MAD RIVER THEATER WORKS

Play by Jeff Hooper l Music by Bob Lucas

STUDY GUIDE

F reedom Bound tells the true story of Addison White as he escapes slavery in Kentucky. Follow

Addison as he flees his former master and finds help from an injured “retired” conductor on the Underground Railroad, Udney Hyde, and his daughter. He finds help and rest, but his luck runs out when his former master travels to Ohio to bring Addison back to slavery. Find out what happens to this runaway slave as he bravely pursues his quest for freedom.

VocabularyThe Underground Railroad used a railroad code of terms

as a metaphor for the journey north.

people who helped slaves find the railroadguides on the railroadhiding placespeople that hid slaves in their homesescaped slavesfinancial benefactorssecret

agentsconductors

stationsstation masters

passengers stockholdersunderground

–––––––

CastUdney Hyde

Addison White Daniel White,

Marshal, Guitar Drums and Percussion

Amanda Hyde

Bob LucasErnest JordanChristopher Whesthoff

Jamey ReidKatie Hicks

–––

––

Fugitive Slave Act of 1850California’s request for statehood in 1849 upset a delicate balance between free and slave states in the federal government. Henry Clay, a U.S. Senator from Kentucky, worked to keep the balance with the Compromise of 1850. The Fugitive Slave Act was the most controversial part of this compromise.

The Act called for harsher punishments for those helping slaves escape (fines of five hundred dollars and up to six months jail time) and incentives for the capture of runaways. Fugitive slaves were denied trials, and commissioners received more pay if they sent escaped slaves back to their masters.

Fugitive slaves fled toward Canada. Those who were caught were sent back to slavery. With no legal rights, many free blacks were often captured and sent south into slavery. The Compromise of 1850 pushed the issue of slavery to the forefront, and those who had previously ignored slavery began to take a stance against it.

“ It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake...

...the hypocrisy of the nation must be exposed; and its crimes against God and man must be

proclaimed and denounced.”- Frederick Douglass on the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

How Far to Freedom?The trip for slaves trying to escape to freedom was long and dangerous. They often had no help and, when they did, they could not trust those who helped them. In the south, some slaves would help fugitives by hiding them during the day. If a slave was lucky enough to be guided by a conductor, he or she might be able to travel by wagon, wear disguise or be temporarily housed in a safe house.

After passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, slaves were not truly safe until they reached Canada, which had abolished slavery. Using a map of the US with a scale, choose a starting point in the south and plot a slave’s way to Canada. Remember, the path may not be straight because mountains, rivers and lakes bar the way. How many miles must he or she travel? Most slaves traveled this route on foot, so if you imagine they could walk an average of 15 miles/day, how long would it take to travel the route you have chosen?

The Underground Railroad was kept a secret out of necessity. The fewer people who knew about its operation, the safer fugitive slaves would be.

Since that time, stories have surfaced about “Freedom Quilts” and secret messages to tell runaways when it was safe, or give information on finding help. Though none of these stories have been proven, it is an interesting way to address the Underground Railroad.

Create Your Own Code

Hidden Messages and Folklore

Look at the provided quilt blocks. What could these mean to a fugitive slave?

Use this idea to design your own block and decide its meaning.

There were many different types of music on the plantation. Slaves would often use work songs to keep pace with one another in the fields. There were songs to express their sorrows and songs to lift their spirits. They adapted many Biblical ideas into spirituals that expressed their religious beliefs. Folklore also tells us that songs were used to lead slaves to the Underground Railroad and to freedom.

Slave music was influenced by the music of Africa. read about that music here:

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/era.cfm?eraID=6&smtid=6

Find out more about the music of slaves here:http://www.pbs.org/wnet/slavery/experience/education/feature.html

Music on the Plantation

Write your own song! Will you sing about something sad? Something that will lift your spirits? You can make up your own melody or use one you already know. Make your words and feelings fit the melody. Don’t worry about rhyming. When you are feeling blue, sing your own song!

Try It Yourself

“I have often been utterly astonished, since I came to the north, to find persons who could speak of the singing among slaves, as evidence of their

contentment and happiness. It is impossible to conceive of a greater mistake. Slaves sing most when they are most unhappy. The songs of the slave represent the sorrows of his heart; At least, such is my experience.”

- Frederick Douglass

More info? 304-561-3570 | www.theclaycenter.orgOne Clay Square, Charleston, WV 25301

To book a trip call 304-561-3562

Before the PerformanceRead the study guide.Turn off electronics and get ready for the show!

––

During the Performance Respect performers on the stage and clap in appropriate places.Watch for when one of the five performers changes characters. How do you know the performer is playing a different character?

–

–

After the PerformanceTalk with friends about what you thought about the treatment of Addison White.Discuss the way Addison was helped by Udney Hyde and his daughter Amanda.Imagine the difficulties of being a fugitive slave and what you would do.Tell someone else about the show!

–

–

–

–