The Underground Railroad During The Reconstruction Era

The Underground Railroad was crucial to the Reconstruction era and in supporting the Union side of the Civil War. The Railroad was a system of routes and safe houses that helped slaves escape from slavery to a better life. Runaway slaves were led by “conductors” such as the famous Harriet Tubman to free territories, the most popular destination of these being Canada, or the “promised land”. Many slaves also escaped to Northern states, Mexico, or even the Caribbean.
The system provided an opportunity for black people to invalidate the theory that they could not effectively organize movements by themselves. To white people, they seemed capable of making sound decisions. Thus, black people were given the right to vote in the Reconstruction Act