Question
Coded quilts. Tunnels and secret passageways. Window lantern signals.
These are some of the myths woven into the tale of the Underground Railroad. That's the story of how countless Black Americans risked everything to flee north and gain freedom. The story remains an important part of United States history. But it hasn't always been well-understood.
Myth 1: The Route
Some accounts describe the Underground Railroad as a secret system of routes. They snaked throughout the South and led to the North. "Conductors" guided enslaved people along these difficult roads to freedom.
The truth: The Underground Railroad was only in Northern free states. Most enslaved people didn't have help until they reached the Ohio River or the Mason-Dixon Line. There were some exceptions, though. Like Harriet Tubman. She famously helped dozens of people in the South gain freedom after escaping from enslavement herself.
Most of the escapees traveled on foot for hundreds of miles. They had no maps or compasses. Once they reached a free state, they took whatever help was available. However, freedom wasn't a sure thing even then. Plantation owners often advertised cash rewards for the capture and return of enslaved people. A law was passed in 1850. After that, U.S. citizens were required by law to return enslaved people to bondage. Or be punished themselves.
Myth 2: Tunnels and Secret Rooms
One of the earliest uses of the term "Underground Railroad" was in 1842. It made people think of a system of tunnels and hidden rooms. And secret passageways. These hidden passages led to freedom.
It didn't really happen that way, experts say. Digging tunnels wasn't practical. And few homes used to hide refugees had secret rooms or hidden passageways. Most who escaped used only the cover of night to hide their movements from place to place.
Myth 3: The Lantern in the Window
The glow of a lantern would have helped refugees find safety. They were believed to lead to Underground Railroad "station houses." But experts say that the use of lantern signals wasn't as widespread as legends suggest.
The idea may be rooted in the story of John Rankin. He used a lantern to send a message to escapees. It signaled that the coast was clear to cross the Ohio River. Using lanterns wasn't common practice, though. Lanterns would have made it easy to find homes offering shelter—and to find refugees hiding in them.
Myth 4: Coded Quilts
A new myth was woven into Underground Railroad stories in recent years. What was it? Quilts were sewn that had secret codes. They guided enslaved people to freedom.
A book came out in 1999. It became very popular. The book said that quilt patterns—such as log cabins and wagon wheels—were coded symbols. The quilts were hung outside. Their messages helped enslaved people escape.
People were drawn in by the account. Soon, its details were treated as fact. The problem, experts say, is that the book is based on one family's spoken history. There's no supporting proof from other people who were there at the time. There are no similar accounts from Tubman or others that back up its claims.
Fictional details may have made their way into the story. But the Underground Railroad remains a key part of American history. It tells of many people's brave actions in the struggle for Black freedom.
QUESTION 4
4 / 8
Which passage from the Article best supports the idea that escapees still faced danger once they made it to a free state?
Most of the escapees traveled on foot for hundreds of miles. They had no maps or compasses.
Plantation owners often advertised cash rewards for the capture and return of enslaved people.
But experts say that the use of lantern signals wasn't as widespread as legends suggest.
The quilts were hung outside. Their messages helped enslaved people escape.
These are some of the myths woven into the tale of the Underground Railroad. That's the story of how countless Black Americans risked everything to flee north and gain freedom. The story remains an important part of United States history. But it hasn't always been well-understood.
Myth 1: The Route
Some accounts describe the Underground Railroad as a secret system of routes. They snaked throughout the South and led to the North. "Conductors" guided enslaved people along these difficult roads to freedom.
The truth: The Underground Railroad was only in Northern free states. Most enslaved people didn't have help until they reached the Ohio River or the Mason-Dixon Line. There were some exceptions, though. Like Harriet Tubman. She famously helped dozens of people in the South gain freedom after escaping from enslavement herself.
Most of the escapees traveled on foot for hundreds of miles. They had no maps or compasses. Once they reached a free state, they took whatever help was available. However, freedom wasn't a sure thing even then. Plantation owners often advertised cash rewards for the capture and return of enslaved people. A law was passed in 1850. After that, U.S. citizens were required by law to return enslaved people to bondage. Or be punished themselves.
Myth 2: Tunnels and Secret Rooms
One of the earliest uses of the term "Underground Railroad" was in 1842. It made people think of a system of tunnels and hidden rooms. And secret passageways. These hidden passages led to freedom.
It didn't really happen that way, experts say. Digging tunnels wasn't practical. And few homes used to hide refugees had secret rooms or hidden passageways. Most who escaped used only the cover of night to hide their movements from place to place.
Myth 3: The Lantern in the Window
The glow of a lantern would have helped refugees find safety. They were believed to lead to Underground Railroad "station houses." But experts say that the use of lantern signals wasn't as widespread as legends suggest.
The idea may be rooted in the story of John Rankin. He used a lantern to send a message to escapees. It signaled that the coast was clear to cross the Ohio River. Using lanterns wasn't common practice, though. Lanterns would have made it easy to find homes offering shelter—and to find refugees hiding in them.
Myth 4: Coded Quilts
A new myth was woven into Underground Railroad stories in recent years. What was it? Quilts were sewn that had secret codes. They guided enslaved people to freedom.
A book came out in 1999. It became very popular. The book said that quilt patterns—such as log cabins and wagon wheels—were coded symbols. The quilts were hung outside. Their messages helped enslaved people escape.
People were drawn in by the account. Soon, its details were treated as fact. The problem, experts say, is that the book is based on one family's spoken history. There's no supporting proof from other people who were there at the time. There are no similar accounts from Tubman or others that back up its claims.
Fictional details may have made their way into the story. But the Underground Railroad remains a key part of American history. It tells of many people's brave actions in the struggle for Black freedom.
QUESTION 4
4 / 8
Which passage from the Article best supports the idea that escapees still faced danger once they made it to a free state?
Most of the escapees traveled on foot for hundreds of miles. They had no maps or compasses.
Plantation owners often advertised cash rewards for the capture and return of enslaved people.
But experts say that the use of lantern signals wasn't as widespread as legends suggest.
The quilts were hung outside. Their messages helped enslaved people escape.
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
The passage from the article that best supports the idea that escapees still faced danger once they made it to a free state is:
"Plantation owners often advertised cash rewards for the capture and return of enslaved people."
This sentence highlights the ongoing threats and risks that escapees faced, even after reaching a free state, emphasizing that their freedom was not guaranteed.
"Plantation owners often advertised cash rewards for the capture and return of enslaved people."
This sentence highlights the ongoing threats and risks that escapees faced, even after reaching a free state, emphasizing that their freedom was not guaranteed.