DCPS Social Studies Black History Month Activity 2014
The Underground Railroad – Map Activity
The Underground Railroad was the network used by enslaved black Americans to obtain their freedom
in the 30 years before the Civil War (1860-1865). The “railroad” used many routes from states in the South,
which supported slavery, to “free” states in the North and Canada.
Sometimes, routes of the Underground Railroad were organized by abolitionists, people who opposed slavery.
More often, the network was a series of small, individual actions to help fugitive slaves.
Using the terminology of the railroad, those who went south to find slaves seeking freedom were called “pilots.”
Those who guided slaves to safety and freedom were “conductors.” The slaves were “passengers.” People’s
homes or businesses, where fugitive passengers and conductors could safely hide, were “stations.”
Stations were added or removed from the Underground Railroad as ownership of the house changed. If a new
owner supported slavery, or if the site was discovered to be a station, passengers and conductors were forced
to find a new station.
Establishing stations was done quietly, by word-of-mouth. Very few people kept records about this secret
activity, to protect homeowners and the fugitives who needed help. If caught, fugitive slaves would be forced to
return to slavery. People caught aiding escaped slaves faced arrest and jail. This applied to people living in
states that supported slavery as well as those living in free states.
Adapted National Geographic
DCPS Social Studies Black History Month Activity 2014
Answer the following questions, using details to support your answer:
1. Why was it necessary to use railroad terminology when referring to the network of routes that led to the
freedom of enslaved African Americans? Identify some of the terms that were used and what they meant.
2. The passage refers to the Underground Railroad as “the network of a series of small, individual actions to
help fugitive slaves.” Identify some of the actions that would be needed to safely transport enslaved
African Americans to freedom.
3. According to the map, some enslaved African Americans took routes southward to Florida to escape
slavery. Explain why they may have chosen this route.
Adapted National Geographic