In the early to mid 19^th Century, the Underground Railroad was created and used to assist slaves escape from the south and move them north, with the end of the railroad finishing in Canada. During the years that the railroad was in existence, over 30,000 people escaped slavery to freedom by using a series of safe houses and trails that compromised the Underground Railroad.

Slavery had been in place since the formation of the United States, and was an accepted practice during colonial times. In the years after the American Revolution abolitionists, mainly in the north, began to push for the end of slavery. The lawmakers of the time began to embrace the abolition of slavery and most of the states located in the north, became Free states meaning that African Americans in that state would be free. However, the southern states held on to the ideals of slavery and would not permit slaves be freemen. In addition, other states on the fringe of the north/south debate, even though they did not support the concept of slavery, they upheld slavery claims of the southern states.

Because of the continuing use of slaves, many abolitionists, including freed slaves, created the Underground Railroad. The railroad started in the early 1800’s and an extensive network of people helped slaves escape. While there were many routes used in the railroad, people that helped show the way out (called conductors) only knew their particular part of the route. The conductors would help the slaves go from point A to point B, where they would be turned over to another conductor who would take them to point C and so on. The Underground Railroad led through the northern states of the U.S. with many of the escapees ending up in Canada, at the end of the trail.

With the growing sentiment to abolish slavery in the northern states, pressure was put on the southern states to stop slavery. Unfortunately, the south was unwilling to abolish slavery and seceded from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America. In 1861, the first shots of the Civil War were fired and embroiled the north and south in a war that would last until 1865.

With the north’s victory in the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed freedom for all slaves and signed the 18^th Amendment to the Constitution which abolished the practice of slavery. With the end of slavery brought to the end of the Underground Railroad. However, the vital work of individuals such as Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, John Rankin and Frederick Douglass helped thousands of slaves enjoy freedom earlier and helped fight for the freedom of all African Americans.

Many vital resources exist that highlight the workings and journeys on the Underground Railroad:

·       Background on the Underground Railroad

·       Underground Railroad – Rochester, NY

·       Western New York and the Railroad

·       Underground Railroad Freedom Center

·       The Underground Railroad Experience

·       Threads of Freedom

·       Underground Railroad Collections

·       Underground Railroad

·       Ontario’s Underground Railroad

·       Underground Railroad in Canada

·       Virtual Underground Railroad Experience

·       Landmarks of the Underground Railroad

·       Underground Railroad Conductors

·       Escape From Slavery

·       Underground Railroad Terminology

·       Underground Railroad Overview

·       Aboard the Underground Railroad

·       Underground Railroad Routes

·       Songs of Freedom

·       Pictures From the Underground Railroad

·       People of the Underground Railroad