Trade Routes Learning Journey

Follow the Learning Journey steps and come aboard ships sailing between England, Africa, the Caribbean and America - the infamous triangular trade routes that crisscrossed the Atlantic Ocean over 200 years ago.

Click on the steps below to explore.

Trade Routes Learning Journey Step 5 The Underground Railroad: America to Canada Forced into a life of slavery all hope seems lost until whispered news of a secret, hidden network of pathways to freedom in North America and Canada begins to circulate on the plantation. The passage to freedom, known as 'The Underground Railroad', is wrought with danger at every turn, following the bright North Star during the night you must find "stations" along the way where a lantern in the window will show a safe house, a hideaway where a "station master" will help with food, shelter and clothing. One route will take you up the Mississippi River to Cinncinati and then on to Detroit, another goes west from Jackson to Memphis, St Louis and Chicargo. Many are escaping to freedom hiding on ships sailing out of Charleston to New York, New Bedford and Boston then on to Buffalo or Montpelier. In the free states of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, you may find help from other African Americans but even here bounty hunters are waiting to capture slaves and return them to their master. There is a reward of $40,000 for the capture of Harriet Tubman, a famous "conductor" who helps slaves to escape. Abolisionists opposed to slavery may also help but it is hard to know who to trust. From the northern cities of Chicargo, Detroit and Buffalo you must cross the Appalachian Mountains. Ahead there is Lake Erie to cross, maybe someone will help with a boat or maybe it will be frozen and jumping the ice flows will lead to freedom in Canada on the other side . Only there are you safe, the Canadian government will not return slaves to their masters. Will you try to escape or is the Underground Railroad more myth than reality?

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