The conception that the Underground Railroad was a well organized, perfectly functioning, utility used to free slaves, is an exaggeration. The railroad was actually a lot more spontaneous. There was not one head of the railroad; there were hundreds of white and black, men and women that carried out the moving and helping of escaped slaves. The railroad despite its name was not underground and did not come in the form of a railroad. …show more content…
A majority of the people helping the slaves were escaped African Americans who risked their lives to save others like them. The people who helped the slaves were known as conductors or stockholders. Hariet Tubman was a free slave that helped more like her escape. She reportedly made 19 return trips back to the south to rescue slaves. She independently saved as many as 300 lives. Another Quaker, Levi Coffin saved 3000 slaves independently. Using the railroad over one hundred thousand slaves were stolen from the south over the course of forty years.
The Underground Railroad was one of the most brave and courageous acts of the Abolitionist movement. Thousands of Slaves were freed and helped during the railroads lifespan. It was a long, hard journey that many American slaves made to the free north. Thanks to the help of Northern and Southern sympathizers the railroads were often times a success. The Underground Railroad shows that there was hope even at a time when most slaves had none. Because of the bravery and dedication of the abolitionists, America took one step closer to becoming the great and free country it is