US Holidays - National Freedom Day

The United States celebrates National Freedom Day on February 1st every year In 1865, the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, signed a congressional resolution that promised to end slavery, the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America The meaning of the amendment was that from the moment it was signed on the territory of the United States, slavery as a phenomenon should have disappeared The amendment itself was given legal force in December 1865, and National Freedom Day itself was celebrated for the first time in the United States on February 1, 1942 National Freedom Day was not officially declared until 1948 by President Truman It is worth saying that during the vote against the slave laws, two-thirds of the Senate voted for their abolition, the rest chose to maintain old traditions and not abolish slavery One of the important roles in this story was played by Richard R Wright Sr, an officer, a defender of the rights of citizens, a former slave, who believed that it was necessary to set aside a day in the year on which Americans would honor freedom It was he who proposed organizing a movement in support of the future holiday The National Liberty Association, which eventually formed, proposed a single commemoration to bring public attention to the struggle for African American freedom that continues today All 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, celebrate National Freedom Day The holiday is not a national holiday; there are no days off on this day Americans have their own traditions, for example, on this day they place flowers with honor at the Liberty Bell, which is located in Philadelphia and is a symbol of independence and freedom in the United States According to the stories of city residents, this bell was the first to announce certain important news with its ringing Also on February 1, many events take place, such as exhibitions, concerts and film screenings on the theme of freedom