By Cara Beth Lewis
On February 1st, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Amendment outlawing slavery. National Freedom Day represents freedom from slavery and American liberty on February 1st each year.
In 1863, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation declaring, “all persons held as slaves within any State, or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free,” However, this proclamation did not magically end slavery. In order for slavery to come to an end, an amendment had to be made to the constitution – and so came the 13th amendment.
The 13th Amendment states: “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.”
Read more about the 13th amendment here.
National Freedom Day was created by a former slave, by the name of Major Richard Robert Wright, Sr. President Harry S. Truman signed a bill proclaiming February 1st as National Freedom Day in June of 1948.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NATIONALFREEDOMDAY (from National Day Calendar)
- Reflect on the freedoms found in the United States.
- Attend a National Freedom Day ceremony.
- Read about or watch a documentary about the 13th Amendment.
- Visit an art gallery or museum displaying pieces inspired by the 13th Amendment.
- Attend a forum or lecture to discuss the 13th Amendment and its impact, then and now.
- Read the 13th Amendment in its entirety.
- Teach someone about the 13th Amendment.
- Write about or discuss the 13th Amendment in a social media post, broadcast, or article.
- Use #NationalFreedomDay to post on social media.
Read President Truman’s proclamation here.
In the words of America’s Library (americaslibrary.gov), “The purpose of this holiday is to promote good feelings, harmony, and equal opportunity among all citizens and to remember that the United States is a nation dedicated to the ideal of freedom.”
Let freedom ring!
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