What if you lived in the United States in 1861?  What would your life be like?  Would it make any difference if you were black or white?   You are about to take a trip with Jesse.  Jesse is 15 years old and very concerned about the slaves that are trying to get to freedom.  Your trip will help you discover what life was like in 1861.  How can two young people help?
Watch Out....
the journey has many dangers and pitfalls.
Use the information you find to help you safely travel the Road to Freedom...

Houmas Plantation, Louisiana	Slave quarters

 Life in the United States is in Crisis.  The people in the South have decided to succeed from the United States over two issues:  slavery and how much power the government should have over its citizens.  But why are they so divided?  Should the government be able to tell people if they can own slaves?  What rights do individuals have?  What is the Civil War about?   You and Jesse know that slavery is wrong.   What can you and Jesse do to help the slaves reach freedom?

The Underground Railroad

The Underground Railroad was not a real railroad. It was a network of houses and other buildings used along escape routes to help slaves escape to freedom in the Northern states or Canada.   Railroad terms were used to disguise and describe the system.   The 'Passengers' were the runaway slaves and their guides were called 'conductors'.

 Harriett Tubman was a brave woman, who, though born a slave, believed that everyone had the right to be free.  She worked tirelessly to help escort other blacks from slavery to freedom in the North.  She earned the nickname, "MOSES" for having made nineteen trips and saving more than 300 slaves.  During the course of her years as a conductor, Harriet was hunted wherever she traveled.  A price of $40,000 was placed on her life by slave owners whose slaves had escape with Harriet's help.

Harriet Tubman was born sometime around 1810 to a slave family in the southern United States.  Her master did not treat her well and at about 13 years old Harriet was hired out as a nanny. The next two masters abused her very badly.  The next master worked her as a maid during the day and care for the baby at night. Because of this hardship she was forced to go without sleep and this actually helped her when she became a conductor on the Underground Railroad. The next master worked  her as a laborer, carrying heavy weights.  But this too helped her with running the railroad.  Harriett decided enough was enough.  She decided to leave and her brother was going to go with her.  The night before she planned to leave she sang a song while walking past the cabins of the other slaves:

"When dat ar ole chariot comes,
I'm gwine to lebe you,
I'm boun' for de promised land,
Frien's, I'm gwine to lebe you."*

They started north, but her brother turned back,  deciding that slavery was better than the unknown.   Harriet walked alone for several days until she was free.  She becamed determined to help others like herself and risked everything to do it.
In 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act was passed, making it illegal for northerners to help slaves escape.    But that did not stop MOSES.  She carried on putting herself risk over and over again.
 

 

You and Jesse have have been transported back in time to find a way to help Harriett with the Underground Railroad.  And although you are both young, you know that you can help.   Of course before you can start you'll neen to get a good overview of the situation and find out what you will need to do the job.   Look through the following web sites to get acquainted with the Civil War issues before you make your first decision.

http://www.civilwar.com
This is a site about the Civil War

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/cwphtml/cwphome.html
Visit this site about the Civil War timeline of events

http://home.att.net/%7Ehallowed-ground/index.html
Visit the Battle of Frederickburg Virtual Tour and Battle of The Wilderness Virtual Tour
 

It's time to decide... where can you be of the most help.....
In the North...or In the South....

* Harriet Tubman: The Moses of her People. Sarah Bradford. Applewood Books: Bedford. 1886