The Underground Railroad: The Journey to Freedom (Milestones in American History)

When the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 was passed by Congress, the flight to freedom for runaway slaves became even more dangerous. Abolitionists who despised slavery had to turn in fugitives, and even the free cities of Boston and Philadelphia were no longer safe. But the Underground Railroad, the secret and loosely organized network of people and safe houses that led slaves to freedom, only grew stronger. Since the late 1700s, free blacks, whites, Native Americans, and other slaves had banded together to aid runaways, despite violence and threat of imprisonment from those that supported slavery. During the 1800s, these secret routes and safe houses were used by an estimated 100,000 enslaved people seeking freedom. In The Underground Railroad read how this secret system worked in the days leading up to the Civil War and the pivotal role it played in the abolitionist movement.

Milestones in American History chronicles the seminal moments of American history through the words and actions of the people who played significant roles in these events.