Abstract
The slaves in the Southern part of US faced inhuman treatment where they were by law, the property of their owners. The slaves were subjected to harsh treatments including working for long hours in the fields while returning at night only to be met by meager food to fulfill their hunger needs. The husbands were taken from their wives with professional slave catchers tasked with tracking the runaway slaves and torturing those who were suspected to have the intentions of escaping. To be able to save the slaves and make them see the light of freedom, it was necessary that secret missions be undertaken since the events at the time could not allow for open advocacy on sympathizing slaves. The conductors composed of individuals from different races, occupations and income levels played a key role in making the escape a success. This paper therefore discusses the events that took place during the period of Underground Railroad.
Introduction
The Underground Railroad paints the image of a number of people who played key roles in helping slaves escape from hardships in the northern states. Those involved in assisting slaves to seek freedom included the members of free black community who included the likes of Harriet Tubman, a former slave, several slave abortion campaigners and philanthropists who were aware of the fact that slavery exposed people to inhuman treatment. The underground concept also reflects the fact that by the time the slaves reached a point where they were assured of safety, they had gone through difficulties and the success was considered mere luck. After making a gateway from their masters, the slaves were expected to keep their eye to the North Star as a way of making them aware that they were heading to the north.
Literature review
The title “Underground Railroad” creates the impression of a railroad structure to most people. However, the concept refers to secretive activities carried out by individuals who did not want their identities to be revealed. The idea of coming up with runways to help slaves escape had earlier existed even before the emergence of the Underground Railroad with the society of Quakers playing a key role in banning slavery in the state of Pennsylvania. Among the Quakers who assisted in major escapes included Levi Coffin and his wife who managed to aid the escape of over 3000 slaves. With the underground activities, everyone played a key role in the operations with stopping points referred to stations while those who helped in various roles referred to as conductors. Harriet Tubman was among the instrumental conductors whose role in saving the slaves saw her help over three hundred slaves to escape.
Determined to make sure that the escape initiative was a success, Tubman could not let anyone go back as she threatened to shoot anyone who was tempted to go back to the slave camps. The secret routes were therefore key to helping slaves in the 19th century escape from the ruthless treatment in slave camps. The escape routes led to movement of the slaves to free states including Canada and Mexico. Most of the operations took place between 1850 and 1860 with over 10000 slaves being helped to escape by 1850. Canada was a free state where most escaped slaves found refuge since slavery had been abolished within its territories with the government keen to ignore laws that called for recapturing of the slaves. The Underground Railroad got its name from the secret routes, meeting places, transportation and the assistance that was availed to the slaves. Those involved in the operations usually grouped themselves into independent small groups to maintain secrecy and improve their ability to help more slaves seek freedom. Most of those who helped the slaves were free black residents who played a key role considering the fact that most of the slaves were African Americans.
The stations used in the process were also located at strategic locations including under church floors and as the slaves moved to freedom, their new destination was referred to as the Promised Land while the boundary that marked the transition from the slave state to the free state was River Jordan. The fact that the mission was secretive led to indirect routes that would in turn make those in pursuit confused on the right way making them go back to the slave states. A major limitation was the fact that it was hard for the women and children to escape considering the long journey and the difficulties that had to be endured along the way. This then led to majority of those being freed to be men with women remaining at the slave plantations. However, some women who could cope with the escape conditions were allowed the opportunity among them Harriet Tubman who later played a key role in helping several slaves successfully escape from the plantations. With the slave states keen to reward those who had useful information on the nature of the activities that led to escape, it was imperative that information be passed only by the word of mouth since the success in soliciting for information often led to pursuit of the escaping slaves to the point where they reached the borders of the nations such as Canada that had abolished slavery.
Discussion
The slaves in the Southern United States faced inhuman treatment where they were by law, the property of their owners. The slaves were subjected to harsh treatments including working for long hours in the fields while returning at night only to be met by meager food to fulfill their hunger needs. The husbands were taken from their wives with professional slave catchers keen to track the runway slaves and torturing those who were suspected to have the intentions of escaping.
This meant that the slaves had to have a lot of courage to design ways on how they could escape. The motives for slavery was because of labor demand in the cotton plantation where young and productive individuals were highly valuable to provide labor. Others saw slaves as a business opportunity with most of the slaves kidnapped and sold into slavery. The fact that slaves especially the productive ones fetched higher prices in the market made the merchants to look for ways on how they could steal the certificates of freedom and destroy them such that there was minimal protection to the escaped slaves.
Notable locations where slaves were sold at the time included Crenshaw House in Illinois where blacks were sold into slavery. The escape mission was a hard one since those who were suspected to be fugitives had no right to a jury trial and in spite of them having no crime, they were subjected to harsh sentencing by a special magistrate. The operations of Underground Railroad paint the picture of how individuals gave their lives to ensure that slavery became abolished in most of the states. While aware of the repercussions of helping fugitives, individuals such as Tubman still ensured the escape mission was a success. The consequences of aiding slaves escape included hanging, imprisonment and severe whipping, that is, in the event where the sympathizers survived the hands of angry slave catchers. Blacks suffered more in terms of the punishment imposed since they were subjected to harsh sanctions including burning as a caution to those who could be tempted to help other slaves escape. However, it is the actions of the Underground Railroad advocates that contributed to anti-slavery movements. The case of Underground Railroad reflects the need for men and women to come up with ideas on how they could ensure the society remains sustainable for everyone to thrive in. While information and mobilization may pave way for the voices to be heard, it is imperative that measures be taken to make major revolutions through actions.
Such is the spirit shown by the conductors who risked the repercussions imposed by the slave states and went ahead to save thousands of slaves working in the plantations and at the homes of their masters. Among the notable individuals was Harriet Tubman, who in spite of being a woman proved that she had the capacity to make slaves find the light of freedom. Having made 19 separate trips to the slave states, Tubman was motivated in ending slavery having been born a slave herself.
Conclusion
The case of Underground Railroad proves the extent to which individuals could sacrifice themselves to create a civilized state. As a result of the actions of people such as Harriet, thousands of slaves found freedom. The Underground Railroad is an important part of the modern history where everyone could learn from the events that took place in the slave states. Involvement with the secret movement was not only dangerous but illegal and hence those who were found to be sympathizers of slaves were subject to severe punishments. The only way that could have ensured success of the mission was to ensure that every step remained a secret by utilizing codes only understood by the conductors. The underground concept also reflects the fact that by the time the slaves reached a point where they were assured of safety, they had gone through difficulties and the success was considered mere luck. Travelling along the Underground Railroad was not an easy journey to the extent that some felt the urge to go back to the slave states. With attractive rewards offered to those who could provide information on the operations of the movement, the mission had to maintain its secret plans.
References
Michigan History magazine. (2001). The Underground Railroad. Michigan: Michigan History magazine.
Petry, A. (2004). A Guide to Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
