The Underground Railroad was a network of people during the 19th century who aided in the escape of enslaved African Americans from the south safely make their way to the northern states or Canada. It consisted of predominantly free slaves, abolitionists, and many whites. Slaves were smuggled into the northern states either through false “free papers” to board a boat or train or by being shipped in freights. The Underground Railroad was not underground or an actual railroad, it received its name due to abolitionists using railway terms to describe how it worked. It was considered underground due to the routes in which the slaves escaped through were out of sight and unknown. Many people helped by providing housing, clothes, shoes, food, etc.
