Final answer:
An estimated 50,000 to 100,000 slaves escaped to freedom via the Underground Railroad from the early 1800s to 1860, aided by networks of supporters including Harriet Tubman, and many sought refuge in Canada.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is estimated that between 50,000 and 100,000 slaves escaped to freedom using the Underground Railroad between approximately the early 1800s through 1860. Underground Railroad networks, supported by northern White and free Black people, offered safe houses and passage from the South, with prominent figures like Harriet Tubman aiding in these escapes.
The passage of the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act heightens the dangers for those seeking escape, emphasizing the risks involved in their quest for freedom. Despite the difficulties, a significant number traveled to southern Ontario, Canada, where slavery had been abolished, in search of a new life.