2.20/2.21 Underground Railroad & African-American Art and Photos

What was the primary purpose of the Underground Railroad?

• A system of underground tunnels used by enslaved people to escape

• A covert network of abolitionists helping enslaved people flee to freedom

• A railway built in the South to transport enslaved people to plantations

• A government-funded program to help freed African Americans

Answer explanation

The Underground Railroad was a covert network of Black and white abolitionists who provided transportation, shelter, and resources to help enslaved people escape to free territories in the North, Canada, and Mexico.

The primary purpose of the Underground Railroad was to serve as a covert network of abolitionists who assisted enslaved people in their escape to freedom.

^{Image Source: Underground Railroad Display at the Steven's Museum https://www.johnhaycenter.org/index.php/our-history/local-history/new-underground-railroad-display}

Tags

2.20.A

Which of the following was NOT a destination for freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad?

• Northern U.S. states

• Canada

• Mexico

• South America

Answer explanation

South America was not a destination for freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad.

Major routes led from the Southern states to the Northern U.S., with many escapees traveling to cities like Philadelphia, New York, and Boston. Some continued to Canada (e.g., Ontario), while others sought refuge in Mexico or Native American territories.

^{Image Source: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/lincolns-underground-railroad/}

Tags

2.20.A

What role did abolitionists play in the Underground Railroad?

• They worked as stationmasters and conductors, providing shelter and guidance

• They physically fought plantation owners to free enslaved people

• They used legal means to challenge slavery in court

• They only helped white people escape oppression

Answer explanation

Abolitionists, both Black and white, acted as conductors and stationmasters, providing food, shelter, and guidance.

Notable figures included...

Harriet Tubman: Once free, Tubman dedicated her life to the abolition of slavery as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. She brought approximately 70-80 enslaved African Americans to freedom in the north. _{https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/harriet-tubman}

William Still: Still's book, The Underground Railroad (1872), is one of the most important historical records we have. _{https://freedomcenter.org/heroes/william-still/}

Levi Coffin: By the age of 15, William was helping his family assist escaping slaves by giving them food and shelter on their farm.

_{https://www.nps.gov/people/levi-coffin.htm}

Tags

2.20.A

How did the Underground Railroad influence U.S. laws?

• It led to the expansion of slavery into new territories

• It prompted Congress to pass the Fugitive Slave Acts of 1793 and 1850

• It resulted in immediate emancipation of all enslaved people

• It caused the Civil War to start immediately

Answer explanation

The success of the Underground Railroad led to harsher laws, such as the Fugitive Slave Acts of 1793 and 1850, which increased penalties for aiding fugitives. It also fueled tensions between abolitionists and pro-slavery forces, contributing to the Civil War.

Image: Runaway Slave advertisement

Tags

2.20.A

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

• She was a spy for the Confederate Army

• She helped lead about 80 enslaved people to freedom

• She started the Underground Railroad

• She led a rebellion that ended slavery

Answer explanation

Harriet Tubman was a key figure in the Underground Railroad,

Tubman escaped slavery in 1849 and made at least 19 return trips to the South, leading about 80 enslaved people to freedom through a network of safe houses and routes.

Image: [REQUIRED SOURCE] Portrait of Harriet Tubman, Powelson, photographer, [1868-1869]. Prints & Photographs Division. _{Collection of the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture. https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2020/06/harriet-tubman-conductor-on-the-underground-railroad/}

Tags

2.20.B

How did Harriet Tubman communicate escape plans?

• She sent letters to enslaved people

• She used spirituals and secret signals

• She spoke openly about her plans

• She used smoke signals

Answer explanation

Harriet Tubman csecret codes, disguises, and spirituals to communicate escape plans., which allowed her to convey messages discreetly among enslaved people without alerting their captors.

Tags

2.20.B

What role did Harriet Tubman play in the Civil War?

• She served as a spy and nurse for the Union Army

• She became the first Black general in the military

• She fought in direct combat battles

• She negotiated the end of slavery with President Lincoln

Answer explanation

Harriet Tubman played a crucial role in the Civil War by serving as a spy and nurse for the Union Army, utilizing her knowledge of Southern terrain, covert operations, and her experience from the Underground Railroad to gather intelligence.

Tags

2.20.B

What made the Combahee River Raid significant?

• It was the last battle of the Civil War

• Harriet Tubman became the first American woman to lead a major military operation

• It was the first attempt to free enslaved people using naval forces

• It resulted in the capture of Confederate leaders

Answer explanation

The Combahee River Raid was significant because Harriet Tubman became the first American woman to lead a major military operation, showcasing her leadership and commitment to the abolition of slavery.

Tubman and the 2nd Regiment South Carolina Volunteer Infantry (African-American regiment) destroyed millions of dollars worth of Confederate supplies and freed close to 800 people from slavery.

Image: Combahee River Raid. Harper’s Weekly, July 4, 1863. _{https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/harriet-tubman-raid-at-combahee-ferry/}

Tags

2.20.B

Why did African American leaders use photography in the 19th century?

• To counter stereotypes and assert dignity and equality

• To create propaganda against the U.S. government

• To replace written abolitionist materials

• To hide their identities from slave catchers

Answer explanation

African American leaders used photography in the 19th century to counter negative stereotypes and assert their dignity and equality, showcasing their humanity and challenging societal perceptions.

Leaders like Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and Harriet Tubman used photography to present dignified images that countered racist portrayals of Black people.

Image: [REQUIRED SOURCE] Carte-de-Visite Portrait of Harriet Tubman, 1868–1869

The photograph shows a full-length portrait of Harriet Tubman (1820?-1913) looking directly at the camera with folded hands resting on back of an upholstered chair. _{https://www.loc.gov/item/2018645051/}

Tags

2.21.A

How did Sojourner Truth use her photographs?

• To raise money for the abolitionist cause

• To apply for a job as a photographer

• To create personal portraits for her family

• To show the struggles of white abolitionists

Answer explanation

Sojourner Truth sold her photographs (called carte de visite), at lectures and by mail, primarily to raise money for the abolitionist cause, leveraging her image to garner support and funds for the fight against slavery.

"Uniquely among portrait sitters, she had her photographic carte de visites copyrighted in her own name and added the caption “I Sell the Shadow to Support the Substance. Sojourner Truth,” foregrounding her self-selected proper name, her agency, and her possession of self."

^{https://bampfa.org/program/sojourner-truth-photography-and-fight-against-slavery}

Tags

2.21.A