Slavery

The history of US slavery:

Life of a colonial slave:

THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

The Underground Railroad was a secret network.  ( = an organized and connected system.)

It operated before the Civil War (1861-1865) and ended slavery in the United States.

The Underground Railroad was run by a network of people who worked together in secret to help slaves run away.

The Underground Railroad provided hiding places, food, and often transportation for the  fugitives.       ( = people who are running away.)

The people who helped slaves escape were called « conductors » or « engineers. » The places along the escape route were called « stations. » Sometimes escaping slaves were called « passengers. » Sometimes they were called « cargo » or « goods. »

It was organized by people who helped about  60,000 slaves  (men, women, and children) escape from slavery during the 19th century.

It was called the Underground Railroad  because the routes of the escapes were a secret, it was as if the journeys were underground and out of sight.   (= couldn’t be seen)

Many slaveholders ( = slave owners ) were so angry at the success of the Underground Railroad that they grew to hate the North

As a result, many men, women an d children could regain their freedom.

It also helped undermine ( = put down ) the institution of slavery, which was finally ended in the United States during the Civil War.
If you want to know more about slavery and the underground railroad: http://pathways.thinkport.org/living/