The Underground Railroad

Harriet Tubman

Dates

• Born: 1820, Dorchester County, Maryland
• Died: March 10, 1913, Auburn, New York

Location

• Eastern United States
• Southern Canada

Facts

• She escaped from her master once she found out that she was going to be sent to a plantation in the south.
• There was a $40,000 bounty for her return.
• As a conductor of the Underground Railroad Harriet helped approximately 300 slaves escape to Canada.
• During the Civil War she was  nurse, cook and spy for the Union army.

Further information

http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/aa/tubman

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p1535.html

 John Brown

Dates

• Born: May 9, 1800, Torrington, Connecticut.
• Died: December 2, 1859, Charlestown Virginia.

Location

• Eastern United States
• Midwestern Untied States

Facts

• As a boy he herded cattle of General Hull during the War of 1812.
• He was a conductor of the Underground Railroad.
• He became militant in his mission to help end slavery.
• Led a group of men to Harper's Ferry and raided the military armoury.
• Because of his role in the Harper's Ferry raid he was convicted of Treason and sentenced to death by hanging.

Futher Information

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p1550.html

http://www.civilwarhome.com/johnbrownbio.htm

Frederick Douglass

Dates

• Born: February, 1818, Easton Maryland
• Died: February 20, 1895, Washington, District of Columbia

Location

• North Eastern United States
• England

Facts

• Son of a slave woman and white man.
• Received an education while he worked under a ship's carpenter in Baltimore Maryland.
• He escaped to New Bedford Massachusetts.
• Became he spokesman for the Massachuseets Anti-Slavery Society.
• Published an anti-slavery newpaper, North Star
• Assisted with the Underground railroad but putting codes in his newpaper for refugee slaves.
• Lectured throughout England.
• Campaigned on behalf of Abraham Lincoln.

Further Information

http://www.history.rochester.edu/class/douglass/home.html

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p1539.html

 Dred Scott

Dates

• Born: 1795, Southampton County, Virgina
• Died: December 1857

Location

• Southern United States
• Northern United States

Facts

• Servant of Peter Blow who travelled from Alabama to Illinois.
• Peter Blow passed away and was purchased by Dr. John Emerson.
• Scott spend time in more free states with Emerson, Missouri, New York and Wisconsin.
• Sued for his freedom because he was sold in a territory that banned slavery.
• Won his case with the Missouri court, but it was over turned when Emerson's widow appeal the decision.
• The case was appealed to the supreme cout where it was determined that since Scott was black he had no constitutional right to freedom.
• His case caused a big divide during the presidential campaign, which Abraham Lincoln was elected president.

Further information

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2932.html