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where to find the businesses and merchants that
catered to the needs of African-Americans.
Thanks BlackFrederick.com!"
- B Patterson
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Just The Facts
By BlackFrederick.com History Cove Editor Joy Onley
Published July 01, 2008
On July 4, 1776, American leaders got together and declared their freedom from England. They cited
their reasons on a famous paper called the Declaration of Independence. This important paper
stated that all people had the right to be free. The Revolutionary War being waged at this time was the
American colonists fight for freedom from England. Finally, in 1783, peace and independence came
to the Patriots and the United States of America was born.
Fast forward to 1861 when for a long while President Lincoln believed he had no legal right to free the
slaves. He did not intend to interfere with slavery where it already existed. His priority was to save the
Union. After the Civil War broke out on April 12, 1861, Lincoln waged war against the Confederate
states to restore the Union, not to put an end to slavery.
President Abraham Lincoln urged the loyal slave–holding states to free their slaves and promised
them grants of money if they would do so. They refused. So, on July 22, 1862, Lincoln called the
members of his cabinet together and read them a proclamation of independence that he had written
declaring that any slave residing in a confederate state would be free. They decided to put the
document aside and await a true victory during this war. On September 17, 1862, at the battle of
Antietam, Union General George McClellan stopped confederate General Robert E. Lee’s invasion of
the North.
This battle was not a clear cut victory but it was good enough for President Lincoln’s purpose. That
same day the Proclamation of Emancipation was given to the country and this became the turning
point of the Civil War. That same year, slavery became illegal in the U.S. with the ratification of the
13th amendment to the constitution.
Fast forward again to Galveston Texas in June of 1865, when the last group of slaves found out that
they were free. The observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation day spread
across the U.S. Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of
slavery in the United States.
As we participate in the celebrations on this Fourth of July, ask yourself - - - Is this a true holiday for
all Americans? Keep the facts in mind and you be the judge.
Have Fun!
Joy
By BlackFrederick.com History Cove Editor Joy Onley
Published July 01, 2008
On July 4, 1776, American leaders got together and declared their freedom from England. They cited
their reasons on a famous paper called the Declaration of Independence. This important paper
stated that all people had the right to be free. The Revolutionary War being waged at this time was the
American colonists fight for freedom from England. Finally, in 1783, peace and independence came
to the Patriots and the United States of America was born.
Fast forward to 1861 when for a long while President Lincoln believed he had no legal right to free the
slaves. He did not intend to interfere with slavery where it already existed. His priority was to save the
Union. After the Civil War broke out on April 12, 1861, Lincoln waged war against the Confederate
states to restore the Union, not to put an end to slavery.
President Abraham Lincoln urged the loyal slave–holding states to free their slaves and promised
them grants of money if they would do so. They refused. So, on July 22, 1862, Lincoln called the
members of his cabinet together and read them a proclamation of independence that he had written
declaring that any slave residing in a confederate state would be free. They decided to put the
document aside and await a true victory during this war. On September 17, 1862, at the battle of
Antietam, Union General George McClellan stopped confederate General Robert E. Lee’s invasion of
the North.
This battle was not a clear cut victory but it was good enough for President Lincoln’s purpose. That
same day the Proclamation of Emancipation was given to the country and this became the turning
point of the Civil War. That same year, slavery became illegal in the U.S. with the ratification of the
13th amendment to the constitution.
Fast forward again to Galveston Texas in June of 1865, when the last group of slaves found out that
they were free. The observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation day spread
across the U.S. Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of
slavery in the United States.
As we participate in the celebrations on this Fourth of July, ask yourself - - - Is this a true holiday for
all Americans? Keep the facts in mind and you be the judge.
Have Fun!
Joy
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