what did the underground railroad look like?

Answer 1

It wasn't any one actual thing or place. The underground railroad refers to a series of safe houses and hiding places for escaped slaves. Some were small alcoves behind hidden walls in houses and barns, some were crawl spaces between floors of a structure, some were underground pits, etc. Escaped slaves would usually travel at night, and hide at the safe houses during the day, and sometimes would stay a few days to rest, wait for authorities to leave the area, etc. One of the signals for the underground participants was a single candle in a window - this was a sign that the house would harbor them, and they could come at any time, day or night. Sometimes one stop would advise them of the location of the next stop.

The term "underground" referred to the fact that it was secret, and not public knowledge.

Here are some sites that might help you-

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/99/railroad/
http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/tnl/detectives/kids/KIDS-991207.html#2
http://americancivilwar.com/underground_railroad.html

Answer 2

The Underground Railroad was not a railroad at all, but rather a network of secret passages by which African slaves in the 19th century United States attempted to escape to free states, or as far north as Canada, with the aid of abolitionists. Other routes led to Mexico or overseas.

The escape network was only "underground" in the sense of underground resistance, but it was seldom literally subterranean. The network was known as a "railroad" by way of the use of rail terminology in the code. The Underground Railroad consisted of clandestine routes, transportation, meeting points, safe houses and other havens, and assistance maintained by abolitionist sympathizers. These individuals were organized into small, independent groups who, for the purpose of maintaining secrecy, knew of connecting "stations" along the route but few details of their immediate area. Many individual links were via family relation. Escaped slaves would pass from one way station to the next, steadily making their way north. The diverse "conductors" on the railroad included free-born blacks, white abolitionists, former slaves (either escaped or manumitted--a slave freed by his or her owner), and Native Americans. Churches and religious denominations played key roles, especially the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Congregationalists, Wesleyans, and Reformed Presbyterians as well as breakaway sects of mainstream denominations such as branches of the Methodist church and American Baptists.

Answer 3

The Underground railroad was not a railroad ,literally. It was a route or routes that escaped slaves took to freedom It had places the slaves could stop and stay while they were escaping. They were called safe houses . Many white people who did not believe slavery was right helped them,by hiding them and giving them food and shelter. They were called abolitionists. Harrie Tubman was an escaped slave who established the routes, she risked her life many times to help other slaves escape. they followed the North Star. It was also risky for the abolitionists be cause it was illegal to hide a slave, and they could go to jail if caught.

Answer 4

If you're talking about slavery...there was no literal railroad. It was more of a code name, and safe houses were referred to as "stations." People who guided the escaping slaves were called "conductors."