Underground Railroad

Without context, the Underground Railroad might seem like an on-the-mark term for the subway, but contrary to its name, the Underground Railroad was neither underground nor an actual railroad. Instead, it was a metaphor for the secret (underground) networks (railroad) that helped enslaved people escape to freedom. Similarly to the real railroads, it has conductors, maps, and way stations. Read on to get some amazing Underground Railroad facts and learn about the bravery, determination, and resourcefulness of those who used it to escape from slavery.

The Underground Railroad Definition

The Underground Railroad was a network of routes and safe houses that ran across the United States from the late 1700s until the end of slavery. People of all backgrounds would guide enslaved people on their way to freedom in Northern states, Western territory, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean territories, and Europe. Estimates suggest around 100,000 enslaved people used the Underground Railroad to escape.

There was not a singular route that freedom-seekers took. Depending on their starting point and destination, they would travel by land or water. Water was the safest and easiest choice, but it was not always an option in landlocked areas. Groups traveling by land were often small and only traveled at night to avoid capture.

The Underground Railroad Facts

The Underground Railroad facts include:

• It is estimated that around 100,000 enslaved people used the Underground Railroad to escape.
• The Underground Railroad ran across the entire country, but there was no singular route and conductors often did not know more than their own part.
• Safe houses, called "way stations," were available for freedom-seekers to stay at along the Underground Railroad.
• Those who guided enslaved people were known as "conductors" of the Underground Railroad.
• The South was well aware of the Underground Railroad and passed the Fugitive Slave Act in 1793, with a stricter version passed as part of the Compromise of 1850, making being a conductor even more dangerous.
• Conductors in the South faced more severe punishments than those in the North, including torture and lynching if caught.

Continue reading to learn more details about the facts above.

The Underground Railroad Map

The Underground Railroad ran across the entire country, with many starting points and final destinations. To prevent authorities from discovering entire networks, conductors and owners of “way stations” often did not know more than their own part. A written map could put the entire operation in jeopardy.

For these reasons, it would be impossible to create a comprehensive and all-encompassing map of the Underground Railroad. Below is a map created by Wilbur Henry Siebert in 1898 that shows just routes going into Canada. As you can see, it already looks complex.

Fig. 1 - map of Underground Railroad routes going into Canada

The Underground Railroad: The Fugitive Slave Acts

Since the beginning of slavery in the United States, enslaved people had been attempting to escape. Those who were successful in the earlier years often joined maroon communities hidden away from white communities. With time, the destination changed to territories, states, and countries that were anti-slavery.

Another big change was that enslaved people no longer had to plan and execute their escapes by themselves. People of all backgrounds began to assist in escapes, eventually forming networks across the country.

Secrecy regarding the details of the Underground Railroad did not lend itself to secrecy regarding the operation as a whole. The South was well aware of the Underground Railroad. Some abolitionists spoke of it proudly but a quote by Frederick Douglass shows that not all abolitionists were on the same page:

Slaveholders in the South were upset that the Northern states allowed escaped slaves to seek refuge within their borders. The first Fugitive Slave Act, passed in 1793 as a result of Southern pressure, enabled slaveholders and the men they hired to go into Northern States to capture slaves that had escaped.

Congress passed the second Fugitive Slave Act as part of the Compromise of 1850. It was much stricter than the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793. It required all citizens to aid in the return of runaway slaves or risk a penalty of $1,000 and six months in jail. It made being a conductor of the Underground Railroad even more dangerous than before.

The Underground Railroad Conductors

People who guided enslaved people were called conductors of the Underground Railroad. They came from a variety of backgrounds. Conductors included free Black people, white people of various religions, and even Native Americans. We also know that being a conductor could be dangerous, especially after the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.

The Underground Railroad Conductors: The North vs. The South

There was a stark difference though between the consequences for a conductor operating in the North versus the South. Although the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 complicated things for those in the North, those in the South could face much more than a jail sentence. If a conductor was caught in the South, punishments could include torture, and even lynching.

The Underground Railroad Conductors: Notable Conductors

Let's go over several significant conductors of the Underground Railroad.

Harriet Tubman

Today, it would be impossible to discuss the Underground Railroad without mentioning Harriet Tubman, famous for her role in helping around 70 people escape slavery in over 10 different expeditions without losing a single “passenger.”

Harriet Tubman preferred to travel during the winter when nights were long, and people were more likely to be at home bundled up. A former slave herself, she continued to risk her life and return to the South to save her friends and family. She was a master of disguise and kept a gun to protect herself and her passengers.

Fig. 2 - Harriet Tubman

William Still

William Still was born a free man to parents who were once enslaved. He became one of the most successful Black businessmen in Philadelphia, where he helped freedom-seekers that were stopping through on their journeys. He wrote and published The Underground Railroad (1872), which offers first-hand accounts of people that escaped slavery via the Underground Railroad.

Fig, 3 - William Still

Below is just one example of the many narratives he included in the book. It is the story of Clarissa Davis.

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass is one of the most well-known abolitionists of his time. He was born into slavery but managed to escape via the Underground Railroad in 1836. From his home in Rochester, New York, he worked as a conductor and helped others who decided to travel the Underground Railroad. He started his newspaper, The North Star, in 1847 and it quickly became the most prominent Black abolitionist publication.

Fig, 4 - Frederick Douglass

The Underground Railroad: Quilts and Songs

As we discussed earlier, it was not safe for conductors or freedom-seekers to write down any details of the Underground Railroad because authorities could use it to stop them. Many people believe that conductors and their passengers used quilts and songs to communicate important information.

Below are lyrics from “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” which some believe conductors sang to warn freedom-seekers that it was time to prepare.

The Underground Railroad: Quilts and Songs Historiography

Not all historians are on the same page when it comes to the true role of quilts and songs in the Underground Railroad. Some historians claim that there is no real evidence backing up the widespread use of quilts and songs to communicate information. On the opposite end of the spectrum, some historians try to “decode” quilts and songs of the time.