Finding Your Way on the Underground Railroad Theme: Cultural & Historical Author: Wilbur H. Siebert adapted by Christine R. Raabe, Education Consultant Subject Areas Vocabulary History/Social Studies, Mathematics, Underground Railroad, slavery, Science emancipation, abolitionist, fugitive, Quaker, freedom, conductor, Duration station master, passenger, North Star, One class period William Still, Harriet Tubman Correlation to NJ Core Curriculum Setting Content Standards Indoors Social Studies Skills 6.3 (1,2,3,4) Interpreting, relating, charting and 6.4 (2,3,4,5,7,8) mapping, identifying, describing, 6.7 (1,5) comparing 6.8 (1) Charting the Course Although not specifically mentioned in the film, the era of the Underground Railroad’s operation did impact the settlement and development of the region and played an important role in the history of New Jersey.” C29 Finding Your Way on the Underground Railroad Objectives many teachers refer to them in to use it rather than risk having Students will their lessons, many instructors a failed fugitive divulge the never relay the regional secrets of the Underground 1. Explain what the significance of these courageous Railroad. Underground Railroad was African-Americans. and why it was important. William Still was born in 1821 Harriet Tubman was known as in Shamong, New Jersey 2. Identify some of the routes of “Moses” for the large number (formerly called Indian Mills — the Underground Railroad on of slaves she guided to freedom Burlington County). Make a map of New Jersey. as a “conductor” on the students aware that this is not far 3. Describe some the conditions Underground Railroad. Tubman from the Bayshore. He was the and the historical significance came from the Eastern Shore of main chronologist of the of the Underground Railroad Maryland which is close to the Railroad’s operations. His to the shaping of the region Delaware Bayshore. In 1849 parents emancipated themselves “Down Jersey.” when she fled her own bondage from slavery. He worked on she only knew two northern their New Jersey farm til the age Materials states: New Jersey and of 23 when he moved to Pennsylvania. Her knowledge Philadelphia. By the age of 26 Provide students with a map of of New Jersey may have come he had taught himself to read New Jersey and a list of some from historic ties between and write. He became deeply of the documented stops on the blacks of the Eastern Shore and involved in the Philadelphia Underground Railroad provided the Delaware Bayshore. She Vigilance Committee. During in the activity. escorted groups of slaves from his fourteen year service A map is provided courtesy of the the Eastern Shore of Maryland providing aid and comfort, as a New Jersey Historical Commission, to Philadelphia and as far north “station master” to Southern Afro-American Studies as St. Catharines, Canada (now slaves journeying to freedom, he Ontario). recorded hundreds of interviews. One narrative entitled Crossing Making Connections It is highly probable that The Bay In A Skiff tells of four Tubman’s route sometimes Explain that the Underground bondmen crossing the Delaware included New Jersey., perhaps Railroad was not a railroad line, Bay. Their crossing took 15 or as she guided them from but a network of people who more hours. With no knowledge Philadelphia to New York City. helped African-Americans of a safe haven they were She spent the summers between escape from slavery in the bewildered. In this state of 1849 and 1852 in Cape May, South to freedom in the North despair they were discovered by and winters in St. Catharines. and Canada. Down Jersey’s the captain of an oyster boat. In Cape May she earned money proximity to the slave states of The captain took pity on their working in hotels to finance her Delaware and Maryland made exhausted and bedraggled state trips back to Maryland to escort this region important to the and ferried them to Philadelphia. more slaves in their escape. Underground Railroad. The There their story was recorded Tubman made approximately movement of African-Americans by William Still. Still placed 19 forays into the South to bring into and through this region himself in jeopardy in his out about 300 fugitives. These played an important role in the devotion not only to help slaves journeys were filled with peril. formation and development of but by the mere process of Harriet possessed endless the varied and diverse make up recording their plight. of the region’s people. courage. Slaves that had second thoughts about their escape met Both Harriet Tubman “Moses” Perhaps the two most prominent with Harriet’s positive attitude and William Still are profiles of figures of the Underground and determination that each Afro-American heroism. Railroad were Harriet Tubman succeed. She is said to have Teachers should develop ties to and William Still. Although