Google Maps Assignment

Underground Rail Road Assignment

         This assignment would utilize Google maps to approximately identify where runaway slaves would escape from the South into Northern territory where slavery was illegal (However, with the passing of the fugitive slave act of 1850, anyone aiding a fugitive slave would be punishable by jail and/or fine).  They will diagram three routes and give the approximate distance it would be from a city in the South to the Northern city, or Canada.  The distances tracked will not be the straight lines originally given but must follow modern day roads to simulate traversing through or around natural barriers.  Once a distance is found they will divide this by the average walking speed of 2.5 mph and determine how long it would take that person if they could only travel during night.   Students will have to list some of the geographical barriers that would have posed problems to those on the Underground Railroad as well.  At the conclusion of making their maps, students will write a “30 second speech” that summarizes the difficulties and distances traveled on their routes.

Instructions (Step 1 is done on the map for option 2 of the assmt.):

1.      .  Map out three different routes from slave states to free states, using roads instead of straight line distances.
2.         Identify the distance and divide it by the average walking speed of 2.5 mph, to calculate how long it would take to get to the North. **Remember trips frequently were only able to occur during low light hours.
3.         What natural boundaries would have gotten in the way? 
4.     Compose a one paragraph summary, or a “30 second speech” that would summarize the challenges faced based on the distances, laws, and boundaries in the Under Ground Rail Road’s way.

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