The Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman

An Underground Railroad Station

The Underground Railroad was the group of people (abolitionists and free blacks) who helped slaves gain their freedom from the South to the northern states or into Canada. It was called the Underground Railroad because the activities had to be carried out in secret due to the severe punishments to anyone who helped runaway slaves. Railway terms were also used, such as "conductors," "freight," and "stations" to indicate the various participants and stopping points.  Most of the "conductors" (Railroad workers) were free black slaves like Harriet Tubman and not white abolitionists. An escaped slave at age 29, Harriet Tubman would travel back into the South 19 times to aid the runaways over her lifetime and help several hundred slaves escape to the North. She was also called "Moses."  There were also white Railroad workers who contributed to the cause. Unfortunately, most slaves never escaped and lived in bondage their whole lives.

The Underground Railroad contributed to the North-South sectionalism in that the idea of a group of people undermining the institution of slavery through secret and coordinated planning angered the southerners so much that they sought aid from Congress to strengthen the fugitive slave laws. The North protested and increased their efforts on the slaves' behalf. Thus, the hostility between North and South escalated.