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Fugitive slaves in the United States Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge

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Study Guide: The History of Slavery: Escape and Resistance

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The History of Slavery: Escape and Resistance Study Guide

Terminology and Ideology

The terms 'fugitive slave' and 'runaway slave' were commonly used, but abolitionists and historians often prefer 'freedom seeker' during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Answer: True

Explanation: The term 'freedom seeker' is preferred as it frames the act of escaping slavery as a pursuit of liberty, avoiding the implication of criminality associated with 'fugitive slave' or 'runaway slave'.

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'Drapetomania' was a recognized medical condition that explained the desire of enslaved people to escape.

Answer: False

Explanation: Drapetomania was a pseudoscientific concept, not a recognized medical condition, invented to pathologize the desire of enslaved people to escape, framing it as a mental illness rather than a rational response to oppression.

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The term 'freedom seeker' frames the act of escaping slavery as a pursuit of liberty, unlike 'fugitive slave.'

Answer: True

Explanation: The term 'freedom seeker' emphasizes the agency and aspiration for liberty of those escaping bondage, contrasting with 'fugitive slave,' which frames the act as a crime and the individual as property.

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Which term is preferred to describe individuals who fled slavery, as it avoids implying criminality on their part?

Answer: Freedom seekers

Explanation: The term 'freedom seekers' is preferred because it frames the act of escaping slavery as a positive pursuit of liberty, rather than implying criminality associated with terms like 'fugitive slave' or 'runaway property'.

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The term 'drapetomania' was used by enslavers to describe:

Answer: A supposed mental illness causing the desire to escape

Explanation: Drapetomania was a fabricated medical diagnosis used by some enslavers to explain the urge of enslaved people to escape, framing it as a symptom of mental illness rather than a rational response to oppression.

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The term 'freedom seeker' emphasizes the agency and goal of escaping slavery, contrasting with:

Answer: Fugitive slave

Explanation: The term 'freedom seeker' highlights the active pursuit of liberty, whereas 'fugitive slave' frames the individual as property that has escaped, potentially implying criminality.

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Routes, Networks, and Destinations

Canada was a primary destination for freedom seekers, but Spanish Florida ceased to be a viable destination after 1821.

Answer: True

Explanation: Canada served as a significant destination for freedom seekers. Spanish Florida, however, ceased to be a viable option after 1821 when it was ceded to the United States, which had stricter laws regarding escaped enslaved individuals.

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Maroon communities, like those in the Great Dismal Swamp, provided refuge for fugitive slaves.

Answer: True

Explanation: Maroon communities, established by formerly enslaved people who had escaped bondage, such as those in the Great Dismal Swamp, served as vital refuges for other fugitive slaves seeking freedom.

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The Underground Railroad was primarily a physical railroad system that transported escaped slaves.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Underground Railroad was not a literal railroad but a clandestine network of secret routes and safe houses used by abolitionists and allies to help enslaved people escape to free states and Canada.

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Religious groups like the Quakers (Society of Friends) and Methodists were significantly involved in the Underground Railroad.

Answer: True

Explanation: Many religious denominations, including the Quakers (Society of Friends), Methodists, and Baptists, played crucial roles in organizing and supporting the Underground Railroad through their networks and resources.

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Enslaved people did not actively participate in the Underground Railroad; only abolitionists were involved.

Answer: False

Explanation: Enslaved individuals were central to the Underground Railroad, both as participants seeking freedom and as active agents providing assistance, information, and signals to those fleeing.

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'Stations' on the Underground Railroad were typically clandestine meeting points used for brief rests.

Answer: False

Explanation: Stations on the Underground Railroad were more than just brief resting points; they were safe houses, often homes, churches, or schools, providing food, shelter, clothing, and guidance to freedom seekers.

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Canada became a less desirable destination for freedom seekers after the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 made the United States less safe for freedom seekers, thus increasing the desirability and importance of Canada as a destination, as it offered legal protection and had abolished slavery.

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The term 'Maroon (people)' refers to individuals who were captured and returned to slavery.

