American History Tellers The Underground Railroad | The Light of Freedom | 1
Feb 7, 2024
Explore the start of the Underground Railroad in Philadelphia and the collaboration between Quaker abolitionists and free Black people. Learn about the dangers and growth of the Underground Railroad, witness Levi Coffin's journey and his advocacy against slavery. Discover the merger and rejection of the Manumission Society and American Colonization Society, the failure of the Missouri Compromise, and the possibilities and limitations of the Underground Railroad. Follow Joe Zia Henson's journey to freedom and the perilous escape through the Underground Railroad to Canada.
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Sandy's Escape
- In 1769, Thomas Jefferson's enslaved shoemaker, Sandy, stole a horse and escaped.
- After being caught, Sandy was sold for double the annual salary of a white worker, highlighting the value placed on enslaved people.
Equality vs. Slavery
- The Declaration of Independence's affirmation of equality contrasted sharply with the reality of slavery in America.
- The Constitution compromised on slavery, counting enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation but denying them full personhood.
Fugitive Slave Act
- The Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 criminalized aiding runaway slaves, empowering slave owners to recapture them across state lines.
- This law made free Black people vulnerable to kidnapping and enslavement due to its weak evidentiary standards.