Both the terms are related to the United States. And before the differences between both the terms, they are not of the same kind. Juneteenth is a federal holiday of the United States, also known as Black Independence Day. On the other hand, Emancipation Proclamation is an order issued by the United States President Abraham Lincoln.
On 22nd September 1862 Emancipation Proclamation changed the lives of African-American slaves. About 3.5 million slaves were enslaved to free with this order. Juneteenth is celebrated on June 19th Annually to commemorate the Emancipation of African-American slaves.
Juneteenth vs Emancipation Proclamation
The main difference between Juneteenth and Emancipation Proclamation is Juneteenth is a federal holiday and Emancipation Proclamation is an executive order. Both the terms are related, but not of the same kind.
Juneteenth, officially Juneteenth National Independence Day is also celebrated to observe the African-American culture. Initially started from Texas, has been celebrating on 19th June since1865.
Emancipation Proclamation is an executive order by Abraham Lincoln on 22nd September 1862. This law freed the African-American slaves of southern states of the United States. This order was made into federal law on 1st January 1863 which assures equal status to the African- American slaves.
Comparison Table Between Juneteenth and Emancipation Proclamation
| Parameters of Comparison | Juneteenth | Emancipation Proclamation |
| Kind | Juneteenth is a National Day for the United States, recognized as a federal holiday. Also known as Emancipation Day. | Emancipation Proclamation is an executive order issued by the President of the United States. |
| Issued by President | Juneteenth was recognized as a federal holiday by President Joe Biden on 17th June 2021. | Emancipation Proclamation was made into law by President Abraham Lincoln on 1st January 1863. |
| Celebrated on | Juneteenth is celebrated on 19th June annually in different of United States. | It’s an executive order. Issued on 22nd September during Civil War. |
| Reason | Commemorated as a token of freedom from slavery. | To terminate the Civil War by the rebellions in southern states. |
| Also known as | Jubilee Day, Black Independence Day. | Proclamation 95. |
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is a holiday celebrated on June 19th, to commemorate the Emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S. A group of African Americans in Galveston, Texas received the news that they indeed were free. President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.
But the news of the end of slavery in Texas had not traveled to this community until 1865. Since then Juneteenth has been a day of commemoration of the struggle against slavery and a celebration of freedom.
One of the biggest misconceptions of Juneteenth is people think that slavery was abolished on this day. But in fact, the 13th amendment which ended slavery was passed in the Senate on April 8th, 1864. And passed in the house on January 31st, 1865.
After the end of slavery in the American continent, Juneteenth is celebrated annually to remember the incredible struggle of people against slavery. The celebration of Juneteenth moved from being a Texas-Based celebration to a National one in which people gathered with families and friends and community.
What is Emancipation Proclamation?
Before jumping on to the Emancipation Proclamation, The Battle of Antietam near Sharpsburg, Maryland, on 17th September 1862, marked a turning point in the civil war of color. President Abraham Lincoln gave an ultimatum to the south to re-join the union by the end of the year or have their slaves emancipated.
Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation came into force on January 1st, 1863. The proclamation freed all the slaves living in the confederate states not yet under Union control. The Emancipation Proclamation did not free all the slaves in the United States, which mean it did not bring an end to slavery.
It did not extend the border states of Delaware and Kentucky. The Proclamation also did not extend to areas of the South that were already under Union control. Despite these limitations, The Emancipation Proclamation had a sweeping impact on the Civil War.
The Emancipation Proclamation allowed for the recruitment of Black soldiers into the Union army. The additional manpower provided by the 1,80,000 African Americans who joined between 1863 and the end of the war helped to secure a Union victory.
Main Differences Between Juneteenth and Emancipation Proclamation.
- Juneteenth is a federal holiday of the United States, as the enslaved African Americans are set to free. But Emancipation Proclamation is an executive order by American President Abraham Lincoln, which makes African American slaves free from slavery.
- And the date of celebration of Juneteenth is 19th June annually. It is celebrated on 19th June 1865 for the first time. Emancipation Proclamation is not celebrated annually or not celebrated on the day when it was made. It is an order, issued on January 1st, 1863.
- June 19th, 1865, on which Union Army General Gordon Granger, announced the Juneteenth proclaiming the freedom for slaves of Texas. Whereas Emancipation Proclamation was made by American President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War of Colour.
- The reason behind celebrating Juneteenth is Emancipation Proclamation, as the President passes the order on January 1st, 1865 which gives freedom to African American slaves who took almost 2 years to reach the slaves in the South, and that’s the reason they celebrated this Juneteenth on 19th June 1865.
- Juneteenth is also known as Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, Jubilee Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day(for African American slaves), Black Independence Day. Emancipation Proclamation is also known as Emancipation 95.
- Juneteenth is celebrated annually on 19th June. It’s recognized as a federal holiday on June 17th,2021 by U.S President Joe Biden. President signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. Emancipation Proclamation, by President Abraham Lincoln officially outlawed slavery in Texas and the South.
Conclusion
Juneteenth is a federal holiday on June 19th which is celebrated to commemorate the end of slavery. Emancipation Proclamation is an executive order to outlaw slavery in the South.
Reference
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=-vcuArL5k2UC&oi=fnd&pg=PP6&dq=difference+between+juneteenth+and+emancipation+proclamation&ots=qnHnAYlCWs&sig=EeBCmoLVvn1h5McT3fHQ132DL-M
- https://oxfordre.com/americanhistory/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199329175.001.0001/acrefore-9780199329175-e-840