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History and Key Figures of the Underground Railroad

Apr 23, 2025

The Underground Railroad: Conductors, Stationmasters, and History

This lecture explores the history of the Underground Railroad, focusing on the key figures and challenges involved in assisting enslaved people to escape from the South to the North and Canada.

Introduction

  • The Underground Railroad began with the first Fugitive Slave Law in 1793.

    • Made it illegal to help escapees from slavery.
    • Forced helpers to operate clandestinely.

  • In 1850, a tougher Fugitive Slave Law was enacted.

    • Part of the Compromise of 1850.
    • Required northern law enforcement to arrest escapees.
    • Imposed fines and penalties on those assisting escapees.

The Underground Railroad Structure

  • Secret route developed by abolitionists, former slaves, and free men.
  • Included station houses for hiding within a day’s walk.
  • Coded messages and possible quilt symbols used to communicate.
  • Example: "I have sent via a two o'clock for large hands and two small hands" referred to four adults and two children.

Routes to Freedom

  • Rivers used to speed up travel and hide tracks.
  • Many aimed to reach British Canada or the Bahamas.
  • Songs like "Follow the Drinking Gourd" guided escapees north.

Key Figures

Harriet Tubman

  • Most famous conductor, known as "Moses."
  • Made 19 trips south, freeing over 300 people.
  • Assisted John Brown in planning his raid.

Levi Coffin

  • Quaker leader known as the "President of the Underground Railroad."
  • Helped about 100 slaves per year escape.

William Still

  • African-American leader in Philadelphia.
  • Known as the "Father of the Underground Railroad."
  • Compiled detailed records of escapees, aiding historical understanding.

Lucretia Coffin Mott

  • Quaker suffragette and abolitionist.
  • Opened her home as a station after the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act.

William Whipper

  • Free African-American business owner.
  • Donated extensively to help escapees.

Robert Purvis

  • Founded the Philadelphia Vigilance Committee.
  • Moved operations out of Philadelphia as threats increased.

Stephen Myers

  • Former slave, led the Albany station.
  • Helped 287 people escape in one year.

Frederick Douglass

  • Escaped slave and prominent abolitionist.
  • His home in Rochester was a key final station.

Impact and Legacy

  • Estimated 100,000 individuals gained freedom via the Underground Railroad.
  • Many escapees settled in Ontario, Canada, post-1850 Fugitive Slave Act.
  • Some returned to fight in the Civil War.
  • Underground Railroad was crucial in the years leading up to the Civil War.

Conclusion

  • The Underground Railroad played a significant role in American history, aiding in the lead-up to the Civil War.
  • Key figures like Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass left lasting legacies.

Full transcript