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THE UNDERGROUND RAILROADUntil President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War, slavery was legal in the United States. This reality wrote the darkest page in American History. The institution of slavery violated our own Constitution but more importantly, it violated God’s law. Black people were forced to work on plantations and in factories without pay. They lived in sub-par housing. Families were often split apart at the whim slave owners. For slaves education was not an option. There was no point in planning for the future—that was in the hands of others. And slaves belonging to cruel masters were often physically abused. To many slaves were not even human—they were property to be bought and sold. Consequently, slaves dreamed of freedom. Many of them did more than dream, secretly escaping and heading out into an unknown world in search of something that most had never experienced. But running away wasn’t a simple process. Runaways had no money, no transportation, no place to sleep, and no maps showing them where to go. All headed north—toward the ‘Promised Land’---but as they traveled through slave territory, they had to assume that everyone was their enemy. Hence, runaways were routinely captured and returned to their owners—usually to be harshly punished. Slaves with enough courage to escape the plantation needed help…and lots of it. Many would get that help from the Underground Railroad.The term ‘Underground Railroad’ may remind you of trains traveling in underground tunnels or subways in New York that travel on tracks built beneath streets. Get that vision out of your mind. The Civil War Era Underground Railroad was an elaborate network of ‘safe houses’ scattered across the country where escaped slaves received the help they so desperately needed. Safe houses looked like other houses—there was no sign out front inviting slaves to spend the night. Owners of safe houses were in violation of laws that made it a criminal offense to assist runaways. Who were these kind hearted people willing to risk their own interests to befriend slaves that they had never met and would probably never see again? They were courageous abolitionists who genuinely hated slavery and felt called to do whatever they could to help enslaved people to gain their freedom. How exactly did these safe house owners assist the runaways? Slaves at NO charge received food, clothing, and a safe place to sleep. And just as importantly, they got directions on where to go to find the next safe house on their journey north. Safe houses were an absolute God-send to these desperate people who had nothing but the clothes on their backs. So, why did runaways need instructions to find the next safe house? The locations of safe houses were closely guarded secrets. Slave and safe house owners fully understood that they were breaking the law and would be punished if caught. That meant that slaves and owners alike had to be extraordinarily careful in everything they did. Usually, not even neighbors knew that the house next door offered aid and comfort to runaway slaves.How did the ‘elaborate’ system of safe houses called the Underground Railroad come about? The Underground Railroad was established in the early 1800s by abolitions who detested the idea of slavery and wanted to help individual slaves win their freedom. The plan for establishing safe houses spread across the country ‘by word of mouth’ as one abolitionist communicated with another. No particular individual is credited with building the URR; it just developed over the years as more Americans came to have a negative view of slavery. However, there is one group of people who usually receive extra praise in discussions about the Underground Railroad. The Quakers firmly believed that slavery was evil. Many of them worked hard and assumed great risk in helping organize the system of safe house. They deserve much credit for their efforts on behalf of escaped slaves. Below is a picture of an actual safe house that still stands today. Check it out. The house above was a stop on the Indiana Underground Railroad. This particular safe house was built in 1847 by Erastus Farnham, a staunch abolitionist, specifically to assist runaways. Note the ‘cupola’ on the roof which was used as a ‘lookout’. The house was also built with an internal ‘cistern’ for storing water. When it rained gutters (not visible from outside the house) would channel the rainwater into the cistern located inside the house. This extra water allowed the house to support additional guests without raising the suspicion of curious neighbors who might have turned them in.QUESTIONS1. Would you agree or disagree that the existence of slavery in the United States until the 1860s is the ugliest and worst part of American History. Explain your answer. 2. In your opinion what was the very worst thing about being a slave. Explain you thinking. What purpose did the Underground Railroad serve?3. Without assistance from the Underground Railroad, escaping slaves would have had little chance of attaining freedom. Do you agree or disagree with this statement. Explain your answer. 4. Scripture tells us as Christians that we should obey the law. Abolitionists of the Underground Railroad constantly violated the law. Should these people be looked at as criminals? Explain your answer. ................
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