The Underground Railroad was a secret network for African Americans as well as white people providing shelter and help to the enslaved people who escaped from the South of the country. The network can be considered a form of resistance through escape and flight so that the enslaved African Americans could find new opportunities to become free after escaping from compulsory work. The first new thing that I have learned is that the decision to help the seekers of freedom from slavery was initially spontaneous, and there was no organized system. However, in some areas in the South, especially after the passing of the Fugitive Slave Act, the Underground Railroad was intentionally planned and organized. While the actions of its participants were illegal, with time, Americans of different races, classes, nationalities, and genders engaged in civil disobedience. Another new thing that I have learned is that the seekers of freedom fled not only to slavery-free states but also to Canada, Mexico, Native territories, and even Europe (National Geographic, n.d.).
It was surprising to learn that the movement progressed successfully, and as long as slavery existed, there were some efforts to escape, even though accomplishing them was not an easy task. People had to use secret routes and different means of transportation to get to their destinations. As research on the Underground expanded, new routes were discovered of how enslaved people ran away. Another thing that was surprising is that the coverage of the Underground Railroad grew with time, with slaves being able to eventually cross state and international borders when fleeing. Notably, the help offered to slaves came from a diverse set of people, which shows that slavery was a flawed institution from the beginning.
Reference
National Geographic. (n.d.). The journey. Web.