The Anti-Slavery Movement
Despite the name, the Underground Railroad was not really a railroad, but was a network of people who assisted fugitive slaves. Many fugitives who escaped to the North and Canada received assistance along the way from individuals who were involved in this network. By the early 19th century, the organization became so successful that it is estimated that between 1810 and 1850, 100,000 slaves escaped from the South through the Underground Railroad.
The abolition of slavery had been a concern for anti-slavery advocates since the inception of slavery. The first abolitionist society was organized in 1775 in Pennsylvania. From thereafter abolitionists actively tried to free slaves, inform the public about the evil of slavery, and promoted alternatives to slavery. In time, individual anti-slavery advocates directly assisted in fugitive escapes. Soon advocates became aware of the others who also helped and a secret organization was loosely formed.
The Creation of the Term—Underground Railroad
After 1831, the term "The Underground Railroad" was used to describe this newly created organization of people who helped fugitive slaves. The origin of the name is believed to have come from a story about an escaped slave named Tice Davids. According to the story, as Davids tried to escape from Kentucky to Ohio, his master was not far behind. When he came to the Ohio River, he began to swim across. His master was determined not to lose site of him, so he kept his eyes upon him while he found a boat. The master followed Davids by boat and was careful to keep him in sight. Davids made it ashore and within an instant, he disappeared. The master searched ashore, but was unsuccessful. When he returned to Kentucky, he reported that his slave must have escaped by way of an underground road. From thereafter, the Underground Railroad was used to describe the network of people who helped fugitive slaves.
It was not a coincidence that it was called the Underground Railroad. Steam railroads had just emerged and the terms used to describe the people who helped and the fugitives were related to the railroad line. Fugitive slaves were called "parcels" and "passengers", the helpers were the "conductors", the people who provided their homes as refuge were called "stationmasters," and the homes were referred to as "depots" or "stations".
Underground Railroad Routes
The route used was an important part of a successful escape. A conductor could use numerous secret routes. The one used depended upon where the search parties and slave catchers were stationed. Some trips required the use of many different routes. If it appeared that they might be in danger, a guide would change paths. Some guides and fugitives even hid out in bushes and swamps for many days until it was safe to continue. Quickness was not the main concern. Instead, safety was most important. As a result, they often zigzagged in order to avoid capture.
There were two main factors that determined the route that would be used, the geographic location and the availability of Underground workers. For instance, Iowa was bordered on slave territory, but it was newly developed so there were long distances between stations. As a result, there were fewer routes. On the other hand, Ohio had at least twenty routes. Its population was larger, so there was less distance between stops and it had many rivers with tributaries that provided quick travel routes. The availability of workers also dictated where the routes were established. The number of routes in Ohio was attributed to its many workers who were made up of Quakers, antislavery residents, and Ottawa Indians.
