The Underground Railroad Quiz

What was the primary purpose of the Underground Railroad in the 1850s and 1860s?

• To provide a literal railroad for transportation

• To help slaves escape to freedom in the North

• To mobilize people for revolutionary change

• To serve as a network for exchanging goods

How did the Underground Railroad operate to assist fugitive slaves?

• By operating openly during the day

• By using actual trains and railroads

• By moving from "station" to "station" at night

• By providing legal assistance to escapees

What role did the "stations" of the Underground Railroad play?

• They were checkpoints for legal documentation

• They were places where slaves could work

• They were safe places to rest and eat before continuing the journey

• They were trading posts for goods and information

Which of the following best describes the term "content" as used in the footnote?

• In a state of peace, happiness, or satisfaction

• In a state of self-destruction

• Someone who ran away from the slave owner

• Confused and also somewhat amused

What does the term "abolitionism" refer to, according to the footnote?

• A movement to create a railroad system

• A movement to "abolish," or end, slavery

• A movement to help slaves find work in the North

• A movement to provide education to fugitive slaves

What is the significance of Henry "Box" Brown's story as mentioned in the text?

• It illustrates the use of actual railroad boxes in the Underground Railroad

• It shows how fugitive slaves could self-destruct

• It exemplifies the creative methods used to escape to the North

• It highlights the role of legal assistance in the Underground Railroad

What was Harriet Tubman's role in the Underground Railroad?

• She was a slave catcher.

• She was a conductor who helped free slaves.

• She was a sheriff looking for runaway slaves.

• She was a slave owner opposed to the Underground Railroad.

Approximately how many people are known to have worked on the Underground Railroad between 1830 and the end of the Civil War?

• Over 3,200 people

• Over 3,000 people

• Over 3,300 people

• Over 3,100 people

What did Harriet Tubman threaten to do to any slave who had second thoughts about escaping?

• She threatened to leave them behind.

• She threatened to report them to the authorities.

• She threatened to shoot them with the pistol she carried on her hip.

• She threatened to send them back to their owners.

Why did slave catchers and sheriffs travel to the North?

• To seek employment in Northern industries.

• To capture escaped slaves and return them to the South.

• To negotiate trade agreements.

• To learn about the workings of the Underground Railroad.