Emancipation Day in Missouri is traditionally celebrated in Missouri in August in such communities as Boonville, Neosho, Clinton, Joplin and others. However, for whatever reas
…on, the Missouri legislature enacted legislation in 2003 recognizing "Emancipation Day" as June 19. This appears to be a legislative attempt to conflate the traditional Missouri celebration of Emancipation Day to Texas' celebration of its Juneteenth celebration. The "Juneteenth Celebration" originated in Texas in honor of their June 19, 1865, belated awareness of the end of the Civil War. General Granger brought this knowledge to them. The Civil War ended April 9, 1865, when Gen. Lee surrendered to General Grant. Missouri Emancipation Day may be rooted in one of several occurrences: 1. Gen. Fremont's unilateral declaration of Emancipation of freedom to all slaves in Missouri in August 1861, issued when he was the Union military commander of the Department of the West. This was later rescinded by President Lincoln, a few weeks later, due to alleged political concerns; 2. The Emancipation Proclamation issued January 1, 1863; 3. The Missouri Emancipation Act freeing slaves January 1, 1865; or, 4. The end of the Civil War, April 9, 1865. I lean toward Fremont's declaration, as it actually freed some slaves in 1861, and the August date is too coincidental. (MORE) 
