Juneteenth marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed.  In 2021, Juneteenth, also called Emancipation Day, was declared a federal U.S. holiday.  However, emancipation did not occur on the same day in every state   In fact, the 13th Amendment that officially ended the institution of slavery was ratified by 60% of the U.S. states on December 6,1865; however, the remaining 40% did not ratify the amendment on that day. Therefore, Emancipation Day is not uniform and is unique to every state and location.  In the spirit of liberty, however, many communities across the nation will celebrate Juneteenth on the 19th of this month whether they have a personal connection to Texas or not. Where do you and your family fit into this celebration?

This year, MPCPMP is providing the following information: the dates of Emancipation Days, when freedom is observed; the date when a state ratified the 13th Amendment; and the date when an individual state abolished slavery prior to the Civil War.

Emancipation Day

  • Florida – May 20
  • Georgia – Saturday closest to May 29
  • Kentucky and Tennessee – August 8
  • Maryland – November 1
  • Mississippi – May 8
  • Texas – June 18
  • Virginia – April 13
  • Washington, DC – April 16

Ratification of the 13th Amendment

  • Illinois – February 1, 1865
  • Rhode Island – February 2, 1865
  • Maryland – February 3, 1865
  • Michigan – February 3, 1865
  • New York – February 3, 1865
  • Pennsylvania – February 3, 1865
  • West Virginia – February 3, 1865
  • Missouri – February 6, 1865
  • Maine – February 7, 1865
  • Kansas – February 7, 1865
  • Massachusetts – February 7, 1865
  • Virginia – February 9, 1865
  • Ohio – February 10, 1865
  • Indiana – February 13, 1865
  • Nevada – February 16, 1865
  • Louisiana – February 17, 1865
  • Minnesota – February 23, 1865
  • Wisconsin – February 24, 1865
  • Vermont – March 9, 1865
  • Tennessee – April 7, 1865
  • Arkansas – April 14, 1865
  • Connecticut – May 4, 1865
  • New Hampshire – July 1, 1865
  • South Carolina – November 13, 1865
  • Alabama – December 2, 1865
  • North Carolina – December 4, 1865
  • Georgia – December 6, 1865
  • Oregon – December 8, 1865
  • California – December 19, 1865
  • Florida – December 28, 1865
  • Iowa – January 15, 1866
  • New Jersey – January 23, 1866
  • Texas – February 18, 1870
  • Delaware – February 12, 1901
  • Kentucky – March 18, 1976
  • Mississippi – March 16, 1995 and certified February 7, 2013

States that Abolished Slavery prior to Civil War – Free States

  • Vermont -1777
  • Pennsylvania – 1780
  • Massachusetts and New Hampshire – 1783
  • Connecticut and Rhode Island – 1784
  • Ohio – 1803
  • Indiana – 1816
  • Illinois – 1818
  • Maine – 1820
  • Michigan – 1837
  • Iowa – 1846
  • Wisconsin – 1848
  • Minnesota – 1858

Photo Credits: Dallas Historical Society dallashistory.org