Before the end of the Civil War and the 13th Amendment, slaves were a source of labor in the United States for roughly 245 years. However, there were many individuals who fought to end slavery, known as abolitionists; among these people were three significant figures that were imperative to the movement’s success: Harriet Tubman, Thomas Garrett, and William Still. Harriet Tubman was a “conductor” who led over 300 fugitives to freedom in the northern states and Canada. Thomas Garrett’s role in the Underground Railroad was a “station master”, and he sheltered thousands slaves on their way to free territory. William Still, born a free black man, was an “agent”, meaning he helped fugitives find the railroad, as well as recorded their experiences.
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(Whispers of Angels, Sharon K. Baker). The first of her many trips with runaway slaves had occurred earlier that year, during which Tubman helped her sister and her children to the northern states from Maryland. Following that trip, she made many more dangerous journeys to the South, using different methods to achieve a triumphant escape, each time advancing the abolitionist movement. (“Harriet Ross Tubman”, math.buffalo.edu) Tubman also offered her services during the Civil War, in which she worked under the Union. Her work included her working as a cook, nurse, and spy, all of which impacted the outcome of both the movement and the Civil War. (“Harriet Tubman”, pbs.org) Tubman showed dedication during the time she assisted fugitives, and there were others like her putting their life at risk to help terminate …show more content…
He linked runaways to safe places, was a benefactor for some of Harriet’s expeditions to South, and corresponded with Garrett Still to successfully guide fugitives along the routes to safety. Still was significant in the operation of the Railroad, which is why he is sometimes referred to as “the Father of the Underground Railroad.” (“William Still, Philadelphia Abolitionist”, aaregistry.org) In addition to his role as a Railroad “agent,” he also kept records of the interviews between him and the runaways he helped, which he published after the end of the Civil War. The brief descriptions of the fugitives—their pseudonyms and where they were headed—in his book provided factual information of how the Underground Railroad operated. To sum up, William Still did not only reinforce the anti-slavery movement, but he produced a historical documentation of both the Underground Railroad and those who used it to gain their freedom as
(Whispers of Angels, Sharon K. Baker). The first of her many trips with runaway slaves had occurred earlier that year, during which Tubman helped her sister and her children to the northern states from Maryland. Following that trip, she made many more dangerous journeys to the South, using different methods to achieve a triumphant escape, each time advancing the abolitionist movement. (“Harriet Ross Tubman”, math.buffalo.edu) Tubman also offered her services during the Civil War, in which she worked under the Union. Her work included her working as a cook, nurse, and spy, all of which impacted the outcome of both the movement and the Civil War. (“Harriet Tubman”, pbs.org) Tubman showed dedication during the time she assisted fugitives, and there were others like her putting their life at risk to help terminate …show more content…
He linked runaways to safe places, was a benefactor for some of Harriet’s expeditions to South, and corresponded with Garrett Still to successfully guide fugitives along the routes to safety. Still was significant in the operation of the Railroad, which is why he is sometimes referred to as “the Father of the Underground Railroad.” (“William Still, Philadelphia Abolitionist”, aaregistry.org) In addition to his role as a Railroad “agent,” he also kept records of the interviews between him and the runaways he helped, which he published after the end of the Civil War. The brief descriptions of the fugitives—their pseudonyms and where they were headed—in his book provided factual information of how the Underground Railroad operated. To sum up, William Still did not only reinforce the anti-slavery movement, but he produced a historical documentation of both the Underground Railroad and those who used it to gain their freedom as