The Underground Railroad

The Underground Railroad In 1831, this system was given the name, “The Underground Railroad”, after the emerging steam railroads. Railroad “lingo” was even used. Places that the slaves would rest or eat were named “stations” and “depots”. Escaping slaves traveled from the south along the Underground Railroad into the north, or what they believed to be, their freedom. A large number of people helped the slaves escape. The Underground Railroad moved hundreds of slaves northward each year. Approximately, the South lost 100,000 slaves between 1810 and 1850. For the slaves, running away to the north was nothing but easy. Many clever ideas helped slaves escape during the 1800’s. When abolitionist John Fairfield needed to sneak 28 slaves over the roads near Cincinnati, he hired a hearse and disguised the group as a funeral procession. Henry “Box” Brown, a slave, had himself shipped from Richmond to Philadelphia in a wooden Box. Many of the slaves had to rely on their own resources. The runaways usually traveled at night. They would generally travel between 10 and 20 miles to the next station, where they would rest and eat. The slaves would also travel by boat and train. Money was donated by various groups so that the trips could be paid for. These groups sprang up in the larger towns and cities of the North such as, New York, Philadelphia, and Boston. In addition to soliciting money, the organizations provided food, lodging and money. Once the slaves made a successful trip to the north, they helped them by settling them into a community. They also helped the slaves get jobs by writing letters of recommendation. Harriet Tubman made 19 trips into the South and escorted over 300 slaves into freedom. It was said that she never lost a single passenger. In 1849, led by fear, Tubman decided to run away. With assistance from a helpful white woman, she was on her way. She followed the North Star by night, making her way to Pennsylvania and soon after, Philadelphia. After