Answer: False

Explanation: The term 'Maroon' refers to individuals of African descent who escaped slavery and formed independent communities, often in remote areas, maintaining their freedom.

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Before 1821, which territory served as a significant destination for enslaved people seeking freedom?

Answer: Spanish Florida

Explanation: Prior to 1821, when it was ceded to the United States, Spanish Florida represented a significant destination for enslaved individuals seeking to escape bondage due to its less restrictive policies compared to British North American territories.

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What was the function of 'stations' within the Underground Railroad network?

Answer: Safe houses providing food, shelter, and directions

Explanation: Stations on the Underground Railroad served as crucial safe houses where freedom seekers received essential provisions like food and shelter, along with guidance for their onward journey.

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Why did Canada become an especially crucial destination for freedom seekers after 1850?

Answer: It had abolished slavery and offered legal protection.

Explanation: Canada's abolition of slavery and its legal system provided a secure refuge for freedom seekers, making it an increasingly vital destination after the passage of the stringent Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 in the United States.

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The term 'Maroon (people)' refers to:

Answer: African refugees who escaped slavery and formed independent communities

Explanation: Maroon communities were formed by individuals of African descent who successfully escaped slavery and established autonomous settlements, often in remote geographical areas.

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Methods of Escape and Evasion

Freedom seekers sometimes used wild onions or graveyard soil to confuse tracking dogs.

Answer: True

Explanation: To evade detection by tracking dogs, freedom seekers employed various methods, including scattering substances like wild onions or soil from graveyards onto their tracks to mask their scent.

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Freedom seekers often relied on disguises and traveling during nighttime to evade pursuers.

Answer: True

Explanation: Disguises and nocturnal travel were common and effective strategies employed by freedom seekers to avoid detection and capture by enslavers and slave catchers.

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The 'Jerry Rescue' was an event where abolitionists freed an escaped slave arrested under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 in Boston.

Answer: False

Explanation: The 'Jerry Rescue' occurred in Syracuse, New York, in 1851, where abolitionists liberated Jerry, an escaped slave arrested under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. The Boston event involving similar resistance was the 'Shadrach Rescue'.

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The 'Christiana Riot' involved a confrontation between escaped slaves, abolitionists, and slave catchers in Pennsylvania.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Christiana Riot in 1851 was a significant armed confrontation in Christiana, Pennsylvania, where escaped slaves and abolitionists resisted slave catchers attempting to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.

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The 'Pearl incident' was a successful large-scale escape of 77 enslaved people from Washington D.C.

Answer: False

Explanation: The 'Pearl incident' in 1848 involved an attempt by 77 enslaved individuals to escape Washington D.C. aboard the schooner Pearl. However, the escape was unsuccessful, and they were returned to slavery.

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The 'Oberlin-Wellington Rescue' involved citizens aiding an escaped slave against federal marshals in Ohio.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Oberlin-Wellington Rescue in 1858 saw citizens of Ohio actively intervene to protect John Price, an escaped slave, from federal marshals attempting to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.

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Slave passes were used by enslavers to grant permission for enslaved people to travel freely without supervision.

Answer: False

Explanation: Slave passes were primarily tools of control, regulating the movement of enslaved individuals and requiring them to carry documentation when traveling, thereby preventing unauthorized movement and escape.

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What tactic did freedom seekers use involving specific substances to deter tracking dogs?

Answer: Using graveyard soil or wild onions

Explanation: Freedom seekers employed various methods to confuse tracking dogs, including scattering substances like graveyard soil or wild onions on their trails to mask their scent.

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The 'Jerry Rescue' in 1851 was a notable act of defiance against which law?

Answer: The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

Explanation: The Jerry Rescue, where abolitionists freed an arrested fugitive slave, was a direct act of defiance against the provisions and enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.

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What was the 'Christiana Riot'?

Answer: A confrontation where escaped slaves and abolitionists resisted recapture

Explanation: The Christiana Riot was a violent confrontation in 1851 where escaped slaves and abolitionists actively resisted slave catchers attempting to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.

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The 'Pearl incident' involved an attempted escape of enslaved people from Washington D.C. using what means?

