The American West Topic Summaries

The Underground Railroad

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  • The Underground Railroad was a secret network of routes, safe houses, and supporters that helped enslaved African Americans escape to free states and Canada.
  • It developed in the late 18th century and expanded rapidly between the 1830s and 1850s as opposition to slavery grew.
  • Abolitionists, free Black communities, and formerly enslaved people played key roles, with figures such as Harriet Tubman becoming especially prominent after 1849.
  • The network became more dangerous after the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which required escaped slaves to be returned even from free states.
  • Despite these risks, thousands of people successfully escaped using the Underground Railroad.

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