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What happened on January 1st?
Millions of American slaves were declared free
Matthew Jones
January 01, 2025
1863 Lincoln Issues the Emancipation Proclamation
On January 1, 1863, US President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, a monumental document that declared freedom for slaves in Confederate states. While it did not immediately free all enslaved individuals, it redefined the Civil War as a fight against slavery and paved the way for abolition across the United States.
This 1863 painting by David Gilmour Blythe depicts Abraham Lincoln writing the Emancipation Proclamation.
🗞️Today’s Headlines
Everything important that’s ever happened on January 1:
2011 ─ The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) debuted on television.
2002 ─ The euro became the official currency in much of Europe and unified the region economically.
1995 ─ The World Trade Organization was formally established to shape global trade policies.
1994 ─ The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into effect and fostered economic ties between the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
1959 ─ Dictator Fulgencio Batista fled Cuba after rebel forces led by Fidel Castro toppled his regime.
1808 ─ The Act Prohibiting the Importation of Slaves went into effect and marked the slave trade illegal in the United States.
🎂 Today’s Birthdays
On January 1, we’re singing to:
Lorenzo de’ Medici (1449) ─ Italian statesman and patron of the arts instrumental in the Renaissance.
Paul Revere (1735) ─ American silversmith and patriot famed for his midnight ride during the American Revolution.
🪦Who Died Today?
On January 1, we’re saying goodbye to:
Arthur Middleton (1787) ─ American statesman and signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Hank Williams (1953) ─ Influential musician and songwriter considered one of the pioneers of country music.
Grace Hopper (1992) ─ US naval officer and mathematician known for her groundbreaking work in computer programming.
How Am I Doing?
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