Slavery was a dark time in America's past. Not only did slavery separate millions of families, it also destroyed the white man's reputation among Africans. Many slave owners treated their slaves well, many did not. They forced their slaves to live in deplorable conditions. Malnutrition and overwork often led to death. If you were a slave, would you risk everything and try to escape? If you wanted to stay alive you might have no choice. In 1581 the first imported African slaves landed in the Americas. The Spanish brought people from Africa to work for them in Florida. In 1619, the first slaves were brought to the original 13 colonies. They were brought to America as indentured servants and released after paying for their passage. In 1705 slaves were recognized as property. From then on everything changed. Slavery became increasingly prominent, and by the time of the Civil War it was estimated that over 4 million slaves worked in the South. Slaves were treated worse than their owners' dogs. They were given little to eat and tiny shacks to live in. If they disobeyed they were beaten. For these reasons, many slaves decided to risk their lives and run away in search of freedom. The Underground Railroad was founded in 1810, and more than 100,000 slaves escaped between 1810 and 1850. Following the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793, Northern and Southern abolitionists, Native Americans, religious groups, and freed slaves served as “conductors ” on the Underground Railroad. Safe houses were called “stations” and the owner and operator of the safe house was the “station master”. The people who helped the cause by contributing funding were known as “shareholders.” Any hospitality or transportation of slaves was a paper gesture in the name of God to help slaves escape captivity, and President Lincoln's creation and signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, America would perhaps never escape the evils of slavery. Works Cited - Wikipedia, the Underground Railroado http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underground_Railroad- National Geographic, The Underground Railroado http://www.nationalgeographic.com/railroad //- PBS, The Underground Railroado http:// www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2944.html- Slavery In America http://www.slaveryinamerica.org/history/hs_es_overview.htm- Wikipedia, Harriet Tubmano http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki /Harriet_Tubman- Wikipedia, Harriet Beecher Stoweo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_Beecher_Stowe- Milton Meltzer, The Underground Man, 1972, Bradburry Press- Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin, 1995, Wadsworth Publishing