A Road Scholar Program by Jeanne Schultz Angel

The state of Illinois played a prominent role during the anti-slavery movement in the mid-nineteenth century. But were all Illinoisans who were against slavery also supportive of the Underground Railroad, or even racial equality? Understanding the differences between those who were ‘anti-slavery’ and those who were ‘radical abolitionists’ is important to understanding how the Underground Railroad was viewed in Illinois and also to determining which of its sites are verifiable. Explore the history behind the anti-slavery movement in northern Illinois and examine the criteria historians use to separate fact from fiction.