Juneteenth in a Nutshell

​

Juneteenth (or June 19th) marks the day in 1865 when the last slaves were freed in America. 

​

Many people believe that the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863 instantly freed every slave. However, this proclamation "only applied to places under Confederate control and not to slave-holding border states or rebel areas already under Union control".

​

On June 19, 1865, U.S. General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston and read aloud the federal order, freeing the last 250,000 slaves. 

​

Shortly after, Jubilee Day was formed. This day of celebration commemorated the day of freedom and eventually grew into Juneteenth as we know it today.

​

 

Nix, Elizabeth. “What Is Juneteenth?” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 19 June 2015, www.history.com/news/what-is-juneteenth.

​

​

​

​

​

​