NC and the Underground Railroad

North Carolina was a slave state during the civil war era.  The south justified their right to own slaves by saying that African Americans were born to do labor, and that the development of the country depended on it.  They also believed that blacks were inferior to whites.  Blacks lived in constant fear of being sold or suffering physical punishment.  So many attempted to escape.

In the early years, escaped slaves lived in the dismal swamp, but later the Underground Railroad was established.  Abolishonists and previously escaped slaves helped runaways north while keeping them safe.  These people risked their lives to help others escape the injustices of slavery.  It was a brave thing to do.