Potential Sources

Connecticut State Library. Connecticut State Library, 1 Jan. 2008. Web. 4 Mar.

2014. <http://www.cslib.org/undergroundrrct.htm>.

The Connecticut State Library’s introduction to the Underground Railroad is brief, but it offers an excellent overview of the eighteenth century, the prevalence of slavery in America during this time, and the scattered existence of the Underground Railroad. The site begins its discussion by establishing a timeline—a beginning and end date for slavery in America. In 1793, the United States government passed the Fugitive Slave Act. Runaway slaves could now be captured and returned to their owners legally even if they made it to the North. Fugitive slaves required assistance in order to escape the South. The Underground Railroad, the network of individuals who used houses, barns, and churches in order to hide and aid runaways in their passage to the North and Canada. Fugitive Slaves followed the North Star. The site goes on to briefly explain why there is very little information about known Underground Railroad sites. Lastly, the site reveals how fugitives entered Connecticut and provides the reader with a list of known homes, barns, and churches that were Underground Railroad stations. Though the Connecticut State Library’s introduction is just an overview, it is a great starting point and has many additional links that could potentially help us achieve our goal. As a class that is engaged in project-based learning, we have the ability to visit some of the Underground Railroad sites the page presents.

The University of North Carolina Press. UNC, 1 Jan. 2008. Web. 4 Mar. 2014.

<http://www.uncpress.unc.edu/browse/page/632>.

The University of North Carolina Press publishes a Question and Answer article on David Ruggles. This source is incredibly helpful because the questions that are asked get right to the point. The page begins with the questions, “Who was David Ruggles?” and “Why has so little been written about him?” and ends with the questions, “How was New York different from other destinations on the Underground Railroad?” and “What was his (Ruggles’) legacy?” David Ruggles was a man who was deeply involved in the assistance of fugitive slaves. At age eighteen, Ruggles left home and ended up in New York. There, he got to know many other abolitionists who would later connect him with slaves fleeing Maryland. Generally speaking, people know very little about the life of David Ruggles, but as it pertains to our project-based learning class, Ruggles is an individual we must continue to research and track. If Ruggles brought slaves from Hartford to Springfield, Suffield may have been a town to stop in along the way. The information this site provides is reliable—it has been confirmed by further research. The UNC Press article is good starting point. The group needs to look into Ruggles’ New York Committee of Vigilance and its activities. This source is extremely helpful and organized.

American Anti-Slavery Society. Ohio History Centra, 1 Jan. 2008. Web. 4 Mar.

2014. <http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/

The Ohio Center for History’s piece on anti-slavery societies outlines the birth, life, and dissolution of the American Anti-Slavery Society. The American Anti-Slavery Society was one of the most prominent abolitionist organizations in the United States. In 1833, three men founded this organization. The society maintained a large, widespread network and Congress was often petitioned to end slavery. William Lloyd Garrison eventually became the leader of the American Anti-Slavery Society. In 1840, however, the society split because of alternate views. The Ohio Anti-Slavery Society thought Garrison’s ideas were too radical. This source is the most informative piece I have researched thus far. It is not a long webpage, but the site itself has many additional links that I will be able to follow. This overview of the American Anti-Slavery Society provides me with a different perspective regarding the actions of William Lloyd Garrison. The movement was split at times, and it is important to not Garrison was not always on the right track. The group does not want to connect dots that do not exist. I believe we should, at times, take a step back and reevaluate where we are and how we got there. Further examination of the American Anti-Slavery Society will help us identify other members who can be linked to Suffield. Though this introduction was published by the Ohio Center for History, the information provided is unbiased.