Overview
This lecture traces the end of slavery in the United States, the process of emancipation, the origins of Juneteenth, and the ongoing impact of racial inequality.
Life Under Slavery
- Charlotte Brooks was enslaved on William Neyland’s Texas plantation and learned of abolition by overhearing a secret.
- Enslavers like Neyland hid the news of emancipation to maintain control over enslaved people.
- Enslaved people resisted oppression through escape, sabotage, and rebellion.
Legislative and Political Steps Toward Abolition
- Slavery existed for over two centuries in the US, shaping its economy and leadership.
- Vermont and Massachusetts abolished slavery during the American Revolution.
- The US banned the import of enslaved Africans in 1808, but domestic slave trade continued.
- By 1860, 4 million people were enslaved when Abraham Lincoln was elected president.
The Civil War and Emancipation
- Southern states seceded and formed the Confederacy to protect slavery, starting the Civil War.
- Lincoln freed more than 3,000 enslaved people in Washington, D.C., in 1862.
- The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 promised freedom in Confederate states but not in Union border states.
- Actual emancipation depended on Union control; many enslaved people remained in bondage longer.
The 13th Amendment and Final Emancipation
- The 13th Amendment, passed on January 31, 1865, outlawed slavery except as punishment for crime.
- The Civil War ended in April 1865, but slavery persisted in some Southern and border states.
- Union General Granger announced emancipation in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865 (Juneteenth).
- The 13th Amendment was ratified on December 6, 1865, formally ending chattel slavery in the US.
Juneteenth and Its Legacy
- Juneteenth marks the announcement of freedom to enslaved people in Texas on June 19, 1865.
- Juneteenth celebrations spread and grew into the most widespread emancipation commemoration.
- Official recognition as a federal holiday came in 2021.
- Juneteenth symbolizes both the end of slavery and the ongoing struggle for racial equality.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Chattel slavery — System where people are treated as property to be bought, sold, and inherited.
- Emancipation Proclamation — 1863 order by Lincoln freeing slaves in Confederate states.
- 13th Amendment — Constitutional amendment abolishing slavery in the US, ratified in 1865.
- Juneteenth — June 19th holiday commemorating the announcement of emancipation in Texas.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review major abolition milestones and the timeline of emancipation.
- Reflect on the ongoing significance of Juneteenth and racial equality.