Final answer:
The Underground Railroad was a secretive network of routes and safe houses that helped slaves escape to freedom, led by a diverse group of people including Harriet Tubman. It used covert symbols and codes to guide escapees, functioning primarily between 1850 and 1860 with tens of thousands estimated to have escaped slavery through this system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Underground Railroad was a figurative underground network that represented a form of covert resistance against slavery. It was not literally a railroad beneath the ground, but rather a secret system of routes and safe houses. This network was managed by a diverse group of individuals, including free-born blacks, white abolitionists, and Native Americans. Safe houses and secret routes assisted enslaved African Americans seeking freedom in the Northern states and Canada. The UGRR's code consisted of rail terminology, and other signs like quilts, songs, and constellations provided guidance.
Functioning particularly between 1850 and 1860, the UGRR was vital for aiding escaping slaves, though exact numbers are uncertain, with estimates suggesting that up to 100,000 slaves may have used the network to reach freedom. Harriet Tubman is one of the most famous "conductors" associated with the UGRR. Despite the heavy risks involved, these brave individuals played a monumental role in opposing slavery and aiding escapes, contributing to the legacy of the UGRR as a critical part of American history.