Emancipation Day in the District of Columbia commemorates the ending of slavery in the nation’s capital on Apr 16, 1862.
On April 16, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act, which ended slavery in Washington, D.C. and freed over 3,000 enslaved individuals.
History:
- On Apr 16, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Compensated Emancipation Act, which freed over 3,100 enslaved people in the District of Columbia.
- The act was part of a broader effort by the Lincoln administration to end slavery in the United States.
- The following year, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory.
- Emancipation Day has been celebrated in the District of Columbia since 1866.
Celebrations:
- Emancipation Day is a public holiday in the District of Columbia.
- The day is typically celebrated with parades, festivals, and other events.
- The National Park Service also hosts a variety of programs and events to commemorate Emancipation Day.
Significance:
- Emancipation Day is a reminder of the struggle for freedom and equality in the United States.
- The day is also a time to celebrate the contributions of African Americans to the District of Columbia and the nation.
September 17, 1862:
- Battle of Antietam Prompts the Emancipation Proclamation and Ends Potential European Intervention in the Civil War.
District of Columbia Emancipation Act of 1862
Historians discussed the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act of April 16, 1862. The act freed about 3,100 slaves in the nation’s capital and compensated owners up to $300 for each former slave. The panel also talked about the influence the act had on the Emancipation Proclamation, which was issued eight months later on January 1, 1863. The National Archives hosted this 90-minute event on April 16, the annual Emancipation Day holiday in the District of Columbia.
