History Underground Railroad in Indiana

1 history

1.1 background
1.2 operation
1.3 reprisals
1.4 politics

history

early abolitionist leader dennis pennington


background

as 1805, anti-slavery movement began in indiana territory. leaders of movement quaker settlers in eastern part of territory. number grew, , other groups joined them, became dominant political group. in 1809 anti-slavery faction took control of indiana territorial legislature , enacted laws intended hinder operation of slave catchers in territory. continued grow in power, , in dominating 1816 constitutional convention, put ban on slavery. then, indiana, other territories, had become known haven runaway slaves, , runaways commonly hunted down , taken home. in response this, indiana general assembly created , passed man stealing act, law prevented person being forcibly removed state without first having trial.

the law brought state conflict neighboring slave state, kentucky. in 1818 slave catchers tracked down , captured supposed runaway slave in corydon, indiana, forcibly taking family sheltering her. indiana state senator dennis pennington brought slave catchers on charges under man stealing act. when governor of indiana sought have men extradited, governor of kentucky declined on constitutional grounds. noah noble later elected governor , in 1831 supported legislation prevent runaway slaves entering state , protect slave catchers in capturing them. law passed, causing of assistance runaway slaves conducted more secretly.

operation

quaker abolitionist levi coffin

many of members of underground railroad part of american colonization society , quakers. state president, rev. stephen s. harding, later governor of utah, used home in milan safehouse. members maintained numerous safehouses throughout state, these included barns, private homes, churches, , caves , coal mines used. system gradually evolved in 1830s , 1840s, , reached peak use during 1850s. after passage of 1850 fugitive slave act, slave catchers able operate more freely , aggressively. network of slave catchers grew, in southern part of state, offering services , knowledge of area southerners tracking runaway slaves. slave catchers continued agitation of neighbors, , common sight of bound slaves being drug south had gradual effect among majority of population, stirring them former indifference issue of slavery , leading more widespread involvement in underground railroad , general attempt hamper efforts of slave catchers.

most runaway slaves entered indiana crossing ohio river. smaller number entered ohio crossing river via cincinnati. society had agents operated south of river , guide slaves or give instructions on how cross river. abolitionists hide boats on south shore of river slaves cross on own. few people directly employed society spent days fishing @ river waiting slaves make appearance, , boating south shore them cross , move first hiding point in indiana. main entry points evansville, rockport, new albany , madison.

map of underground railroad routes

from western entry in evansville, slaves sent north michigan city via princeton, bloomingdale. rockport, slaves moved first petersburg hid in coal mines, , thence morgansville , noblesville. 2 eastern routes saw traffic. in new albany, slaves hid in town clock church before being forwarded salem, , bloomington hid students , teachers @ state university before again passing north. route through madison frequented, , society operated ferry on river secretly bring slaves across. slaves madison , cincinnati moved north newport, primary organizers of system lived time: levi coffin. newport slaves passed ohio. @ each stop slaves provided meals, clothing, , hiding places. kept in safehouses until slave catchers moved on or gave on trying find runaways. traveling night, or in covered wagons led abolitionists, slaves continued trip northward being ferried safe house safehouse. final destination of slaves either detroit, michigan or toledo, ohio ferried safely canada. in madison, george debaptiste s barber shop key nerve center in 1830s , 1840s.

levi coffin, 1 of famous abolitionists in indiana, claimed have helped hundreds of slaves escape sheltering them in homes in fountain city , newport. included in book uncle tom s cabin tells story of slave named eliza harris escaped canada coffin s help. slaves made northern part of state had travel short distance safety of canada. there beyond reach of slave catchers , live remainder of lives in freedom.

in addition helping slaves escape canada, members helped protect free blacks in indiana. free blacks victim of slave catchers who, when not find runaway slave, seize free blacks carry , sell in place. in 1 incident, 2 free black workers on wabash , erie canal seized 2 slave catchers in 1850s. party of abolitionists organized , petition writ sheriff have 2 men released. slave catchers had documents described men , claimed runaways. although evidence suggested documents false, there no way prove , slave catchers allowed continue prisoners. before leave state, abolitionist party overtook them , freed blacks force.

reprisals

calvin fairbank

abolitionists participated in underground railroad target of violence, , several in indiana murdered slave catchers helping slaves escape. seth concklin ferried runaway slaves points in south boat evansville. after 1 of transports, slaves had moved north had been captured , held in vincennes determine should sent. concklin moved intercept slaves , free them slave catchers . instead arrested , taken in chains slave catchers. friends moved try him released, slave catchers had left him. body later washed river, had died after skull crushed in apparent murder. calvin fairbank, had aided in escape kentucky of slave named tamar, abducted jeffersonville kentucky marshals on november 9, 1851, , returned trial in kentucky, convicted , imprisoned @ hard labor until 1864.

politics

although state rigidly anti-slavery, numerous laws enacted intended curb activities of underground railroad , put end blacks escaping through indiana. several governors tightened down on organization , more rigidly enforced federal fugitive slave laws. 1851, popular opinion led clause being put indiana constitution banned free blacks entering state. many in government wanted prevent blacks entering indiana, , saw solution keeping slave catchers out of state. there many incidents between slave catchers , citizens of state resulted in violence, , done ease tensions between free states , slaves states deemed appropriate.