Table of Contents
What were some symbols used in the Underground Railroad?
The Underground Railroad Symbols
- Cora’s Garden. The garden is a small patch of land on Randall, just three yards squared, on which Cora grows vegetables.
- Dance. In the novel, dance is shown to be both a source of joy and of suffering.
- Hob.
- Griffin Building.
- The Freedom Trail.
What was the secret password on the Underground Railroad?
Underground Railroad Secret Codes
| Agent | Coordinator, who plotted courses of escape and made contacts. |
|---|---|
| Canaan | Canada |
| Conductor | Person who directly transported slaves |
| Drinking Gourd | Big Dipper and the North Star |
| Flying bondsmen | The number of escaping slaves |
What are two facts about the Underground Railroad?
7 Facts About the Underground Railroad
- The Underground Railroad was neither underground nor a railroad.
- People used train-themed codewords on the Underground Railroad.
- The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 made it harder for enslaved people to escape.
- Harriet Tubman helped many people escape on the Underground Railroad.
What is the theme of the Underground Railroad?
Rebellion. All the black characters in the novel—whether enslaved or free—must constantly navigate an impossible choice between enduring the brutality of slavery and racism or risking everything in a (likely doomed) attempt to rebel.
How did the Underground Railroad get its name?
The name “Underground Railroad” was used metaphorically, not literally. It was not an actual railroad, but it served the same purpose—it transported people long distances. It also did not run underground, but through homes, barns, churches, and businesses.
How did slaves communicate during the Underground Railroad?
There is no historical evidence to indicate that slaves used quilts to communicate information along the Underground Railroad. Additionally, many of the patterns and songs highlighted in this section have been shown to originate after the time of the Underground Railroad.
Is the quilt code part of the Underground Railroad?
Teacher Note: More recent information indicates that prominent researchers have time and again debunked the myth of the quilt code. There is no historical evidence to indicate that slaves used quilts to communicate information along the Underground Railroad.
What did conductors do in the Underground Railroad?
According to historical accounts of the Railroad, conductors often posed as enslaved people and snuck the runaways out of plantations. Due to the danger associated with capture, they conducted much of their activity at night.