“Juneteenth” became a federal holiday this year “commemorating the emancipation of slaves,” honoring the date in 1865 in which General Order No. 3 by Union Major General Gordon Granger proclaimed freedom for slaves in Texas. However, the claim that this is the date on which all slaves became free is historically inaccurate. Slavery still existed in the country months after June 19, 1865. It wasn’t until the ratification of the 13th Amendment on Dec. 6, 1865, that slavery was finally abolished.

“In the first place, I insist that our fathers did not make this nation half slave and half free, or part slave and part free. I insist that they found the institution of slavery existing here. They did not make it so, but they left it so because they knew of no way to get rid of it at that time,” Lincoln said in 1858 at a debate with Stephen Douglas.