Introduction
The rest of the research question suggests that the Juneteenth is still relevant to the society. The historical background for the establishment of Emancipation Day was the event that occurred on this day in 1862 when President Abraham Lincoln passed the law on the abolition of slavery (U.S. Government & U.S. Supreme Court, 2020). Texas became the first state to declare this June day a public holiday since 1890 (Miller & Tallie, 2021). This event has had enormous importance on the lives of many people in the U.S. Hence, this paper aims to view Juneteenth from a historical perspective that incorporates the economic, political, and societal aspects.
Economic View
In the era of tolerance and new ethics, it is no longer customary to remember that slave labor and trade have become the most essential component of the future well-being of the most considerable European powers. From the economic perspective, the slave trade was an exceptionally profitable and entirely legal business, legalized by European countries at the level of the regulatory framework. Given that the 18th century saw a boom in the development of the English economy, many historians find a direct link between this fact and the slave trade (U.S. Government & U.S. Supreme Court, 2020). As soon as slavery ceased to be economically profitable, the European empires remembered the principles of humanism and began to prohibit the slave trade.
Unlike the industrial North, the American South was almost entirely rural. The main agricultural product was cotton, which was exported. First of all, England, whose textile industry provided half the world with cotton fabrics (U.S. Government & U.S. Supreme Court, 2020). Slave labor was economically inefficient, and this became one of the central contradictions between the advanced North and the backward South, which led to the American Civil War as a result.
Political View
From a political perspective, slavery was a significant source of capitalistic society development. People in power could easily neglect the situation, for it provided them with financial benefits. Yet, it also waged war between the political figures fighting for the extended rights of individuals and those obsessed with money and authority. In the end, it led to the democratization of slavery conditions but did not eliminate slavery as a phenomenon until Lincoln came to rule.
Social View
Viewing the entire event from the social perspective, it can be said that Juneteenth is a contribution to the solidification of equality. For all the rhetoric about equal rights and condemnation of racism, for more than a hundred years after the abolition of slavery, black Americans received half as much as whites for the same job. This caused many riots leading to the Civil War, which was the turning point in the history of slavery (U.S. Government & U.S. Supreme Court, 2020). Since the day Lincoln proclaimed the elimination of slavery, people have experienced a gamut of feelings. Nonetheless, it was an immense investment in the future of the country’s prosperity.
Sources Comparison
The evolution of civil rights in the USA: Enduring the fight against racism with legislation majorly discloses the political and economic reasons for slavery development and its further abolition. This question is raised today because slavery is present now. The second one primarily focuses on the historical sequence of events in the 19th century and provides insights into the reason for numerous riots which are still seen today across the country (Miller & Tallie, 2021). In general, both sources contribute to the idea that Juneteenth is still relevant to society. Thus, it is celebrated every year to remember the hard times and strive for a better future.
Conclusion
In summary, June 19 is an immaculate example of how a social movement allows the population to get the upper hand over their past and benefit from it. Considering the nature of slaveholders, it was almost impossible to get rid of slavery, yet the courageous individuals’ attempts inspired Lincoln to impact the situation. The suggested evidence viewed through the historical lens demonstrates that the issue is relevant for the modern generation. Economic, political, and social points of view prove that the continuation of slavery could have brought enormous damage to the country’s well-being.
References
Miller, C., & Tallie, T.J. (2021, June 22). A Juneteenth dilemma: Freedom and self-determination.
The Newsmagazine of the American Historical Association. Web.
U.S. Government, & U.S. Supreme Court. (2020). The evolution of civil rights in USA: Enduring fight against racism with legislation. E-artnow.