What Was The Underground Railroad?

Unlike implied by its name, the Underground Railroad did not involve trains that ran underground. It was actually a network of secret safe houses with routes in-between through which African-American slaves were helped to escape to freedom. This network was established with the help of black and white abolitionists, who helped them to get to Canada, other, free states and even Mexico or overseas.

Why Was it Called the “Underground Railroad”?

Those who worked in the network, helping the slaves to escape needed some type of code-language that would also make it easy for others to understand what they were talking about. They used railway terms for this: routes along the “railroad” were called lines, safe houses were stations, helpers were called conductors and the slaves themselves were referred to as freight.

When Did the Underground Railroad Exist?

The network was formed somewhere in the early 1800s and was the largest by 1850 and 1860. By then, estimates have it that over 100,000 slaves managed to escape through this route.

Where Did the Underground Railroad Run?

The routes on the Underground Railroad ran across 14 Northern states all the way to Canada. Some routes also led to Mexico or even to harbors where people were transported to foreign countries. Slaves would travel by foot, by boat, by wagon or by train along the route. They travelled mostly overnight and rested at the safe houses during the day.

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