carried a pistol and threatened their New Jersey connections. C30 Finding Your Way on the Underground Railroad Background said. “Slavery in the maritime “Probably the Dutch — who Historic Themes and Resources industry included a wide range were among the foremost slave book, pages 34 and 143 of things, from catching of fish traffickers of the 17th century to working along the docks and — were responsible.” Pockets Reprinted from The Atlantic City shores, moving cargo — and of slavery cropped up in several Press, November 23, 1997; even, to some degree, slaves areas. “By 1790, the largest Slavery Slumbers in Cumberland’s were used for the manufacturing (pockets of slavery) in terms of History, by Eileen Bennett: of sails and even boats population were in Burlington, “My colored friends, should you themselves,” Wright continued. then Salem, Gloucester, conduct yourselves on true Another area in which slaves Cumberland, and then Cape moral principles, not gaudy were used was for domestic May,” Wright said. (Atlantic manners nor boisterous in talk, work — butlers, cooks, and County didn’t exist until 1837, your ways calm and decisive, other similar jobs around the when it was carved out of your word so sacred that ’tis homes of people of considerable Gloucester County.) In 1790, never violated, your promises means. “It’s hard to imagine it’s estimated there were 120 fulfilled, your debts paid, modest any craft or trade in which you slaves in Cumberland County in all things and meddlesome in wouldn’t find black workers,” and 141 in Cape May County. none, you shall find the monster Wright said. There were even By 1800, that number had Prejudice only a thing to be skilled craftsman slaves: dwindled to 75 and 98, talked about. Merit alone will blacksmiths, millers, carpenters, respectively, until finally, in promote you to respect.” shoemakers, coopers and 1830, Cumberland had only two Dr. James Still (1812-1885), tanners. slaves and Cape May had three. “The Black Doctor of the Pines.” In his book, Wright explains A law establishing gradual that it is not clear when blacks emancipation actually allowed “… Make no mistake, Slavery first appeared on New Jersey slavery in New Jersey to exist did, indeed, exist in southern New soil, although he writes: well into the 1860s — later than Jersey,” said Giles R. Wright, director of Afro-American studies at the New Jersey Historical Commission, Department of the State. “Some of this had to do with the topography of South Jersey. When you talk about slavery in South Jersey, there’s many dimensions to it,” added Wright, author of the book Afro-Americans in New Jersey: A Short History. For example, in Cumberland County, slaves were used in agriculture, working on the large expanses of farmlands or tending livestock; in Cape May County, they worked on docks or on ships. “In the communities that were located near waterways, slaves could be used to go out on ships, catch whales, a wide range of occupations,” Wright A Ride for Liberty — The Fugitive Slaves, circa 1862 By Eastman Johnson (1824-1906) — courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum of Art C31 Finding Your Way on the Underground Railroad any other Northern state. Wright Testaments to slavery in Wrap Up credits a strong Quaker influence southern New Jersey remain. Discuss with the class the in Philadelphia and southern Since slaves were forbidden to importance of the Underground New Jersey for helping to read or write, they created quilts Railroad to the African- eliminate slavery. “The Quakers in order to leave stories for American community. How do were the first organized group prosperity. Those quilts, many they think that people knew in the country to speak out of which still exist, served as a about where to stop and that it against the evils of black way for some slaves to record was safe? (Remember — it was slavery, and the first group to milestones of their lives: births, illegal to harbor a runaway slave. become abolitionists,” Wright marriages and deaths, as well as They were considered to be the said. While Quakers didn’t beatings and the sale of a loved property of their “master.”) necessarily feel slaves were one. It’s said that quilts were key their equal, they believed the to the Underground Railroad. Discuss the type of person that premise of enslaving another Quakers, who owned many of operated and assisted in the human was wrong because the stations on the railroad, Underground Railroad. Do freedom was a natural right. would display a Jacob’s Ladder- students see themselves as those “In 1776, the yearly (Quaker) patterned quilt to let runaway type of people? Would they do Philadelphia meeting voted to slaves know they were welcome. the same thing today? Why or excommunicate anyone who was why not? (This can be a personal journal entry and/or discussion.) a slave owner.