The Answer Is ZERO.

ow many slaves did Juneteenth (June 19, 1865) and the Emancipation Proclamation (January 1, 1863) free? ZERO. Not one. Lincoln’s proclamation only applied to those parts of the Confederacy where his army had military control. It didn’t free a single slave in Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri and West Virginia—all of which were northern states at the time—nor any in the South where the Union had no control or authority. To definitively end slavery, the United States had to amend its Constitution to outlaw the practice. The resulting Thirteenth Amendment was not ratified until December 6, 1865—almost six months after Juneteenth.

Why were we taught otherwise? Who would benefit from perverting the truth and propagating the lie in classrooms and textbooks across the country? What effect would it have on the culture today?

Join us in Appomattox September 1-4 at the Civil War Symposium as we dissect the history of the Civil War with three of the best teachers on the subject. You will be shocked at how much you thought you knew that was wrong, and how the truth can really set you free.

The best week of summer ever!!” —Emma & Titus H., 2024 Future of History Alumni