Underground Railroad

Canada: The North Star of Freedom

Throughout the 19th century, Canada represented freedom for thousands of enslaved African Americans who escaped the United States via the Underground Railroad.

The Underground Railroad was not a physical railroad but a secret network of routes, safe houses, and dedicated abolitionists who helped enslaved people escape to free states in the northern US and, ultimately, to Canada.

After the United States passed the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which required citizens to assist in the capture of escaped slaves even in free states, Canada became the primary destination for those seeking freedom. The British had abolished slavery in Canada decades earlier, in 1834.

Between 1840 and 1860, an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 freedom seekers made their way to Canada. Many settled in communities in southern Ontario, such as St. Catharines, Windsor, Chatham, and Amherstburg.

The story of the Underground Railroad represents a compelling chapter in Canadian-American relations, when ordinary Canadians and Americans worked together, often breaking unjust laws, to uphold the higher principles of human dignity and freedom.

Today, historic sites throughout Canada commemorate this important history, including the Buxton National Historic Site and Museum, the Amherstburg Freedom Museum, and Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site.

This shared history reminds us of the longstanding bonds between compassionate people on both sides of the border who have worked together for justice and human rights.