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Freedom Days: Commemorating the Ongoing Struggle for Freedom

Zoe Green

Zoe Green

8 min read

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Study Guide Overview

This study guide covers the end of legal enslavement in the United States, focusing on the Emancipation Proclamation, Thirteenth Amendment, and slavery in Indigenous nations. It explores the significance of Juneteenth, including its origins in Texas, General Order No. 3, and its evolution as a Freedom Day and federal holiday. The guide also provides practice questions and exam tips for the AP African American Studies exam.

AP African American Studies: Freedom Days Study Guide ✊🏾

Hey! Let's get you prepped for the AP exam with this super-focused guide. We're diving into Freedom Days, especially Juneteenth, and how they connect to the bigger picture of African American history. Think of this as your cheat sheet for tonight! Let's do this!

Key Concept

Emancipation Proclamation and Thirteenth Amendment

  • Emancipation Proclamation (1863):

    • Issued by Lincoln as a wartime measure. πŸ’‘
    • Freed enslaved people in Confederate states still in rebellion.
    • Didn't apply to border states (Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware) that remained in the Union.
  • Thirteenth Amendment (1865):

    • Permanently abolished slavery in the entire U.S. (except as punishment for a crime).
    • Freed four million African Americans, a huge chunk of the South's population.
    • A major first step toward freedom, but not the end of the struggle.
  • Important Note:

    • The Thirteenth Amendment did not address the nearly 10,000 African Americans enslaved by Indigenous nations.
Memory Aid

Think of the Emancipation Proclamation as a limited release movie (only in some states), and the Thirteenth Amendment as the wide release (everywhere in the US).

Slavery in Indigenous Nations

  • "Five Civilized Tribes": Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole nations practiced slavery.
    • These nations adopted some European customs, including slavery, which led to this name.
  • 1866 Treaties: U.S. government negotiated to end slavery in Indian Territory.
    • However, freed African Americans were not granted tribal citizenship. πŸ™
    • This created a complex situation for both African Americans and Indigenous peoples.
Quick Fact

The term "Five Civilized Tribes" is ironic, as it was used by white Americans to describe Native American nations who adopted European customs, including the inhumane practice of slavery.

Significance of Juneteenth

Juneteenth Origins in Texas

  • June 19, 1865: Union General Gordon Granger read General Order No. 3 in Galveston, Texas.
    • Informed enslaved people in Texas they were free. πŸŽ‰
    • Texas was the last Confederate state to get the news.
  • General Order No. 3:
    • First document to mention racial equality thro...

Question 1 of 13

Which of these documents freed enslaved people in Confederate states still in rebellion? πŸ€”

The Thirteenth Amendment

The Emancipation Proclamation

General Order No. 3

The Treaty of 1866