRR

One of these songs is called One of these songs is called Follow the Drinking Follow the Drinking GourdGourd

When the sun comes back and the first quail calls,When the sun comes back and the first quail calls,Follow the drinking gourd.Follow the drinking gourd.

For the old man is awaiting for to carry you to freedom,For the old man is awaiting for to carry you to freedom,

If you follow the drinking gourdIf you follow the drinking gourd..

Do you know where the song tells you to go?

Cracking the Code of the Cracking the Code of the UGRRUGRR

Conductor (old man)-Conductor (old man)- people escorting slaves on the people escorting slaves on the UGRRUGRR

StationStation- - place of safety and temporary refugeplace of safety and temporary refuge Drinking Gourd:Drinking Gourd: Big Dipper and the North starBig Dipper and the North star Freedom train or Gospel trainFreedom train or Gospel train: : Underground RailroadUnderground Railroad Heaven or Promised landHeaven or Promised land: : CanadaCanada Station MasterStation Master: : keeper of safe-housekeeper of safe-house StockholderStockholder: : donor of $, clothing, or food to the UGRRdonor of $, clothing, or food to the UGRR ““The wind blows from the south today”:The wind blows from the south today”: warning of warning of

slave bounty hunters nearbyslave bounty hunters nearby ““A friend with friends”A friend with friends” A password used to signal A password used to signal

arrival of fugitives with UGRR conductorarrival of fugitives with UGRR conductor Load of Potatoes, Parcel, or Bundles of Wood-Load of Potatoes, Parcel, or Bundles of Wood-

fugitives to be expectedfugitives to be expected

Follow the Drinking Follow the Drinking GourdGourd

Can you crack the code?Can you crack the code? Does knowing some of the UGRR language give Does knowing some of the UGRR language give

you a better idea of what this song means? you a better idea of what this song means?

In groups look at the lyrics provided In groups look at the lyrics provided and listen to the songand listen to the song

Hint: Quails are around in winter at this timeHint: Quails are around in winter at this time

Painting of conductors helping slaves escape

Routes to FreedomRoutes to Freedom Many slaves Many slaves

who lived in who lived in the more the more deep South deep South area area escaped to escaped to Cuba, Cuba, Jamaica, Jamaica, and Mexicoand Mexico..

Those Those closer to closer to the North the North traveled to traveled to free states free states and later and later CanadaCanada

Most slaves didn’t have specific Most slaves didn’t have specific destinations just anywhere they destinations just anywhere they

could live in peace.could live in peace.

What do you What do you notice about notice about the routes the routes slaves took?slaves took?

- North North directiondirection

- Followed Followed rivers or rivers or mountainsmountains

Why was Ohio Why was Ohio a good a good location to location to go through?go through?

- Close to Close to Canada, Canada, rivers, rivers, mountains mountains

- Many slave Many slave states nearbystates nearby

Ohio and the UGRROhio and the UGRR Locations in Ohio of known stations (13)

Many slaves were hidden in houses or barns

A lit up hitching post would sometimes be a symbol for a station

Appearances Can Appearances Can Be DeceivingBe Deceiving

-Runaway slaves would hide in -Runaway slaves would hide in hidden hidden compartmentscompartments in houses to remain in houses to remain undetectedundetected

Fugitive Slave ActFugitive Slave Act

This act was passed in 1850 and This act was passed in 1850 and permitted the permitted the capture and return of capture and return of escaped slaves found in free states.escaped slaves found in free states. It It alsoalso charged heavy fines & punishment charged heavy fines & punishment for those found helping slaves escape.for those found helping slaves escape.

IMPACT: IMPACT: Staying in the US was more Staying in the US was more dangerous for those helping and punishments dangerous for those helping and punishments more severe for those trying to escape so more severe for those trying to escape so slaves had travel further North to Canada. slaves had travel further North to Canada.

In 1833 a bill that ended slavery in Canada was passed. In 1833 a bill that ended slavery in Canada was passed. This meant any slaves became free when they came to This meant any slaves became free when they came to Canada.Canada.

Over 40,000 slaves fled to CanadaOver 40,000 slaves fled to Canada

We know where the UGRR We know where the UGRR was located now let’s find was located now let’s find out how slaves escaped to out how slaves escaped to

freedom.freedom.

Decisions – Answer on your ownDecisions – Answer on your own What do you think is the best way to What do you think is the best way to

travel with out being detected?travel with out being detected? When would you go?When would you go? What would you bring/plan to eat?What would you bring/plan to eat?

Directions to FreedomDirections to Freedom Most slaves had never been off their Most slaves had never been off their

plantations or slave homes plantations or slave homes

How did they know how to get to the How did they know how to get to the North?North?

By a bit of Astronomy: By a bit of Astronomy: The North The North Star-PolarisStar-Polaris

Which is located inWhich is located in

what constellation?what constellation?

Ways to EscapeWays to Escape # 1 Foot# 1 Foot #2 catching a ride#2 catching a ride

BoatBoat Wagon/carriageWagon/carriage Boxes, coffins, sacks that were shipped Boxes, coffins, sacks that were shipped

NorthNorth

It was dangerous to travel on foot, It was dangerous to travel on foot, bounty bounty hunters were everywhere and stations were hunters were everywhere and stations were notnot. Even though it was dangerous, . Even though it was dangerous, thousands of fugitives made it to Canada thousands of fugitives made it to Canada both on foot and catching a ride.both on foot and catching a ride.

  The slaves usually ran away on Christmas time when their masters The slaves usually ran away on Christmas time when their masters would be at parties. would be at parties.

Times to EscapeTimes to Escape

Season Positive NegativeSeason Positive Negative

SummSummerer

-Warm weather Warm weather - food easy to food easy to findfind

-easier to get caught-easier to get caught

- hot- hot

-difficult to cross rivers.-difficult to cross rivers.

WinterWinter - Frozen rivers - Frozen rivers easy to crosseasy to cross

-less likely to -less likely to get caught get caught by by bounty huntersbounty hunters

--cold!cold!

- not enough clothing.- not enough clothing.

-not enough food-not enough food

Important PeopleImportant People

President of the Underground President of the Underground RailroadRailroad

Levi CoffinLevi Coffin

In 1849, In 1849, Harriet TubmanHarriet Tubman known known as as "Moses""Moses" to her people made to her people made 19 19 trips to the Southtrips to the South and helped at least and helped at least 300 fellow slaves escape to freedom. 300 fellow slaves escape to freedom.

Secret MessagesSecret Messages

Songs, stories, and word of mouthSongs, stories, and word of mouth were not the only way messages were not the only way messages about the UGRR were spreadabout the UGRR were spread

--QuiltsQuilts also helped give directions also helped give directions to the promised landto the promised land

Where/how do you think Where/how do you think the message was written?the message was written?

Name thatName that Pattern Pattern to Get to Get a Cluea Clue

-Church was a safe house (wedding -Church was a safe house (wedding ring pattern)ring pattern)

-Follow the North Star (star pattern)-Follow the North Star (star pattern)

-Trail marked with set symbols (bear -Trail marked with set symbols (bear paw pattern)paw pattern)