

This government search engine for state and local government websitesġ.If Juneteenth became a holiday in my state before the federal government made it into a law, what was that process like?.When did my state start recognizing Juneteenth?.How does my state recognize and celebrate Juneteenth?.Search for the history of Juneteenth in your community and state. Explore Juneteenth in your local community. At the end of the article in the “Juneteenth Today” section, Gates describes how Juneteenth has spread in modern day.What do you think were the most important factors in Juneteenth’s momentum and remembrance worth continuing? Compare and contrast what the BrainPop video included as reasons why Juneteenth struggled and endured with what Gates emphasizes. Gates describes several reasons why Juneteenth struggled to be remembered at times, and why it was able to endure.Why was June 19 chosen as the date to celebrate the freedom of all Americans? What were some of the drawbacks to other dates? Can you make an argument for why you think a different date might have been better or worse?.starting at the second section, “Other Contenders.” (10 minutes) After reading, discuss the following questions (5-10 minutes): Along with their groups, participants should read through the article “What is Juneteenth” by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.


On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger of the Union issued an order in Galveston, Texas, alerting all enslaved persons that they were legally free.Īt this point in 1865, Texas was the westernmost state in America and one of the last Confederate states to be occupied by the Union. 1865, when the 13th Amendment was passed, though Kentucky voted against ratifying the amendment.Ĭonfederate states and slaveholders also resisted emancipation, and many people remained enslaved in Confederate states after the proclamation, even as many enslaved people fought for their freedom or escaped behind Union lines. In fact, slavery was still legal in Kentucky until Dec. Source: PBS NewsHour via Associated Pressįor instance, the Emancipation Proclamation only freed those slaves held under the Confederacy, not in border states loyal to the Union, including Kentucky, West Virginia and Delaware, where slavery was still legal after the Emancipation Proclamation. 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation declaring “that all persons held as slaves” in the Confederacy “shall be free.” While this may have freed some enslaved people on paper, the reality was much more complicated. Still, many Americans are still unaware of the history and significance of June 19. On June 15, 2021, the Senate unanimously approved a bill approving June 19 as a federal holiday for “Juneteenth National Independence Day.” The House passed the bill one day later. Additionally, students will be encouraged to explore the modern significance of Juneteenth and its long-term impact. Topics explored will include the history of racial injustice in the U.S., the Civil War and the limitations of the Emancipation Proclamation. In this lesson, students will explore and discuss the history and context around the Juneteenth holiday in the United States. (Note: you will need to make a copy of the document to edit it). This lesson was originally published on Jand was updated on Jand June 2, 2023.įor a Google version of this lesson plan, click here.
