Argumentative Essay: Important Leaders Of The Underground Railroad

Important Leaders of the Underground Railroad

Throughout history, racial inequity has been an issue. In the 19th century, the rights of African Americans were the most prominent racial debate. Many U.S. citizens who were against slavery made their opinion heard by working on the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was not an actual railroad, it was a system of anti-slavery activists that helped slaves escape to freedom (Altman). The people who worked on the Underground Railroad, commonly known as conductors, “faced considerable danger, as "slave stealing" was a serious crime, punishable by fines, branding, and/or imprisonment” (Altman). Conductors went about their work regardless of these threats because they felt so strongly about freeing slaves. Slaves received word of when the Underground Railroad would be stopping by through “what was known as the grapevine telegraph. They also used song lyrics as a means of providing instruction” (Altman). The work of Harriet Tubman and Levi Coffin made it possible for the Underground Railroad to help thousands of slaves reach freedom.

Harriet Tubman made her contribution to the Underground Railroad by helping slaves escape from their masters and then guiding them to safety. In contrast, Levi Coffin made his contribution through providing shelter and food for fugitives in his home, and protecting them from discovery with the respect his job earned him. While Tubman and Coffin contributed to the rescue of slaves via the Underground Railroad in different ways, they both had huge impacts on the Anti-Slavery Movement and the individual lives of African Americans. Their work shows that there is more than one way to make a positive difference in the world. Moreover, their work proves that the work of an individual is just as valuable and impactful as that of a