This inquiry explores the Erie Canal’s hidden history as a vital route on the Underground Railroad. By studying the courage of those who used it to escape enslavement, we will connect their historical fight for liberty to the ongoing pursuit of justice and equality in our community today. Students will read first hand accounts from Freedom Seekers such as Rev. Thomas James who used the Erie Canal as an escape route to freedom in Canada. This inquiry is a collaboration between Our Local History and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.
Students will explore a Mystery Source that invites them to consider the role of the Erie Canal as a route to freedom on the Underground Railroad. This short lesson serves as an introduction the inquiry on the role of the Erie Canal as part of the Underground Railroad.
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We can evaluate the role of the Erie Canal not just as a trade route, but as a critical ‘pathway to freedom’ for freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad.
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We can read the autobiography of Thomas James to learn about how he and his friends worked for freedom in NYS using the Erie Canal.
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