The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth

The Juneteenth Celebration commemorates one of the most momentous events in American History...

...the emancipation of the last enslaved African Americans held in bondage in the Confederate States. 

Months later, with the ratification of the 13th Amendment, slavery was declared illegal in the nation.

On “Freedom’s Eve” or the eve of January 1, 1863, the first Watch Night services took place. 

On that night, enslaved and free African Americans gathered in churches and private homes all across the country awaiting news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect.

At the stroke of midnight, prayers were answered...

...as all enslaved people in the Confederate States were declared legally free.

Even though the Emancipation Proclamation was made effective in 1863, Confederate states, as seen in gray on this map, refused to implement the federal legislation. It took the war to secure freedom.

Texas was the westernmost Confederate state and the last to surrender.  This meant that African Americans enslaved in Texas did not gain their freedom until almost two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect. 

On June 19, 1865 that changed, when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, TX were notified by the arrival of some 2,000 Union troops under the command of Gen. Gordon Granger, that they...

...along with the more than 250,000 other enslaved black people in the state, were free by executive decree.

The post-emancipation period known as Reconstruction (1865-1877) marked an era of great hope, uncertainty, and struggle for the nation as a whole. 

Formerly enslaved people immediately sought to reunify families...

...establish schools...

...run for political office...

...push radical legislation, and even sue slaveholders for compensation. 

This was nothing short of amazing! Not even a generation out of enslavement, African Americans were inspired and empowered to completely transform their lives and their country.

First held in 1867 in Austin, and seen here in 1900 in Galveston, the Juneteenth celebration became a state holiday in Texas in 1980. Many states soon followed. 

The tradition and ​the historical legacy of Juneteenth shows the value of never giving up hope in uncertain times. 

In 2019, through the tireless efforts of community leaders, Juneteenth became a state holiday in Pennsylvania; now one of 47 states and the District of Columbia that recognize Juneteenth as a holiday.

Gov. Wolf declared, "While Independence Day marks the conception of a free nation, Juneteenth is a celebration of the fulfillment of this ideal through the Emancipation Proclamation."