The Underground RailroadThe Underground Railroad was a network of routes that slaves used to escape to the free Northern states. The Underground Railroad did not receive this name until around 1830 (Donald - ). There were many conductors, people who helped and sheltered runaway slaves, but a few recorded records. The Underground Railroad was a vast network, but it was not run by any particular organization; instead, it was run by several individuals (PBS - ) The Underground Railroad was not a real railroad, it was just an idea of ​​indirect paths from one station to another. The Underground Railroad began when slaves first entered America in 1619 and ended with the American Civil War in 1865 (Lavine - ). Slaves had the choice of fleeing to the free states of the North or to Mexico. Depending on where you're from and what happened along the way, it can take anywhere from 24 hours to a year of running (How Stuff Works). Along the way, stopping at a "Safe House" or "Station" was the best chance for slaves during the day or when they needed to rest. Stations normally hung a lantern outside on the porch for a time to show the slaves that it was a safe house (Chugger "Underground Railroad...for children") Once the fugitives had obtained what they needed, they headed to the next station with the help of a conductor's guidance. Some drivers gave the fugitives some money or clothes to help them along their way (Pathways). There were different times of the day/week/year that were considered the best time to move. The best time of day was probably at night; There is a good chance that the best time of the week is Saturday, only because the newspaper did not run an advertisement on that day (Levein - ); and most slaves moved in winter. Once a fugitive had reached the desired location in the North, he would normally have found an all-black town, religious group, or vigilante committee to live with for a period of time. They may have gotten money and housing, provided by these groups, to start a new life. If they made enough money, the fugitives would attempt to ransom their family members from slavery (How Stuff Works "How it Worked"). Well-known ringleaders are primarily known for the number of fugitives they aided and/or harbored, one of them being Harriet Tubman..