Kentucky slaves' journey to freedom came through the Underground Railroad

WHAS11

7 Feb 202202:28

Summary

TLDRThis video script explores a recreated slave owner's home from the 1840s and 1850s, which played a pivotal role in Kentucky's Underground Railroad. The home, once a site of comfort for slave owners, was also a secret hub for slaves plotting their escape to freedom. Kentucky, despite being a slavery stronghold in the 1800s, saw the rise of an organized Underground Railroad network in the 1830s. Homes and churches served as safe houses, aiding runaways to cross the Ohio River and reach free states. The script also highlights the Mount family's involvement in the slave trade and their use of newspapers to hunt down escaped slaves. The story serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought for freedom, shaping the world we live in today.

Takeaways

🏚️ The room is a recreation of a slave owner's home from the 1840s and 1850s, containing artifacts from that era.
📜 The home was an important part of Kentucky's Underground Railroad, which was a network for slaves seeking freedom.
🔍 The Underground Railroad became more organized in the 1830s, consisting of safe houses like homes and churches.
👥 The original home belonged to James and Amanda Mount, who were heavily involved in the slave trade.
💼 James Mount was a local slave jailer, and the family owned slaves, with Amanda Mount paying $1,250 for a hand.
📰 The Mount family has many original documents from the mid-1800s, including newspaper advertisements for runaway slaves.
🎯 The family hired bounty hunters to retrieve escaped slaves, as indicated by the newspaper ads.
📏 The Ohio River was a critical crossing point for runaway slaves, as it marked the boundary between slave and free states.
🚢 Various means of escape were used by slaves, including steamboats, railroads, and following canals to the north.
🙏 The sacrifices made by those who fought against slavery are significant and should be remembered to appreciate the freedoms we have today.

Q & A

What is the significance of the recreated room in the context of Kentucky's history?
-The recreated room is significant because it represents a typical slave owner's home from the 1840s and 1850s, which was an important part of Kentucky's Underground Railroad, a network that helped slaves escape to freedom.
What was the Underground Railroad and how did it function?
-The Underground Railroad was an organized network that helped slaves escape to freedom in the 1800s. It consisted of homes and churches that acted as safe houses where slaves could hide until their next move.
When did the Underground Railroad become more organized in Kentucky?
-The Underground Railroad became more organized in Kentucky in the 1830s.
Who were James and Amanda Mount, and what was their involvement with the slave trade?
-James and Amanda Mount were the original owners of the recreated room's home. They were heavily involved in the slave trade, owning slaves and with James working as a local slave jailer.
What role did newspapers play in the Mount family's pursuit of runaway slaves?
-Newspapers played a crucial role as the Mount family used them to place advertisements searching for runaway slaves and to hire bounty hunters to retrieve them.
How did the shrinking size of the printing press affect the advertisement of bounties on runaway slaves?
-The shrinking size of the printing press made it easier and more convenient for people, like the Mount family, to place bounties on runaway slaves in newspapers.
What geographical features made Kentucky a strategic location for runaway slaves?
-Kentucky's location, with the Ohio River and its proximity to the Mason-Dixon line, made it a gateway to freedom for runaway slaves, as states north of the Mason-Dixon line were free.
What were some of the methods used by slaves to escape to freedom?
-Slaves used various methods to escape, including jumping on steamboats, using railroads, and following canals to travel north to free states.
How does the script suggest we should remember the sacrifices made by those involved in the fight for freedom?
-The script suggests that we should remember and appreciate the sacrifices made by those involved in the fight for freedom, as forgetting them would not do justice to the hardships they endured for us to live the way we do today.
What is the role of the Oldham County History Center in preserving and sharing this history?
-The Oldham County History Center, directed by Nancy Stern, plays a role in preserving and sharing this history through its museum, which is the original home of James and Amanda Mount, and houses original documents from the mid-1800s.
Why is it important to learn about the horrors of slavery and the fight for freedom?
-Learning about the horrors of slavery and the fight for freedom is important because it helps us understand the struggles that shaped our world today and appreciate the sacrifices made for the freedom and rights we enjoy.

