Historians don't know exactly how many people worked for the Underground Railroad. Whicl of the following factors would make it hard for historians to estimate the number of members? Select all that apply. There were too many workers to count, since nearly all Northerners were members. There weren't many lists of members, since lists could help slave-catchers find escapees. Helping enslaved people escape was illegal, so members wanted to hide their involvement. Almost all records from life in the 1800 s have been destroyed over time.
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Historians face a significant challenge when trying to estimate the number of members of the Underground Railroad because the operation was largely clandestine. Many members kept their identities secret to avoid persecution, as involvement in aiding escapees was illegal and could lead to severe consequences. Additionally, many records were deliberately not kept to protect the escapees and avoid detection by slave-catchers, creating a frustrating puzzle for researchers. Another layer of complexity comes from the fact that numerous individuals, often ordinary citizens, contributed in various ways. Some provided shelter, while others assisted with transportation, making it difficult to track who was involved. With so many people engaged in different capacities and without formal documentation, the actual number of participants remains elusive and intriguing to historians eager to explore this pivotal chapter in American history.