The Underground Railroad and Iowa: On the Road from Slavery to Freedom

The Underground Railroad and Iowa On the Road from Slavery to FreedomI looked at my hands to see if I was the equal person There was such a glory over everything. The sun came up like gold through the trees, and I felt like I was in Heaven. Harriet Tubman uttered these words when she arrived in Pennsylvania, a free woman at last ( field of study Geographic). Years later, when talking about the reasons she ran away, Ms. Tubman would state, There are two things I have a right to and these are Death and Liberty. One or the other I mean to have. No one will take me back alive (Americas Civil War, 42). While most research on the Underground Railroad focuses on the northern states, the state of Iowa played an essential role in the Railroad. Clinton, Iowa was a lot a runaways last stop before crossing the Mighty Mississippi River.The first documentation of the work Underground Railroad is from the stratum 1831 and in one case, attributed to the owner of a former slave, Tice David. David successfully gained freedom by traversing along small creeks, rivers, and dense woods and his owner finally gave up searching for him. Upon returning to Kentucky, Tice Davids former slave-owner announced, He must have gone on an underground road (Americas Civil War, 42). Another name given to the Underground Railroad was the Freedom Train (National Underground Railroad Freedom Center) and Harriet Tubman was inarguably one of the most famous conductors on this train, leading thousands of slaves to their freedom in the north. Since the formation of the Iowa Territory, the largest population group, settling in what would become Iowa, came from southern states. Because of this, early historians assumed that Iowa would tak... ...ng, 1983.Patrick, Kathy. Escaped Slaves on the Underground Railroad found welcome havens in Ohios Oberlin and Wellington. Americas Civil War Travel. May 1994 66 68.Harriet Tubman. forward-looking Standard Encyclopedia. Standard Educati on Corporation. Volume 17. Chicago 1994. (no author listed).National Geographic Web site March 28, 2002http//www.nationalgeographic.com/features/99/railroad/National Underground Railroad Freedom Center March 28, 2002http//www.undergroundrailroad.org/Underground Railroad. New Standard Encyclopedia. Standard Education Corporation. Volume 18. Chicago 1994. (no author listed).Wilmot, Franklin A. Disclosures and confessions of Frank A. Wilmot, the slave thief and Negro runner. Philadelphia Barclay & Co. 1860. Library of American Civilization. McIntyre Library, UWEC Campus. Eau Claire, WI.