For some people living in the United States, the Promised Land was north of the border. These people were African Americans fugitive slaves from the southern United States. Between 30,000 and 40,000 slaves risked their lives to escape slavery.
Africans had first been brought to America to work as slaves. Slavery became the foundation to the way of life in the Southern United States. Workers picked cotton that was sold by plantation owners to the clothing factories. With the invention of the cotton gin, 200 times more cotton could be picked per day. More and more slaves were needed. In the Northern United States, slavery was regarded as evil. An antislavery movement emerged in the early 1800's with the aim to get rid of slavery. A number of abolitionits(those who oppose slavery) worked to set up a Underground Railway. This was a secret network of safe houses or stations that were used to help slaves reach the provinces of Canada and freedom. The fugitive slaves would travel at night following the big dipper and the north star. During the day, they hid at safe stations as they made their way to freedom. The trip could take day or months and full of danger. Professional bounty hunters stalked runaway slaves like animals, even into Canada. There were dangers for abolitionits as well. The fugitve act in the USA required any person who knew of the whereabouts of any runaway slaves to turn them in or face sever penalties including imprisonment.
Many of these fugitves that came to Canada started their own settlements. These settlements had schools where former slaves can be educated. These settlements included farms, a gristmill, and a sawmill. Abolitionists gave money to start these free slave settlements in Canada. After slavery became illegal in the United State, many moved back. Despite the dangers and hardships of the trip, most who came had no regrets. Canada was indeed their promised land. The words of former slaves:
"I look upon slavery as I do a deadly poison."
"My feet were frostbitten on the way north, but I would have rather have died on the way than go back."
"I want to say to coloured people in the United States, if you wish to be a free man, I hope you will all come to Canada."
"I came in without a shilling. I now own a house and one hundred acres of land!"
