In 1860 and 1861, several states in the South separated from the United States. They wanted to maintain the practice of enslaving others. The Northern states wanted to abolish the practice. This was one of the reasons the American Civil War started.
On January 1, 1863, Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Emancipation means “freedom.” By signing this document, Abraham Lincoln was setting the enslaved people free.
In April, 1865, the Civil War ended with the Northern states’ victory. But many of the enslaved people in the South did not know about the Emancipation Proclamation. On June 19, 1865, Northern soldiers gathered crowds in Galveston, Texas. They told them that the enslaved people in Texas were free. The people in Texas were among the last in the country to find out.
People combined June 19th to create the name of the day—Juneteenth. It’s also known as Freedom Day. In 1980, Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth a state holiday. People celebrate with community gatherings, cookouts, parades, and festivals.
What Do You Think? Why is Juneteenth an important holiday?
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