Juneteenth History Quiz
In which town did Major General Gordon Granger of the Union army inform slaves that they were emancipated, on June 19, 1865?
- Our modern Juneteenth celebrations honor this event, with the first announcement of the abolishment of slavery.
Though President Abraham Lincoln did order slavery to be abolished in rebel Southern states, which two Union states continued to keep slaves until the Consitution outlawed it?
- Until the final 1865 declaration that officially ended slavery, these two border Union states actually continued to have enslaved individuals.
What is the numerical portmanteau origin of the "teenth" in Juneteenth?
- Juneteenth is called thus because of the combination of June and 19th, the date of abolition's first announcement.
What is another name for Juneteenth?
- Officially known as Juneteenth National Independence Day, this event can also be called Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, or historically, Jubilee Day.
What are the colors of Juneteenth?
- These colors are important because they represent the blood, the soil, and the prosperity of Africa and the African people.
What was the name of the Amendment that officially abolished slavery in the US under constitutional ruling?
- A quote from the 13th Amendment reads: "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."
Just before slavery was officially abolished, approximately how many slaves were in the US in the 1860s?
- With about 4.4 million Black people dwelling in the United States prior to the Civil War and abolition, nearly 90% of that population existed in enslavement.
What was the year that finally made Juneteenth an official federal holiday?
- On June 17, 2021, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was passed by Congress, offically making Juneteenth a federal holiday.
Which state was the first to recognize Juneteenth as an important holiday?
- Texas made Juneteenth a state holiday with a bill on January 1, 1980, being the first state to do so.
Who was the politician to introduce legislation to the House of Representatives that would recognize Juneteenth?
- Collins was the first Black woman to be elected to Congress from Michigan, and proposed the H.J. Res. 195 bill in 1996, pushing through joint Senate resolutions.
