Some brave people escaped from slavery and then helped others become free. Two of the most famous are Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass.
Key idea
Harriet Tubman escaped slavery and led others to freedom on the Underground Railroad. Frederick Douglass escaped and became a great speaker and writer against slavery.
Why it works
Harriet Tubman was enslaved in Maryland. In 1849 she escaped to Philadelphia, where she was free. Then she went back, again and again, about 13 times, and led about 70 people to freedom. Frederick Douglass escaped in 1838. As a boy he had learned to read in secret. He wrote books, started a newspaper and gave speeches that changed many minds.
Common mistake
The Underground Railroad was not a real train under the ground! It was a secret network of people and hiding places, such as homes and barns, that helped people escape to freedom. Helpers were called "conductors," like on a train.
For the grown-up: Tubman later served the Union Army in the Civil War as a scout and nurse. Douglass met with President Lincoln. You may hear bigger numbers for Tubman; the National Park Service says about 70 people in about 13 trips.