4. Juneteenth

"Reading the Emancipation Proclamation," Hartford, Connecticut, 1864. (The Gilder Lehrman Institute, GLC07595)Juneteenth (June 19) commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War was over and that enslaved people were free. While the day has been celebrated ever since, it was only recognized as a federal holiday in 2021.

Video

A Conversation with Annette Gordon-Reed moderated by Edward Ayers about her book On Juneteenth

Spotlights on Primary Sources

Gilder Lehrman curators explain and explore documents from the Gilder Lehrman Collection.

Historical Documents in the Gilder Lehrman Collection

Honoring Juneteenth with Documents from the Gilder Lehrman Collection featuring

Lesson Plans

  • “Juneteenth and Emancipation”: Students analyze primary source documents that convey the realities of slavery in the United States, represent various viewpoints on emancipation, and provide context for the federal holiday of Juneteenth.