Answer: The schooner Pearl

Explanation: The 'Pearl incident' refers to an attempted mass escape of 77 enslaved individuals from Washington D.C. aboard the schooner named Pearl.

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The 'Oberlin-Wellington Rescue' demonstrated opposition to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 through:

Answer: Aid and protection offered to an escaped slave against marshals

Explanation: The Oberlin-Wellington Rescue involved citizens actively aiding and protecting an escaped slave from federal marshals, demonstrating direct opposition to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.

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Slave passes were primarily used as a tool for:

Answer: Regulating movement and preventing escape

Explanation: Slave passes were instruments of control used by enslavers to regulate the movement of enslaved people, requiring them to possess documentation when traveling to prevent unauthorized journeys and escapes.

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Key Figures and Their Contributions

Harriet Tubman, known as the 'Moses of her people,' only guided enslaved people to freedom once.

Answer: False

Explanation: Harriet Tubman was renowned for her courage and dedication, making numerous dangerous trips back into the South to guide hundreds of enslaved individuals to freedom, far more than a single journey.

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Harriet Tubman used the North Star and river currents for navigation during her rescue missions.

Answer: True

Explanation: Harriet Tubman skillfully navigated by utilizing natural cues such as the North Star and the direction of river currents to guide freedom seekers safely towards their destinations.

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During the Civil War, Harriet Tubman served only as a nurse for the Union Army.

Answer: False

Explanation: During the Civil War, Harriet Tubman's contributions extended beyond nursing; she also served as a spy and a scout for the Union Army, demonstrating her versatile commitment to the cause.

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John Brown provided a safe room in his tannery for fugitive slaves.

Answer: True

Explanation: The abolitionist John Brown was involved in assisting freedom seekers, notably by providing a safe room within his tannery building for them to rest during their journey.

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Harriet Tubman was known by what significant nickname for her work with the Underground Railroad?

Answer: Moses of her people

Explanation: Harriet Tubman earned the revered nickname 'Moses of her people' for her tireless efforts in guiding hundreds of enslaved individuals to freedom via the Underground Railroad.

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During the American Civil War, Harriet Tubman contributed to the Union cause in multiple roles, including:

Answer: Spy, cook, and nurse

Explanation: Harriet Tubman served the Union Army during the Civil War in diverse capacities, including as a nurse, a cook, and notably as a spy and scout, demonstrating her multifaceted contributions.

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John Brown, an abolitionist, played a role in the Underground Railroad by:

Answer: Providing a safe room in his tannery for fugitives

Explanation: Abolitionist John Brown actively supported the Underground Railroad by offering sanctuary, including a safe room in his tannery, for individuals escaping slavery.

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Enforcement and Counter-Resistance

States like Maryland and Virginia offered rewards to encourage the capture and return of escaped enslaved people.

Answer: True

Explanation: States such as Maryland and Virginia implemented laws offering monetary rewards to incentivize the capture and return of individuals who had escaped from slavery.

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Bounty hunters played a role in the recapture of escaped slaves, sometimes kidnapping free Black individuals.

Answer: True

Explanation: Bounty hunters were actively involved in the pursuit and capture of escaped slaves. The Fugitive Slave Acts empowered them, and they sometimes engaged in the illicit kidnapping of free Black individuals, falsely claiming them as fugitives to sell into slavery.

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Punishments for recaptured fugitive slaves rarely included physical mutilation.

Answer: False

Explanation: Recaptured fugitive slaves often faced severe punishments, which frequently included physical mutilation such as whipping, branding, and even amputation, intended as deterrents.

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The 'Reverse Underground Railroad' involved kidnapping free Black individuals to sell them into slavery.

Answer: True

Explanation: The 'Reverse Underground Railroad' was a criminal enterprise that involved the abduction of free Black individuals and their subsequent sale into slavery, operating in direct opposition to the Underground Railroad's mission.

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Slave catchers primarily operated in the South, pursuing fugitives back into slave states.

Answer: False

Explanation: Slave catchers operated extensively in both slave and free states. The Fugitive Slave Acts empowered them to pursue and capture escaped slaves even in free territories, often with the assistance of federal marshals.

