The Underground Railroad History! Trivia Quiz

1. If you were a runaway slave and got caught you would be returned back to your master and punished.

True

False

True! Runaway slaves always had the risk of getting caught and being sent back to the South. Because of how terrible their lives were as slaves, many still took this risk.

Explanation

True! Runaway slaves always had the risk of getting caught and being sent back to the South. Because of how terrible their lives were as slaves, many still took this risk.

2. It was against the law to help slaves escape.

True

False

True! Laws like the Fugitive Slave Act meant that helping slaves escape was a crime. People still helped slaves though because they believed people were not property.

Explanation

True! Laws like the Fugitive Slave Act meant that helping slaves escape was a crime. People still helped slaves though because they believed people were not property.

3. The Underground Railroad was a bunch of trains that went underground.

True

False

False! The Underground Railroad wasn't underground or a railroad! It was a series of routes taken by escaping slaves to freedom in the North or Canada. It was called the Underground Railroad because they used terms such as "conductors" (people who led slaves to safety) and "stations" (safe places to rest on their way to freedom).

Explanation

False! The Underground Railroad wasn't underground or a railroad! It was a series of routes taken by escaping slaves to freedom in the North or Canada. It was called the Underground Railroad because they used terms such as "conductors" (people who led slaves to safety) and "stations" (safe places to rest on their way to freedom).

4. More men escaped than women and children.

True

False

True! Because of how dangerous and long a trip was through multiple states, many women and children were unable to escape. This didn't stop some families though, who were determined to escape together.

Explanation

True! Because of how dangerous and long a trip was through multiple states, many women and children were unable to escape. This didn't stop some families though, who were determined to escape together.

5. Slaves were safe once they reached the North.

True

False

False! Although slaves were safer in the North, where slavery wasn't allowed, laws like the Fugitive Slave Act meant that escaped slaves could be taken back to the South at any time. For this reason, many slaves continued to Canada.

Explanation

False! Although slaves were safer in the North, where slavery wasn't allowed, laws like the Fugitive Slave Act meant that escaped slaves could be taken back to the South at any time. For this reason, many slaves continued to Canada.

6. Most of the "workers" on the Underground Railroad were white abolitionists.

True

False

False! In fact, most people who helped escaping slaves were free blacks or escaped slaves. And even though the whites who helped runaways were abolitionists who wanted to end slavery, not all abolitionists supported the Underground Railroad. Many abolitionists, in fact, were against helping slaves escape. They did not believe in breaking the law and wanted to find a legal way to end slavery.

Explanation

False! In fact, most people who helped escaping slaves were free blacks or escaped slaves. And even though the whites who helped runaways were abolitionists who wanted to end slavery, not all abolitionists supported the Underground Railroad. Many abolitionists, in fact, were against helping slaves escape. They did not believe in breaking the law and wanted to find a legal way to end slavery.

7. Many slaves escaped from the Deep South.

True

False

False! Because runaway slaves could not expect any help until they got to a free state, it was more difficult for slaves in the Deep South like Alabama and Louisiana to make it to freedom. Slaves in the Deep South had much further to go, and they had to do most of the traveling on foot.

Explanation

False! Because runaway slaves could not expect any help until they got to a free state, it was more difficult for slaves in the Deep South like Alabama and Louisiana to make it to freedom. Slaves in the Deep South had much further to go, and they had to do most of the traveling on foot.

8. The first "stops" along the Underground Railroad were found in the South.

True

False

False! The Underground Railroad did not exist as an organization in the south. Slaves rarely received any help until they reached a free, Northern State. They had to reach freedom on their own, which they usually did by foot.

Explanation

False! The Underground Railroad did not exist as an organization in the south. Slaves rarely received any help until they reached a free, Northern State. They had to reach freedom on their own, which they usually did by foot.