Finding Freedom—Heroes of the Underground Railroad

Freeing slaves was a paramount part of our nation’s history leading up to the Civil War.  This unit is to help students and teachers understand that Harriet Tubman was not the only conductor of the Underground Railroad. Many others risked their lives, offered their homes, documented Underground Railroad travels in order to reunite families of slaves once members moved into freedom. Some such heroes of the Underground Railroad were several Quakers, James Still and Thomas Garrett. The heroes were not only African American—but were united in their belief that slavery was wrong morally and socially.