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Supreme Court of Indiana
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Indianapolis, IN 46204

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Pho: 317.233.8682
elizabeth.osborn@courts.IN.gov

Sarah Kidwell
Outreach Coordinator

Pho: 317.234.3055
sarah.kidwell@courts.IN.gov

 

2011 Outstanding Public
History Project Award
from the National Council
on Public History

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Courts in the Classroom > Lesson Plans & Materials > Slave Cases and the Indiana Supreme Court Slave Cases and the Indiana Supreme Court

Teaching the Underground Railroad

Introduction

Wilbur Siebert's "The Underground Railroad from Slavery to Freedom"

The Underground Railroad (UGRR) was neither underground nor a railroad. Rather, it refers to the 19th century movement of enslaved African-Americans seeking freedom in various locations, and the assistance they received on their journey. The network that develop united different people-Black and White, enslaved and free, Northern and Southern, ordinary and extraordinary-in a common cause.

The learning materials provided here are based on a presentation given by Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard at a June 20, 2003 workshop on "Teaching the Underground Railroad." The workshop explored the history of the UGRR, followed a case study of how an enslaved African might have come through Indiana, and discussed the types of resources available on the subject and how teachers might use these resources in the classroom. The materials presented below focus on the case study and include lesson plans, other materials, and copies of relevant cases from Indiana's history.

Supporting Materials