The name of the route taken by enslaved people as they sought freedom in the United States is the Underground Railroad. This was not a literal railroad, but rather a network of secret routes and safe houses established in the early to mid-19th century to assist enslaved individuals escaping to free states and Canada. Abolitionists, both black and white, operated the Underground Railroad, providing guidance, shelter, and support. Key figures, such as Harriet Tubman, played a vital role in leading many to freedom, risking their lives to challenge the institution of slavery.