Before
1850, slaves could not be chased once they were in the free states-that
changed in 1850 because of the Fugitive
Slave Act. The Fugitive Slave Act made it against the law to help
escaped slaves. Bounty hunters were allowed to go into free states and
capture runaway slaves. If any United States Marshall refused to return
a runaway slave he would have to pay a penalty of $1,000. This was quite
a bit of money back then. Because of the fear of getting caught by the
bounty hunters, the conductors and slaves on the Underground Railroad
used code words and
phrases. In fact, there was a whole set of special rules and
terms under which the Underground Railroad operated.
In 1860,
there were more free states and there were slave states.
The following map depicts the the free and slave states during this time.
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Free States:
California, Massachusetts, Ohio, Connecticut, Michigan, Oregon, Illinois,
Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Indiana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Iowa, New
Jersey, Vermont
Maine, New York, Wisconsin
Slave States:
Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina, Arkansas, Louisiana, South Carolina,
Delaware, Maryland, Tennessee, Florida, Mississippi, Texas, Georgia, Missouri,
Virginia
CANADA AND THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
Black slaves were brought to Canada as early as 1608. By 1759, there were more than 1,000 black slaves in what was called New France. In August of 1833, King William IV of Briton agreed to a bill that ended slavery in Canada. This meant any slaves became free when they came to Canada. It was most effective after the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850 which enabled slave hunters to pursue runaways onto free soil.
In Canada, the slave found freedom. Before the United States Civil War of 1861-1865, Windsor was an important part of the Underground Railroad. Escaping from bondage, thousands of fugitive slaves from the South found in Canada friends, freedom, and protection under the British flag.
Some slaves heard from their owners that Canada was a horrible place. They pretended to agree, but knew if their owners said it was terrible, it would be nice. Others said that although Canada was a free place it was cold and hard to farm. Slaves who escaped to Canada came back and spread the word that Canada was a place of freedom! Some Underground Railroad code words for Canada were "Promised Land" and "Heaven." Slaves would follow the North Star to Canada and freedom. It is estimated that over 40,000 slaves fled to Canada by means of the "Railroad."
WASHTENAW COUNTY'S UNDERGROUND RAILROAD HEROES
Washtenaw County was an important stop on the Underground Railroad, a network of people and places that helped to hide fugitive slaves on their way to freedom in Canada. Because Ann Arbor is so close to Canada, two of the railroad's "lines" crossed here. Slaves often hid in barns, and when it was time for them to move on, they were sometimes carried from Ann Arbor to Ypsilanti and beyond in false bottomed wagons. At least 1,000 slaves passed through this area on their way to freedom. Read about the conductors below and see if you recognize their names!
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HISTORICAL PERSON
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HISTORICAL SITE
|
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| Guy Beckley | Beckley
House (Ann Arbor, Pontiac Trail) |
|
|
Theodore Foster,
Editor |
Stone
Foundation (Scio Township, Zeeb Road) |
|
| John Geddes Family | Geddes
House (4479 E. Huron Drive) |
|
| Robert Glazier | Glazier Home |
Beckley
House, Ann Arbor
|
| Prescott Family | Prescott
Family Home (North River Drive) |
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| Leonard Chase | Leonard
Chase House (Ypsilanti) |
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| George McCoy, Tobacco Farmer | McCoy
Farm (Michigan Avenue, Ypsilanti) |
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| Mark and Justin Norris | Norris
House (213 North River St. Ypsilanti) |
|
| Mr. Bennett | Price Bennett House |
Norris
House, Ypsilanti
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Of course, there were also heroes and heroines outside of Michigan. One of the most famous conductors on the Underground Railroad was Harriet Tubman.