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Underground Railroad: The William Still Story
Many of the well-known Negro Spirituals popular in the United States during the mid-1800s are much more complex than they first appear. Historians of the Underground Railroad refer to them as "Coded Spirituals". What that means is that the words actually have two meanings; one that is immediately apparent and one that's hidden just below the surface.

Aired: 02/05/12

Rating: TV-PG

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Underground Railroad: The William Still Story | Coded Spirituals | PBS

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Underground Railroad: The William Still Story Many of the well-known Negro Spirituals popular in the United States during the mid-1800s are much more complex than they first appear. Historians of the Underground Railroad refer to them as "Coded Spirituals".

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Michael McElroy  with the Linda Twine Singers & Moses Hogan Youth Ensemble Singers

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Spirituals were a source of hope for slaves.  The meaning of this one is that the slaves will soon be free of their chains and no longer have a master.

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Ride On King Jesus - Olivet Nazarene University Proclamation Gospel Choir

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FOLLOW THE DRINKING GOURD - THE FOLK SONG THAT LED TO FREEDOM!!!

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Learn about the history of slavery in the United States.

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Underground Railroad
History >> Civil War

The Underground Railroad was a term used for a network of people, homes, and hideouts that the enslaved in the southern United States used to escape to freedom in the Northern United States and Canada.

Was it a railroad?

The Underground Railroad wasn't really a railroad. It was a name given to the way that people escaped. No one is sure where it originally got its name, but the "underground" part of the name comes from its secrecy and the "railroad" part of the name comes from the way it was used to transport people.

Conductors and Stations

The Underground Railroad used railroad terms in its organization. People who led the enslaved along the route were called conductors. Hideouts and homes where the enslaved hid along the way were called stations or depots. Even people who helped by giving money and food were sometimes called stockholders.

Levi Coffin House
from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Who worked on the railroad?

Many people from various backgrounds worked as conductors and provided safe places for the enslaved to stay along the route. Some of the conductors were formerly enslaved people such asHarriet Tubman who escaped using the Underground Railroad and then returned to help more of the enslaved escape. Many white people who felt that slavery was wrong also helped, including Quakers from the north. They often provided hideouts in their homes as well as food and other supplies.

Harriet Tubman
by H. B. Lindsley

If it wasn't a railroad, how did the people actually travel?

Traveling on the Underground Railroad was difficult and dangerous. The enslaved would often travel by foot at night. They would sneak from one station to the next, hoping not to get caught. Stations were usually around 10 to 20 miles apart. Sometimes they would have to wait at one station for a while until they knew the next station was safe and ready for them.

Was it dangerous?

Yes, it was very dangerous. Not only for the enslaved who were trying to escape, but also for those trying to help them. It was against the law to help escaped enslaved people and, in many southern states, conductors could be put to death by hanging.

When did the Underground Railroad run?

The Underground Railroad ran from around 1810 to the 1860s. It was at its peak right before the Civil War in the 1850s.

A Ride for Liberty - The Fugitive Slaves
by Eastman Johnson

How many people escaped?

Since enslaved people escaped and lived in secrecy, no one is quite sure how many escaped. There are estimates that say over 100,000 of the enslaved escaped over the history of the railroad, including 30,000 that escaped during the peak years before the Civil War.

Fugitive Slave Act

In 1850 the Fugitive Slave Act was passed in the United States. This made it a law that runaway enslaved people found in free states had to be returned to their owners in the south. This made it even more difficult for the Underground Railroad. Now, the enslaved needed to be transported all the way to Canada in order to be safe from being captured again.

Abolitionists

Abolitionists were people who thought slavery should be made illegal and all current enslaved people should be set free. The abolitionist movement started with the Quakers in the 17th century who felt that slavery was un-Christian. The state of Pennsylvania was the first state to abolish slavery in 1780.

Lewis Hayden House by Ducksters
The Lewis Hayden House served as a stop
on the Underground Railroad.

Interesting Facts about the Underground Railroad

Enslavers really wanted Harriet Tubman, a famous conductor for the railroad, arrested. They offered a reward of $40,000 for her capture. That was a LOT of money back then.

One hero of the Underground Railroad was Levi Coffin, a Quaker who is said to have helped around 3,000 of the enslaved gain their freedom.

The most common route for people to escape was north into the northern United States or Canada, but some of the enslaved in the deep south escaped to Mexico or Florida.

Canada was often called the "Promised Land" by the enslaved. The Mississippi River was called the "River Jordan" from the Bible.

In keeping with the railroad terminology, escaping enslaved people were often referred to as passengers or cargo.

Activities

Overview Major Events Civil War Life

People Battles

Works Cited

History >> Civil War

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Kids learn about the Underground Railroad. A way for the enslaved to escape from the South and into free northern states and Canada.

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Kids learn about the history of the American Civil War including causes, timeline, generals, battles, daily life, Abraham Lincoln, the North vs. South, border states, and slavery. Educational articles for students, schools, and teachers.

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Sojourner Truth - Civil Rights Activist | Mini Bio | BIO

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12 years a slave - choir song - ''roll jordan roll'' 2013

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