 By: Quontavius Neal November 18,2013 Period:2B

 The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th century Black slaves in the United States to escape to free states (or as far north as Canada) with the aid of abolitionists who were sympathetic to their cause.

 In 1844, William Still moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he began working as a clerk for the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society. When Philadelphia abolitionists organized a committee to aid runaway slaves reaching Philadelphia, Still became its chairman  William Still, often called “The Father of the Underground Railroad” helped as many as 800 slaves escape to freedom.  Still interviewed each person and kept careful records including a brief biography and the destination of each person, along with any alias that they adopted, though he kept his records carefully hidden.

 Slaves were being treaty poorly by their “Masters”. 98% of all slaves in the South were African Americans.  Slaves were beaten for talking back, Refusing to work on plantations, and often for trying to escape.  Slaves had very little homage and lived in poverty. Slaves were raped by their “Masters” and often impregnated as well and the kids were forced to work plantations at age 7.  The underground railroad spirited runaway slaves up north, but did not make a dent in the institution of slavery down south.

 Harriet Tubman also known as “The Black Moses” was an escaped slave that made 19 voyages into the Deep South and helped over 300 slaves escape to the North. As an abolitionist, she acted as intelligence gatherer, refugee organizer, raid leader, nurse, and fundraiser. Harriet helped slaves escape, but some had fear of being hunted and wanted to go back and she would discourage them from doing so.

 Levi and Catharine Coffin were legendary in helping many former slaves escape into the north, where they would be free.  Levi is often referred to as the President of the Underground Railroad  Levi and Catharine had a 8 room brick style home in Newport, Indiana that became a well known hideout for runaway slaves.  During the 20 years they lived in Newport the Coffin's helped over 2,000 slaves to safety.  White abolitionist tried to help in any way they could against slavery including risking their own lives.

 The Underground Railroad was a SUCCESS mainly because none of the slave owners knew about it.  The slaves could slip away and no one knew. No one expected slaves to learn how to read, write, and plot an escape on their own  It is estimated that 100,000 slaves escaped through the underground Railroad.  It ran from 1780 to 1862 that proved the success of this “Civil Disobedience”

 Thoreau stated “A man can change an unjust system by refusing to be unjust and be willing to be the sacrifice.” Abolitionists took it upon themselves to help runaway slaves escape to freedom and to start a new life amongst freed slaves. Even if it meant putting their own lives and freedom at risk.  Thoreau also said "The only obligation which I have a right to assume, is to do at any time what I think right.“. Abolitionists created the Underground Railroad system just to show that they did not support slavery and that they felt it was wrong and unjust. This act of civil disobedience was what helped free thousands of slaves.

ThoreauThoreau & AbolitionistsAbolitionists Spent one night in jail for refusing to pay his poll tax against slavery and the Mexican war. Wanted people to rebel against unjust laws and the government. Gave lectures that attacked the fugitive slave law. Thoreau's philosophy of civil disobedience later influenced the political thoughts Both were imprisoned for fighting against something that they believed. Both were against slavery Both were disobeying laws and government to insure the safety of the slaves. Both of their actions helped make a change in slave laws around the southern part of the U.S Helped slaves escape to freedom in the north. Hid slaves out in their homes and basements until it was safe. Were both white and blacks. Some white activists wanted black runaway slaves to censor their comments about northern racism and simply deliver speeches on the horrors of slavery in the South. White female abolitionists occasionally wrote speeches that they attributed to black female abolitionists,

 This is an act of Civil Disobedience because people risked their lives for others to have freedom.  People went against everything the Government, Presidents, and Politicians believed or stood for.  Abolitionists gave speeches, let runaways camp out at their homes,and transported them to their next location.  Some abolitionists were captured and imprisoned; thought of as traitors, and often hung for their participation in The Underground Railroad.

 Before a system to abet runaways seems to have existed. George Washington complained in 1786 that one of his runaway slaves was aided by "a society of Quakers, formed for such purposes." Quakers, correctly called the Religious Society of Friends, were among the earliest abolition groups. Their influence may have been part of the reason Pennsylvania was the first state to ban slavery  Sometimes a "conductor" pretending to be a slave would go to a plantation to guide the fugitives on their way. The Fugitive Slave Act was passed to ". It declared that all runaway slaves were, upon capture, to be returned to their masters. Abolitionists nicknamed it the "Bloodhound Law" for the dogs that were used to track down runaway slaves.  Slavery ended when the 13 th amendment was ratified, but there was still racism. Whites would never truly live in harmony with blacks. All slaves had to be given their “Free Papers” to truly be released. Some whites still kept blacks as indentured servants, maids, and made them work degrading jobs.