Underground Railroad Benefits
The Underground Railroad had a powerful impact in the abolition of slavery. Slavery itself prevented a large number of the population from having a voice in politics. Even though it was not actually a railroad it still gave slaves a change to escape for freedom. The North Star acted as a guide for slaves that escaped, they used this star to figure out what direction they need to travel in. It gave slaves a way to escape since slavery did not exist there. Many whites, Native Americans and freed slaves cooperated to help free slaves of the system of secret stops. The reason the Underground Railroad was successful and helped aid the abolition of slavery was it helped slaves become free and gain political power.
Individuals like Fredrick Douglas …show more content…
It gave white slave owners a political advantage. The abolition of slavery could reach success if it had not been for the Underground Railroad. Previously there has never been an escape route for slaves that was this organized. Harriet Tubman who helped establish it and later on would free slaves from the shackles of their own suffering. Without a political voice slaves never had a chance. In his book, Political Economy of the African American Situation, Hayes explains the barriers legislatures found when attempting to abolish slavery. “The founders of the American Political system and the Constitution wrote about liberty and justice, but protected the slave trade” (Hayes 527) I think this quote is powerful because the founding fathers wanted all men equal but continued to have slaves and support it. It was the paradox of the American Democracy, all men were created equal unless you were a minority. The legislature received a lot of backlash by the southern senators because they opposed the idea of their property. They believed they were owed money. It took freed slaves occupying a position of political power and using it for the purpose of abolishing slavery that the legislature finally submitted to congress. As more freed slaves managed to make it up to the north this legislature received more support, economically and publicly. It was all these different things that finally resulted in the abolition of slavery. It was a positive and powerful step in the right direction which eventual got to the goal of equality in the African American
Individuals like Fredrick Douglas …show more content…
It gave white slave owners a political advantage. The abolition of slavery could reach success if it had not been for the Underground Railroad. Previously there has never been an escape route for slaves that was this organized. Harriet Tubman who helped establish it and later on would free slaves from the shackles of their own suffering. Without a political voice slaves never had a chance. In his book, Political Economy of the African American Situation, Hayes explains the barriers legislatures found when attempting to abolish slavery. “The founders of the American Political system and the Constitution wrote about liberty and justice, but protected the slave trade” (Hayes 527) I think this quote is powerful because the founding fathers wanted all men equal but continued to have slaves and support it. It was the paradox of the American Democracy, all men were created equal unless you were a minority. The legislature received a lot of backlash by the southern senators because they opposed the idea of their property. They believed they were owed money. It took freed slaves occupying a position of political power and using it for the purpose of abolishing slavery that the legislature finally submitted to congress. As more freed slaves managed to make it up to the north this legislature received more support, economically and publicly. It was all these different things that finally resulted in the abolition of slavery. It was a positive and powerful step in the right direction which eventual got to the goal of equality in the African American