On June 19, 1865 — 154 years ago Today — Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger and his Union soldiers "told enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, that the Civil War had ended and they were free."
A year later, newly freed slaves in Galveston began an annual celebration known as Juneteenth. That was the start of the "oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. . . . Celebrations include parades, concerts, and readings of the Emancipation Proclamation."
Today, Juneteenth is officially recognized as a holiday by 46 states and the District of Columbia.
Each weekday, Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day explores interesting and newsworthy topics at the intersection of culture, politics, and technology. Columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author. Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day is published by Ballotpedia weekdays at 9:00 a.m. Eastern. Columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.
Scott Rasmussen is founder and president of the Rasmussen Media Group. He is the author of "Mad as Hell: How the Tea Party Movement Is Fundamentally Remaking Our Two-Party System," "In Search of Self-Governance," and "The People’s Money: How Voters Will Balance the Budget and Eliminate the Federal Debt." Read more reports from Scott Rasmussen — Click Here Now.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.