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Saturday Marks 150th Anniversary of Congress Outlawing U.S. Slavery

Posted by Sarah Davis on January 30, 2015

January 31st marks a monumental moment in the history of slavery in the United States. On that date 150 years ago, the House of Representatives passed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. It abolished legal slavery in the United States. Within eight months, the required three-quarters of the states ratified the amendment and it became law.

The 13th Amendment faced many challenges, but the poignant moment of its congressional passage was only the beginning of a long process to eradicate slavery read more >

12 Years a Slave: More than a History Lesson

Posted by Terry FitzPatrick on October 18, 2013

Millions of Americans will soon see the poignant story of a man who was ripped from his family in the 1800s and brutalized by a vicious slaveholder before finally breaking free. It’s important to remember that the events depicted in 12 Years a Slave are still happening today.

Slavery didn’t end with the Civil War or the Emancipation Proclamation. It was outlawed, but not ended. There are 21-30 million people trapped in various forms of modern slavery around the read more >

FTS to Benefit from Twelve Years a Slave Audio Book

Posted by Terry FitzPatrick on August 5, 2013

If you haven’t heard about the story of Solomon Northup, you will hear about it soon.

It’s about to become a major motion picture featuring Brad Pitt, Alfre Woodard, Paul Giamatti and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

If you’re not the movie-going type, you can experience Northup’s spellbinding story on audio book, performed by actor and humanitarian Louis Gossett Jr.

Free the Slaves will receive 20 percent of the proceeds if you enter FREETHESLAVES into the promo code window when downloading the audio book from read more >

719 Words That Changed History: The Emancipation Proclamation

Posted by Terry FitzPatrick on December 28, 2012

Abraham Lincoln is famous for getting to the point. His Gettysburg Address was just 274 words long.

Next Tuesday marks the 150th anniversary of a somewhat longer, but equally famous Lincoln message: the Emancipation Proclamation. It took effect on January 1, 1863.

What exactly did the Emancipation Proclamation say? The full transcript from the National Archives is below. It’s fascinating reading. Just 719 words from beginning to end.

It’s important to note that Lincoln issued a limited read more >

Lincoln’s Unfinished Job

Posted by Terry FitzPatrick on September 17, 2012

Next weekend marks an important milestone in American history: it will be 150 years since President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

On September 22, 1862, Lincoln ordered the release of slaves in Confederate states during the Civil War.

This anniversary is what educators call a “teachable moment.” That’s because outlawing slavery didn’t end it. There are more slaves in the world today than when Lincoln was president.

It’s up to us to finish what Lincoln started, and we can start read more >

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