The Underground Railroad

The Underground Railroad was a secret network of routes, safe houses, and supporters that helped enslaved African Americans escape to free states and Canada.
It developed in the late 18th century and expanded rapidly between the 1830s and 1850s as opposition to slavery grew.
Abolitionists, free Black communities, and formerly enslaved people played key roles, with figures such as Harriet Tubman becoming especially prominent after 1849.
The network became more dangerous after the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which required escaped slaves to be returned even from free states.
Despite these risks, thousands of people successfully escaped using the Underground Railroad.

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