Question

What was the Underground Railroad? Who were the “passengers” and the “conductors”?

Answer 1

Answer:

Method for the enslaved people to escape captivity.

Explanation:

The Underground Railroad's name is a tad misleading. It's actually the name for the process of enslaved people to escape from the plantations and their masters. "Passengers" refers to the slaves, and "conductors" are people who help lead them and direct them to the north to where they could achieve freedom. The biggest challenge was to not get caught. A lot of "conductors" were Quakers who would hide escapee slaves (or "passengers") in their homes. These people, despite being white, faced harsh punishments if caught, such as getting their homes taken away, persecuted from society, killed, and so on. The most famous "conductor" is Harriet Tubman (a black woman whom freedom was given but she chose to face dangers to free others), dubbed the "Female Moses". She freed 300 enslaved people and never once lost a "passenger".

All in all, the Underground Railroad is referring to the process of enslaved people running away, following certain paths to reach freedom using the aid of good Samaritans/conductors to guide them.