Who Are the Abolitionists

    There were a group of people who believed that slavery should be abolished, or stopped.  They were called Abolitionists.  Often they were Quakers from Pennsylvania.  They would do many things to make sure that slaves could be free.  They would help run-a-way slaves get to states that did not allow slavery.  Sometimes they would hide the slaves in their own homes.  In parts of the South, abolitionists were in great danger.  The slave owners would try to hurt the abolitionists and make them leave the southern states.

     The Underground Railroad was run by abolitionists.  This was not really a railroad, but a way for run-a-way slaves to be helped to free states.  One of the most famous conductors on the Underground Railroad who lead run-a-way slaves to freedom was Harriet Tubman.  She had been a slave and risked her life time after time to bring these run-a-ways to freedom.

Revise date: 03/15/2006