Juneteenth
Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, announcing that all enslaved people were free - more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.
View Teaching Bundle →
What Was the Juneteenth?
Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, announcing that all enslaved people were free - more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.
On June 19, 1865, something extraordinary happened in Galveston, Texas. Union General Gordon Granger arrived with about 2,000 federal troops and read aloud General Order No. 3, announcing that all enslaved people in Texas were free. This moment came more than two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Texas was the most remote of the slave states, far from the main battlefields of the Civil War, and many enslavers there had kept the news of freedom from the approximately 250,000 enslaved people in the state. When General Granger's announcement finally reached them, the joy was beyond words. People laughed, cried, sang, and prayed. They hugged their families and celebrated the beginning of new lives. The very next year, in 1866, formerly enslaved people in Texas organized the first Juneteenth celebrations. Originally called "Jubilee Day," these gatherings featured music, prayer, feasting, and readings of the Emancipation Proclamation. Families wore their finest clothes and gathered in parks, churches, and open fields. Over the decades, Juneteenth celebrations spread from Texas across the country as Black families migrated to new cities and brought this cherished tradition with them. On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed a law making Juneteenth a federal holiday — the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established in 1983. Today, Juneteenth is celebrated nationwide with parades, cookouts, concerts, and community gatherings. It is a day to honor the strength of those who endured slavery and to celebrate the freedom that belongs to all Americans.
Timeline
Watch and Learn
Did You Know?
The News Took Over Two Years to Arrive
President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, but enslaved people in Texas did not learn they were free until June 19, 1865 — nearly two and a half years later. Texas was the most remote slave state, far from Union forces.
About 250,000 People Were Freed in Texas
When General Granger read General Order No. 3 in Galveston, approximately 250,000 enslaved people in Texas were affected. Many enslavers had deliberately kept the news of the Emancipation Proclamation from them.
Juneteenth Was Originally Called 'Jubilee Day'
The first celebrations in 1866 were called Jubilee Day. The name Juneteenth — a combination of the words June and nineteenth — became the most popular name over time as celebrations spread across the country.
Formerly Enslaved People Bought Their Own Celebration Land
In 1872, a group of formerly enslaved men in Houston, Texas, pooled their resources and purchased ten acres of land called Emancipation Park specifically for Juneteenth celebrations. The park still exists and is used today.
It Became a Federal Holiday in 2021
On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, making June 19 a federal holiday. It was the first new federal holiday established since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.
Key Figures Involved
The people who played a role in this event.
Harriet Tubman
March 1822–1913
Escaped enslaved woman who became the most famous conductor on the Underground Railroad, leading over 70 people to freedom.
Frederick Douglass
February 1818–1895
Escaped slavery to become one of the most powerful voices against slavery in American history through his writing and speeches.
Related Events
Other landmark events connected to this moment in history.
January 1, 1863
Emancipation Proclamation
President Abraham Lincoln issued an executive order declaring enslaved people in Confederate states to be forever free, transforming the Civil War into a fight for human freedom.
December 6, 1865
Ratification of the 13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, permanently abolishing slavery throughout the United States and ending centuries of forced labor.
Want to teach this event? We've done the work for you.
Juneteenth Complete Teaching Bundle
Lesson Plan
Comprehensive lesson plan covering the full event with learning objectives, activities, and assessment.
Student Workbook
Interactive workbook with reading passages, timeline activities, primary source analysis, and a quiz.
Flashcard Set
40 cards covering vocabulary, key facts, people, causes, effects, and review challenges.
Instant digital download · Printable PDF · Grades 4–8 · Verified accurate
Here's a peek inside...
📖 Lesson Plan
📝 Student Workbook
Read the passage about Juneteenth and answer the questions below.
🃏 Flashcard Set - Click to Flip!
Click the card to flip it
Get a Free Sample
Try before you buy! Enter your email to receive a free sampler with flashcards, activities, and a lesson plan excerpt. No spam, just history.