The Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved African Americans in the United States to escape to free states and Canada in the early to mid-19th century. It was not an actual railroad, but rather a clandestine operation organized by abolitionists and free African Americans to help slaves find freedom.

The network of the Underground Railroad stretched from the Southern slave states all the way to the north, with routes commonly leading through places like Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. Conductors, who were often free African Americans or sympathetic white allies, helped guide escaped slaves along the way, providing them with shelter, food, and transportation under the cover of darkness.

Notable figures in the Underground Railroad include Harriet Tubman, known as the "Moses of her people," who made numerous dangerous journeys back and forth to the South to help rescue enslaved individuals. Other prominent figures such as Frederick Douglass and William Still were also involved in aiding those seeking freedom.

The Underground Railroad played a crucial role in the fight against slavery and helped thousands of enslaved individuals escape to freedom. It is a testament to the bravery and determination of those who risked their lives to seek liberty and equality.