Outlines

00:00

🏚️ Underground Railroad in Kentucky's Slave Owner's Home

This paragraph describes a historical reenactment of a slave owner's home from the 1840s and 1850s in Kentucky, which was a significant part of the Underground Railroad. Artifacts from that era are displayed, and the narrative reveals that while slave owners enjoyed their comforts, their slaves were covertly plotting their escape. The Underground Railroad, which became more organized in the 1830s, consisted of safe houses like homes and churches where slaves could hide and plan their next move towards freedom. The museum, which is the original home of James and Amanda Mount, showcases the involvement of the Mount family in the slave trade, with James working as a local slave jailer. The museum holds original documents from the mid-1800s, including newspaper advertisements for runaway slaves and bounty hunter contracts. The Ohio River was a crucial point for escapees, as crossing it meant reaching free states and freedom. Various methods of escape are mentioned, such as steamboats, railroads, and following canals to the north. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on the importance of remembering the sacrifices made by those who fought for freedom, as they have shaped the world we live in today.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Underground Railroad

The Underground Railroad refers to a network of secret routes and safe houses used by African-American slaves to escape slavery and reach free states or Canada during the 19th century. In the video's theme, it is depicted as a crucial part of Kentucky's history, with homes and churches serving as safe houses where slaves hid while planning their escape to freedom. The script mentions that Kentucky was a gateway to freedom due to its location and the Ohio River being a point to cross for runaways.

💡Slave Owner's Home

A slave owner's home, as described in the script, is a residence that belonged to individuals who owned slaves and were involved in the slave trade. The video script recreates a typical home from the 1840s and 1850s, highlighting the stark contrast between the comfort of the slave owners and the secret planning of the slaves for their escape. This particular home is significant as it was part of the Underground Railroad.

💡Kentucky

Kentucky is a state in the United States that played a significant role in the history of slavery and the Underground Railroad. The script emphasizes that Kentucky was a hotbed for slavery in the 1800s before the Civil War and became an organized part of the Underground Railroad network in the 1830s. Its geographical location made it a gateway to freedom for many slaves.

💡Slave Trade

The slave trade refers to the buying, selling, and transporting of slaves, which was a widespread practice in the 19th century. In the context of the video, the Mount family, who owned the recreated home, were deeply involved in the slave trade, with James Mount working as a local slave jailer and Amanda Mount paying for slaves.

💡Safe Houses

Safe houses were locations where runaway slaves could hide and be protected during their escape. The script describes how homes and churches in the Underground Railroad network acted as safe houses, providing temporary shelter for slaves as they planned their next move towards freedom.

💡James and Amanda Mount

James and Amanda Mount were the original owners of the recreated home featured in the video. They were heavily involved in the slave trade, with James working as a local slave jailer and Amanda purchasing slaves. The script mentions their involvement and the original documents they left behind, which provide insight into the history of the slave trade in Kentucky.

💡Oldham County History Center

The Oldham County History Center, as mentioned in the script, is a museum located in La Grange, Kentucky. It is the original home of James and Amanda Mount and serves as a historical site that educates visitors about the local history, including the role of the Mount family in the slave trade and their connection to the Underground Railroad.

💡Nancy Stern Weiss

Nancy Stern Weiss is the director of the Oldham County History Center. The script quotes her as providing information about the significance of the Mount family's home in the context of Kentucky's Underground Railroad and the history of slavery in the region.

💡Bounty Hunters

Bounty hunters were individuals hired to track down and capture runaway slaves. The script mentions that Amanda Mount hired bounty hunters to pursue escaped slaves, illustrating the active measures taken by slave owners to recapture their property.

💡Civil War

The Civil War refers to the American Civil War, a conflict fought from 1861 to 1865 over issues including slavery. The script notes that Kentucky was a hotbed for slavery before the Civil War, indicating the state's historical context and its role in the events leading up to the war.

💡Freedom

Freedom, in the context of the video, represents the ultimate goal of the slaves who used the Underground Railroad to escape slavery. The script emphasizes the sacrifices made by these individuals in their quest for freedom and the importance of remembering their struggle in appreciating the liberties enjoyed today.

Highlights

The room is a recreation of a typical slave owner's home from the 1840s and 1850s.

Many artifacts in the room are from the time period of the 1840s and 1850s.

The home was an important part of Kentucky's Underground Railroad.

Kentucky was a hotbed for slavery in the 1800s before the Civil War.

The Underground Railroad became more organized in the 1830s.

The Underground Railroad consisted of homes and churches acting as safe houses.

Nancy Stern's Thiess is the director for the Oldham County History Center.

The museum is the original home of James and Amanda Mount.

The Mounts were heavily involved in the slave trade.

James Mount worked as the local slave jailer.

Amanda Mount paid $1,250 for a hand.

The Mount family has many original documents from the mid-1800s.

Newspaper advertisements were used to find runaway slaves.

Bounty hunters were hired to go after runaway slaves.

The Ohio River was a crucial point to cross for runaways.

The Mason-Dixon line states north of it were free, making Kentucky a gateway to freedom.

Various methods were used for escape, including steamboats, railroads, and canals.

The fight for freedom was instrumental in shaping the world today.

The sacrifices made by these people should be remembered and appreciated.