Juneteenth Explained

Juneteenth, a combination of June and 19th, marks the anniversary of the last enslaved people being freed in the U.S. The election of Abraham Lincoln led to the Civil War, as Southern states feared the abolition of slavery. Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation declared freedom for enslaved people in Confederate territories, but enforcement was delayed in Texas. The Civil War ended in April 1865, and on June 19th, Major General Gordon Granger enforced emancipation in Texas. Juneteenth was celebrated in Texas and later became a national holiday in 2021, honoring the resilience of Black Americans and the abolition of slavery.

What event marked a turning point for the United States, leading to the secession of Southern states?

• The discovery of gold in California

• The start of the Industrial Revolution

• The election of Abraham Lincoln as president

• The signing of the Declaration of Independence

What was the main purpose of the Emancipation Proclamation?

• To declare war on the Confederacy

• To grant freedom to all enslaved people in Confederate territory

• To establish a new government in the South

• To negotiate peace with the Confederacy

Why did it take two years for the news of freedom to reach the enslaved population in Texas?

• The Union troops were delayed by weather conditions

• The Confederate states had better communication systems

• The news was intentionally withheld by the Union

• There were not enough Union troops to enforce the proclamation

When was Juneteenth finally recognized as a national holiday?

• 1865

• 1920

• 1980

• 2021

What does Juneteenth primarily honor?

• The signing of the Declaration of Independence

• The beginning of the Civil Rights Movement

• The resilience of black Americans and the achievement of abolition

• The end of the Civil War