140th Anniversary Celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 140th Anniversary Celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation |
|
|---|---|
140th Anniversary Celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation logo
|
|
| Official name | 140th Anniversary Celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation |
| Observed by | People of the United States |
| Liturgical color | (White) |
| Type | Historical American |
| Significance | Spirit, strength and legacy of freedom, justice and equality for all people of America |
| Celebrations | Yearlong celebration and learning about the past to better understand the experiences that shaped the Nation |
| Date | January 1, 2003 |
| Frequency | once |
| Related to | Emancipation Proclamation Slavery in the United States |
The 140th Anniversary Celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation was a country-wide event. It aimed to celebrate and remember January 1, 2003. This date marked 140 years since the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. President Abraham Lincoln signed it on January 1, 1863.
Contents
Why We Celebrated This Anniversary
This special event to remember the Emancipation Proclamation happened after September 11, 2001. It was a chance for the country to come together and celebrate. The 140th anniversary showed how much the United States had grown. It was like a similar time in American history, right after the Civil War. As more people heard about the anniversary, Americans across the country joined in.
How People Celebrated Across the Nation
Many people helped get ready for this important anniversary. Sam Waterston, an actor from the TV show Law and Order, led volunteers. They worked to clean, paint, and fix up Lincoln's Cottage. This cottage is located at the Soldier's Home in Washington, D.C.
The Emancipation Proclamation was first read aloud in the South at the Emancipation Oak. This special tree is on the campus of Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia. Long ago, Mary S. Peake taught children of former slaves under this very tree. The Emancipation Oak itself helped inspire the 140th anniversary celebration. In 2004, this oak was named America's national tree.
The nearby city of Newport News, Virginia also held a "First Reading" event. They read the Emancipation Proclamation aloud. Actors dressed as slaves helped show the deep meaning of President Lincoln's act. This act gave freedom to many enslaved people. The event took place in the Newport News City Council chambers. The city's mayor, Joe Frank, also shared a statement about the importance of this year-long celebration.
The United States National Park Service also launched a special website. It was called the Network to Freedom. This website honors the Underground Railroad. It was launched to go along with the 140th anniversary.
Congressional Support for the Anniversary
Lawmakers in the United States Congress supported the 140th Anniversary Celebration. This support came from both major political parties. Danny K. Davis (a Democrat from IL) introduced the idea in the United States House of Representatives. It was called House Concurrent Resolution 36. In the United States Senate, Senator George Allen (a Republican from VA) supported it. His bill was Senate Concurrent Resolution 15.
What the Resolution Said
The final resolution passed by Congress stated:
Commemorating the 140th year anniversary of the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation.
Resolved by the Senate the House of Representatives concurring, that congress:
(1.) recognizes the historical significance of the 140th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation as an important period in our Nation's history; and
(2.) encourage its celebration in accordance with the spirit, strength, and legacy of freedom, justice, and equality for all people of America and to provide an opportunity for all people of the United States to learn more about the past and to better understand the experiences that have shaped the Nation.
Both parts of the United States Congress voted for this bill. It passed with everyone agreeing.
