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The Underground Railroad

Created By: Paul Hohulin, Centennial High School (Champaign, IL)
Content Area: U.S. History


Illinois Learning Standards Achieved

Standard Achieved

Activity that Meets this Standard
16.D.4a: Describe the immediate and long range social impacts of slavery.

16.D.4b: Describe the unintended social consequences of political events in United States History (e.g. Civil War/emancipation, National Defense Highway Act/decline of inner cities, Vietnam War/anti-government activity.)

 Students will write a short paper on the underground railroad movement using primary sources. The paper will be 3-5 pages in length. The paper will include an analysis of the primary sources and a discussion of the impact of the underground railroad on the slavery issue.

Lesson Overview:

Analyze the impact that the underground railroad had on the slavery issue in the United States. Look at legislation and court decisions that impacted the movement. Discuss the immediate and long range social impacts of slavery.


Reading:


Lesson:

  1. Students will analyze the impact that the slavery issue had on the U.S. Included in this will be a discussion on how the existence of the underground railroad impacted court decisions and legislative action by Congress.
  2. Also students will discuss the Fugitive Slave Law of 1793 and its impact on the underground railroad movement.
  3. Students will consider the impact of individuals in the underground railroad movement on the slavery issue.

Assignment:

Students will write a short paper on the underground railroad movement using primary sources. The paper will be 3-5 pages in length. The paper will include an analysis of the primary sources and a discussion of the impact of the underground railroad on the slavery issue.