During the 1800's many slaves dreamed of freedom. The Under Ground Railroad made over 100,000 slaves dreams of freedom possible. The UGRR was an escape route from the south to the north. Many people wanted to help these slaves to freedom. The UGRR had over 100 houses throughout it. Each house was called a " Safe House", a place where slaves would stop and be sheltered for a night or a few nights before moving on to the next stop til finally escaping to the north. Houses had a basement where the slaves would stay. Often police would come check these houses to see if there were slaves trying to escape. A person that would house a slave could be arrested for trying to help them escape and the slaves would be sent back to their master.
Slaves would escape to save their children. Childern would be getting sold so the parents would take them to escape so they wouldnt have to give away there child. Most of the time groups of slaves would escape at night while there masters were asleep. They only took the clothes on their back and what ever they could carry.The Big Dipper, whose handle pointed towards the North Star, was referred to as the "drinking gourd." It would always lead the slaves toward the north. Slaves would sing a song while following the UGRR called, " Follow the drinking gourd."