Understanding the Underground Railroad

What was the Underground Railroad?

• A real train that traveled underground

• A secret system to help enslaved people escape

• A famous road in the North

• A river in the South

Who were the "conductors" on the Underground Railroad?

• People who drove trains

• People who helped guide enslaved people to freedom

• Musicians who sang songs

• People who owned big houses

What were the "stations" on the Underground Railroad?

• Train stops with food and water

• Safe places where escaping people could rest

• Places where songs were sung

• Fields where people worked

Why did enslaved people sing songs like "Follow the Drinking Gourd"?

• To have fun while working

• To send secret messages about escaping

• To learn new words

• To celebrate holidays

What is the "Drinking Gourd" in the song "Follow the Drinking Gourd"?

• A special cup for drinking water

• A star group that shows the way north

• A big river in the South

• A famous conductor on the Underground Railroad

Why weren't the songs written down at first?

• They were too hard to write

• It was dangerous to write them down

• People didn’t know how to write

• The songs were only sung for fun

What does the song "Follow the Drinking Gourd" tell people to look for?

• A big house with lights

• The North Star in the sky

• A group of singers

• A boat on the river

Where would a conductor meet the people escaping?

• At the start of the Underground Railroad

• Where the Tennessee River meets the Ohio River

• In the middle of a big city

• At a busy train station

Why did enslaved people use songs to share information instead of talking openly about their escape plans?