Escape from slavery: reading a historical map.In 1860, there were almost four million slaves in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . In the 15 slave states, blacks spent their lives working for white owners, usually under terrible conditions. Their families were often broken up and sold to different masters. Almost one third of all Southern families owned slaves. Many slaves risked their lives to escape to the free states those of the United States before the Civil War, in which slavery had ceased to exist, or had never existed. - Abbott. See also: Free or to nearby countries. This map shows some of the routes slaves followed to freedom. The network of routes came to be known as the Underground Railroad Underground Railroad, in U.S. history, loosely organized system for helping fugitive slaves escape to Canada or to areas of safety in free states. It was run by local groups of Northern abolitionists, both white and free blacks. , although it was neither underground nor a railroad railroad or railway, form of transportation most commonly consisting of steel rails, called tracks, on which freight cars, passenger cars, and other rolling stock are drawn by one locomotive or more. . Along the way were "safe houses," where sympathetic people provided hidden slaves with food and shelter. Study the map, and then answer the questions. Questions 1. In 1860, which slave state had the most slaves? 2. Which slave state had the fewest slaves? 3. Why do you think that state had the lowest number of slaves? 4. What source was used for the number of slaves? 5. What do the arrows on the map represent? 6. Where did Georgia slaves flee flee v. fled , flee·ing, flees v.intr. 1. To run away, as from trouble or danger: fled from the house into the night. 2. south for freedom? 7. To where did slaves in Texas often flee? 8. Why do you think slaves in Georgia and Texas fled to those places? 9. Most slaves who fled to Canada were from slave states in which general part of the U.S.? 10. What country governed Canada in 1860? ANSWERS 1. Virginia (490,865) 2. Delaware (1,798) 3. It was the smallest slave state. 4. 1860 Census 5. Underground Railroad routes 6. mainly to Cuba and the Bahamas 7. Mexico 8. They were the nearest places without slavery slavery, institution based on a relationship of dominance and submission, whereby one person owns another and can exact from that person labor or other services. . 9. states located in the Southeastern U.S. 10. Britain (or the British) |
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