Where was slavery in the United States in 1850?
Step 1: Go to the ArcGIS Online map, The Underground Railroad, and explore the map.
Step 2: With the Details button underlined, click the bottom Show Legend.
- Which states allowed slavery?
- Which areas were the most enslaved?
- What factors influenced these areas being mostly enslaved?
Where did the rivers meet together?
Step 3: Click the button, Content.
Step 4: Click the button, Bookmarks. Select Underground Railroad.
Step 5: Turn on the layer, Map Notes. Open and read the Map Note located in Northern Michigan.
- Why did rivers make good escape routes?
Step 6: Filter the US Rivers layer so that FOLLOW is set to YES. With the Details button underlined, hover over the layer name. Click the Filter button. Set the Filter parameters.
- The intersection was a key destination because it bordered slave and free states, and had long, wide rivers. (T/F)
Step 7: Remove the filter.
Where were the Underground Railroad stations located?
Step 8: Turn on the Notable Underground Railroad Stations layer.
- What patterns do you notice about the station locations?
- Which stations were located farthest north?
Step 9: Click the two purple stations.
- What type of stations were these?
How did runaway slaves travel to freedom?
Step 10: Turn on the layer, Routes.
- What patterns do you notice about these networks?
Step 11: Turn off the layer, Stations.
Step 12: Turn on the layer, Windsor.
Step 13: Use the Measure tool to answer the questions below. Most runaway slaves came from border states because of distance.
- How far is the Ohio River from Windsor?
- How far is the Ohio River from the mouth of the Mississippi River?
- How far is Windsor from the mouth of the Mississippi River?
Why was the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 passed?
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 made it a crime in the United States to assist runaway slaves. The Underground Railroad contributed to Southern lawmakers calling for a stricter fugitive slave law. The impact of the Underground Railroad was the creation of the Fugitive Slave Act, which make it riskier to help runaway slaves.
