Juneteenth is a significant holiday in the United States that marks the end of slavery. On June 19th, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and declared that all enslaved people were free.
Even though the Emancipation Proclamation was issued two and a half years earlier, many enslaved people in Texas were unaware of their freedom until Granger's announcement.
African Americans across the country celebrate this holiday, also known as Freedom Day or Jubilee Day, with parades, picnics, and other festivities. In 2021, Juneteenth was recognized as a federal holiday.
Juneteenth History
On the eve of January 1, 1863, known as "Freedom's Eve," the first Watch Night services were held. Enslaved and free African Americans gathered in churches and homes across the United States, hoping to hear that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken action. At midnight, the prayers were answered as all enslaved people in the Confederate States were declared legally free. Union soldiers, including many black soldiers, spread the news of freedom by reading small copies of the Emancipation Proclamation on plantations and in cities throughout the South.
It was through the Thirteenth Amendment did emancipation end slavery throughout the United States.
The Thirteenth Amendment played a pivotal role in the abolition of slavery in the United States. However, due to its ineffectiveness in Confederate-controlled areas, the Emancipation Proclamation did not lead to the immediate freedom of enslaved individuals in Texas. It is essential to note that the implementation of the Emancipation Proclamation faced significant challenges, and not all individuals in Confederate territory were granted their freedom right away.
Despite being put into effect in 1863, the proclamation's execution was problematic.
In spite of Confederate control over certain regions, the enslaved individuals in Texas were granted their freedom on June 19, 1865, marking a pivotal moment in history. The arrival of 2,000 Union troops in Galveston Bay, Texas, allowed for the announcement of their freedom through executive decree, ultimately granting freedom to 250,000 black people in Texas. Subsequently, this day has been celebrated as "Juneteenth" by the newly emancipated individuals in Texas ever since places were still under Confederate control. As a result, in the westernmost Confederate state of Texas, enslaved people would not be free until much later.
June 19, 1865, marked a significant moment in history 250,000 black people who were enslaved in Texas finally gained their freedom. This was possible due to the arrival of 2,000 Union troops in Galveston Bay, Texas, who announced their freedom through executive decree. Since then, the newly freed people in Texas have celebrated this day as "Juneteenth."
Resources to learn more
Juneteenth Digital Toolkit by the National Museum of African American History & Culture
Juneteenth: Connecting the Historic to the Now
