Underground Railway Effects on Slavery

¶ … Underground Railroad Functioned and Assess Its Significance During the 1850s, slaves had few alternatives in life --a slave could remain on the plantation of his/her master, come to terms with the idea of a life filled with frequent cruel physical punishments and grueling labor, and the possibility of one's family getting separated, (accompanied by the pain of watching family members being sold away). While this wasn't necessarily the fate all slaves met, they could expect it, if they remained enslaved. The idea of escape was fraught with uncertainty.

The slaves would be hunted either by the master himself or by cruel, professional slave hunters. If a runaway slave was caught, he was nearly always put to death; further, the other slaves (i.e., his coworkers in the plantation) were also punished and were, normally, made to witness the defiant slave's execution. Moreover, a run-away life wasn't at all easy. Even in the event the slave managed to reach any of the Northern states, threats still persisted.

A large number of people, both Blacks and Whites, coveted the sum offered as reward for turning in a runaway slave; also, the 1793 Fugitive Slave Act was made still severer in the year 1850 and permitted a master to take home his 'property' (i.e., back to the South) and re-enslave him, in the event the slave could be tracked -- that is, if his master decided to spare his life. Therefore, the best hope for a runaway slave was fleeing beyond the country's borders.

In light of all the threats he encountered in his path, though, the probability of success was minimal. However, if a slave did cross the nation's boundaries, he would be free. The word 'freedom' was, for numerous slaves, too much to even think about, much less strive for. Nevertheless, no less than one estimate states that, in the 1800s, over 100,000 slaves, via the Underground Railroad, would take a risk and attempt to begin a fresh life (Connors para 1-4).

The famous 'Underground Railroad' wasn't, in fact, any railroad or underground tunnel. Rather, it symbolized a means of escape, developed by brave, non-government revolutionaries aiding runaways from slavery. This network also offered an avenue for White Americans who were against the practice of slavery, to carry out resistance efforts and contribute significantly towards destabilizing the slavery industry. Re-captured slaves were often saved via orchestrated rescues in Northern states, by individuals committed to the railroad's success.

The Railroad's remarkably effective communication mostly constituted unwritten information -- a sort of secret-society messaging system. The thirst for freedom on the slaves' part wasn't something any master could control. Individual deeds of bravery implied that in some cases, the ultimate sacrifice was required in the treacherous quest for liberty (Tubman para 2-4). Information regarding escape modes was verbally (and ingeniously) communicated among slaves through songs and stories.

The Underground Railroad had no real trains -- rather, Tubman and other guides were referred to as "conductors," while the hideouts were called 'stations' or 'depots'. Ohio's Alliance was one such depot (Tubman, para 11). One cannot precisely estimate the number of slaves who managed to gain their freedom via the Railroad. However, estimates do state that, in the 1800s, over 100,000 slaves pursued freedom via the Railroad. James M.

McPherson, in his book Battle Cry of Freedom, writes that hundreds of slaves escaped every year all through mid-1800s; on the other hand, the website of National Park Service states that, from 1820-1860, the commonest estimate is that nearly 1000 slaves successfully escaped per annum. Another Journal of Black Studies article estimates that, from 1830-1860, just around 2,000 slaves managed to escape via the Underground Railroad. It has been accepted by historians that,.