History of the Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an important movement in the history of the United States.
After all, around 150,000 enslaved African Americans were freed through the Underground Railroad between 1830 to 1860. The system of escape to freedom was also a major contributing cause of the American Civil War, which led to the freedom of more than four million Americans.
But, was it Christian? How can we study the Underground Railroad from a Christian perspective?
God’s Word is actually very clear about chattel slavery–the kidnapping and selling of human beings. American Christians during the 1800s were motivated by Scripture and equipped by their spiritual gifting and circumstances to serve their neighbors in specific ways. Each Christian working on the Underground Railroad served a specific purpose, as a part of a system that led to freedom for–eventually–millions of God’s image bearers.
A Unit Study that’s Fun, Christian, Biblical, and Non-Woke
It’s so important that our kids can explain the biblical basis for abolition. After all, the Christian fight to end slavery was a battle to return to the truths of Scripture.
This unit study on the abolition of slavery is written and designed from a Christian worldview with Scripture as the lens, rather than from a cultural Marxist view where race is the lens through which society is filtered. Our children need to understand that the bulk of the work done to end chattel slavery was done by Christians, to the glory of God. Their arguments were based on Scripture, and God does–in fact–outlaw chattel slavery in his Word.
They will learn, too, that there were people who claimed their wickedness was supported by God’s Word. It’s vital that our kids know what the Bible actually says so they can live according to God’s commands for his people. We need to know, too, that there are those who seek to twist God’s Word for evil gains. As followers of Christ, we are to be on the lookout for false teachers and prophets (2 Peter 2).
Christian history is important. We don’t want to skip teaching our kids about important movements because we are afraid they will fall into a common or pervasive misunderstanding or misrepresentation of history.
Rather, we want to teach them:
- What God’s Word says
- How God used his people to end injustice and further hope
- How we can respond today to those who would malign the cause of Christ using false arguments.
That’s what the Who What Why Christian history series works to do for your children.
The Underground Railroad Unit Study
This system was comprised of God’s people. Workers on the Underground Railroad included those who were born free, those who were freed through legal means, those who emancipated themselves on the Underground Railroad, and those who remained enslaved.
The Underground Railroad was a massive act of intentional civil disobedience in which American Christians declared their unwillingness to serve unjust, wicked laws. The Underground Railroad did more than emancipate enslaved people. The existence of the Underground Railroad forced every American Christian to examine their beliefs biblically, and to decide what they were willing to do to end injustice and abuse.
Your unit study on the Underground Railroad includes a fun, 95-page biography, What Was the Underground Railroad?, with stories of many of the Christians involved in rescuing their neighbors, and in escaping. Your kids will study Scripture and consider when (and if) civil disobedience is allowed by God in his Word. Children will learn, too, about how the system was structured to utilize the spiritual gifts of many Christians.
- What Was the Underground Railroad? by Danika Cooley | What Was the Underground Railroad? (Christian Focus Publications, 2023) is an engaging narrative about the system of escape from enslavement and the people who fought for the freedom of their neighbors–and themselves. God used the workers on the Underground Railroad to change lives, to change the history and laws of the United States of America, and to affect slavery throughout the world. The people supporting the Underground Railroad were quite often pastors, usually Christians, and they were motivated by the teachings in God’s Word.
- You can also purchase What Was the Underground Railroad? from Thinking Kids Press. Or, purchase all three Who What Why | Abolition books together in a bundle.
- The Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman Craft | You’ll love this fun history craft, based on the historic DeWitt Clinton train engine, and one of the most famous Underground Railroad conductors, Harriet Tubman.
- What Was the Underground Railroad? Lapbook | With the Underground Railroad lapbook, your children will delve deeper into what they’ve learned, including:
- The impact of the Underground Railroad on the modern world, on the Church, and on your child’s world.
- The modern world, specifically during the early- to mid-1800s. Your child will learn about what it was like to live during the time of the Underground Railroad.
- The people involved in the story of the Underground Railroad.
- Underground Railroad history vocabulary.
- The timeline of the Underground Railroad.
- The geography of American abolition.
- Theology: Exodus 21:16, 1 Kings 18:3, and Acts 5:29.
This study of the Underground Railroad will help your kids study the Bible, learn about the fascinating stories of people who worked on and who traveled the Underground Railroad, and it will help them consider how they can use their unique spiritual gifting to serve God and to love his people.
Every Who What Why Christian history book has a timeline with relevant dates. Your kids can keep track of dates from their studies in history with the My Timeline Journal!
Learn more about the Who What Why series and get your FREE Abolition Lapbooks here.
Bible Resources for Your Kids
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Christian Biographies for Kids | Christian History for Kids | Theology for Kids
Christian History Matters for Our Kids.
History matters. Now, more than ever, we see how important it is for our children to know and understand history and the Bible.
Here’s why:
- God is the sovereign ruler of all things. It’s important for our kids to see his hand in the history of nations and in the lives of both peasants and kings.
- Christian history is the story of our family history. Our kids get to see how people who love Jesus follow him.
- Understanding history can help our kids learn historic and biblical theology. They learn what the Bible says and what that means for us. They also see when the study of Scripture has taken important turns that have changed the Church.
- Reading Christian biographies and history can be a wonderful way for kids to think outside their own time and culture. God’s Church spans centuries and includes people from every nation.
- Christian biographies help kids consider their own faith, walk with Jesus, and the impact their witness may one day have on others–and on history.
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