Underground Railroad

Slave trade voyages began in 1525, but steadily grew from 1650 until 1776 (Revolutionary War). It rose again from the 1780's until British and U.S. slave trade is abolished in 1808. Despite the decline, voyages still continued until the final trans-Atlantic journey in 1867.

Check out the link below for a bar graph and thorough data by Emory University.

Below is an enlarged view: Diagram of a slave ship from the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, 1790-1 (Public Domain) The slave traders planned the transport of Africans, packed so tightly on the ship laying side-by-side, for the six-week to several month voyage.

Oral History: Slave's Perspective

To weave these experiences together, choose and listen to a few former slave narratives recorded as a national initiative to save these oral histories.

Voices from the Days of Slavery: Library of Congress recordings of former slaves

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

The Underground Railroad was neither underground nor a railway. Instead, it was a secret and illegal term for moving slaves who ran away from a life of being owned and treated harshly to be free. The Underground Railroad consisted of a series of safe houses to receive shelter and sometimes food, supplies and advice along the way to a freedom state. This took place throughout the majority of the 1800's. It is believed to have been an escape for over 100,000 slaves during 1810 - 1860.

MPT: Pathways to Freedom: Maryland and the Underground Railroad: Following the Footsteps

Abolitionists were people who demanded an end to slavery. Many abolitionists displayed secret codes to signal safe shelter for fugitive slaves. Sometimes it was a light in a window, a quilt hung out to dry or a symbol on a barn. Many songs also guided their journey.

A Few Notable Abolitionists and Conductors:

HARRIET TUBMAN

1. Harriet Tubman was one of the most well-known. She was born a slave who escaped north to freedom, yet courageously arranged to return and escort hundreds of other fugitive slaves to freedom and assisted the Union soldiers as a spy during the Civil War.

LEVI and CATHARINE COFFIN

Frederick Douglas was born a slave, escaped at age 20 and became an international anti-slavery activist. He wrote books and edited newspapers about the struggle of slaves and became a driving force toward social justice.

JOHN BROWN

John Brown is a controversial figure. He believed strongly in abolishing slavery and conducted numerous Underground Railroad missions. He also developed a plan to arm slaves with weapons to fight for their freedom.

Read this article from PBS on this controversial figure.http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p1550.html

Next, watch this clip from the National Museum of American History that explores various perspectives of John Brown's beliefs and actions.

IOWA CONNECTION

*** Note significant dates throughout your Iowa research. It will be used to create an Iowa timeline. ***

John Brown: They Had a Concern

(A copyrighted publication of West Virginia Archives and History)John Brown: They Had a Concern By Jeannette Mather Lord On the rolling Iowa prairies between the Cedar and Iowa Rivers, Quaker Ridge was settled during the 1850's by Friends from New England, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana.

Navigate through this interactive map of John Brown's trail through Iowa to aid slaves seeking freedom. Assign each student a town to visit and read about what happened there. Take notes on local Iowan's names and role in the Underground Railroad.

Then come together and share what you’ve learned with the group.

The Kansas-Nebraska struggle arose after 1854 over whether the territories would become slave or free states. This made western Iowa an important staging area for free state forces and also an area of operations for those engaged in aiding fugitives escape enslavement.

IOWAHISTORY

http://publications.iowa.gov/14171/1/Early%20Settlement%20and%20Growth%20of%20Western%20Iowa002.pdf

Todd House, Tabor

This house was built by Rev. john Todd in 1853. He was one of Tabor town's founders and loyal supporter of John Brown. Boxes of ammunition, clothes and a cannon were stored in the cellar as John Brown collected them for his (unknown) attack on Harper's Ferry.

Hitchcock House, Lewis Iowa

George B. Hitchcock lived in Lewis during the 1850's and was an abolitionist who provided shelter for numerous slaves on their journey toward freedom.

Jordan was a strong abolitionist who harbored (securely hid) numerous slaves along their journey toward freedom. He became known as a "chief conductor" in Polk County area. John Brown stayed here at least twice during his travels through Iowa.

Cedar County: Wilton Rest Area on I-80E was designed to celebrate the Iowa Underground Railroad connection. Quilt codes are thought to have been used to guide and communicate messages during the Underground Railroad, so they are a prominent feature.

Iowa's history reflected in rest stop designs across Iowa. Cedar County has Underground Railroad theme.

1. Grinnell and John Brown 1859
2. In 1859, a cluster of some ninety houses with five-hundred residents made up the village of Grinnell. Under the leadership of the Congregational clergyman, Josiah B. Grinnell, the community had gained a reputation an abolitionist center and a safe harbor for runaways from slavery.

William Penn Clarke and Dr. Jesse Bowen, Iowa City

JOHN BROWN AND THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD