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What is Juneteenth? Why it is called so

Last Updated : 27 Mar, 2024
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Answer: Juneteenth gets its name because it’s a combination of the words “June” and “nineteenth.” It celebrates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Texas were told they were free.

Juneteenth happened after the Civil War ended, even though it was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth is a special day for African Americans, marking the end of slavery in the United States.

Why did it take 2 years for Juneteenth?

It took 2 years for Juneteenth to happen because it took a long time for the news to spread back then. Even though President Lincoln said slaves were free in 1863, it took a while for people in Texas to find out. In fact, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865, that they heard the news. This delay happened because it was hard to communicate quickly, especially in big, faraway places like Texas.

Where was the first Juneteenth celebration?

The first Juneteenth celebration took place in Galveston, Texas. It happened on June 19, 1866, a year after Union General Gordon Granger announced the end of slavery in Texas on June 19, 1865. This celebration marked the anniversary of freedom for enslaved African Americans in Texas and has become a yearly tradition celebrated throughout the United States.


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