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The 'Reverse Underground Railroad' was a network that helped enslaved people escape to free territories.

Answer: False

Explanation: The 'Reverse Underground Railroad' was a network involved in kidnapping free Black individuals or coercing escaped slaves back into bondage, directly opposing the goals of the Underground Railroad.

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Runaway slave posters were advertisements seeking the return of escaped enslaved people, often offering rewards.

Answer: True

Explanation: Runaway slave posters served as public advertisements detailing descriptions of escaped enslaved individuals and offering monetary rewards for their capture and return to enslavers.

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What incentive did states like Maryland and Virginia offer to encourage the recapture of escaped enslaved people?

Answer: Monetary rewards

Explanation: States such as Maryland and Virginia enacted laws that offered monetary rewards to individuals who successfully captured and returned escaped enslaved people to their enslavers.

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Which of the following actions was taken by enslavers or their agents to recapture escaped slaves?

Answer: Posting flyers and offering rewards

Explanation: Common methods used by enslavers and their agents to recapture escaped slaves included posting detailed flyers and offering monetary rewards for their return.

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What severe physical punishment could be inflicted upon recaptured fugitive slaves, according to the source?

Answer: Amputation of limbs

Explanation: Recaptured fugitive slaves faced brutal punishments, which, according to historical accounts, could include severe measures such as the amputation of limbs.

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What illicit practice was associated with the 'Reverse Underground Railroad'?

Answer: Kidnapping free Black individuals for sale into slavery

Explanation: The 'Reverse Underground Railroad' was characterized by the criminal practice of kidnapping free Black individuals and selling them into slavery, or forcibly returning escaped slaves to bondage.

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What was the role of 'slave catchers' in the system of fugitive slave recovery?

Answer: They were individuals who pursued and captured escaped slaves, often for rewards.

Explanation: Slave catchers were individuals, frequently operating as bounty hunters, whose primary role was to pursue, apprehend, and return escaped enslaved people to their enslavers, often for financial compensation.

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Historical Context and Visual Records

It is estimated that around 100,000 enslaved Americans successfully escaped to freedom.

Answer: True

Explanation: Historical estimates suggest that approximately 100,000 enslaved individuals successfully escaped to freedom.

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Richard Ansdell's painting 'The Hunted Slaves' depicts the peaceful integration of former slaves into society.

Answer: False

Explanation: Richard Ansdell's painting 'The Hunted Slaves' likely portrays the perilous and often violent pursuit of enslaved people attempting to escape, focusing on the struggle for freedom rather than peaceful integration.

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The animation showing the free/slave status of U.S. states illustrates the territorial expansion and growing division over slavery leading to the Civil War.

Answer: True

Explanation: An animation depicting the changing free and slave status of U.S. states visually represents the nation's territorial expansion and the escalating sectional conflict over slavery that ultimately precipitated the Civil War.

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Approximately how many enslaved Americans are estimated to have escaped to freedom?

Answer: 100,000

Explanation: Estimates indicate that approximately 100,000 enslaved individuals successfully escaped from bondage to achieve freedom.

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What does the animation showing the free/slave status of U.S. states and territories from 1789-1861 visually represent?

Answer: The shifting balance of power and growing division over slavery

Explanation: The animation illustrates the dynamic shifts in the balance between slave and free states, visually demonstrating the territorial expansion and the deepening sectional divisions over slavery that culminated in the Civil War.

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What does the image titled 'Gordon, scourged back, NPG, 1863' depict?

Answer: The physical brutality and violence of slavery

Explanation: The image 'Gordon, scourged back, NPG, 1863' visually documents the extreme physical violence inherent in slavery, as evidenced by the depiction of Gordon's severely scourged back.

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Eastman Johnson's painting 'A Ride for Liberty – The Fugitive Slaves' serves as a visual representation of:

Answer: The perilous journey of enslaved people seeking freedom

Explanation: Eastman Johnson's painting 'A Ride for Liberty – The Fugitive Slaves' powerfully captures the dangerous and urgent flight of enslaved individuals seeking freedom, illustrating the risks and determination involved in their escape.

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