Events on April 16 in history

District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act (April 16, 1862)

American Civil War: The District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act, a bill ending slavery in the District of Columbia, becomes law.

An Act for the Release of certain Persons [Black slaves] held to Service or Labor within the District of Columbia, 37th Cong., Sess. 2, ch. 54, 12 Stat. 376, known colloquially as the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act or simply Compensated Emancipation Act, was a law that ended slavery in the District of Columbia, providing slave owners partial compensation for releasing their slaves. Although not written by him, the Act was signed by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln on April 16, 1862. April 16 is now celebrated in the city as DC Emancipation Day.

References

Choose Another Date

Events on 1862

30 Jan

USS Monitor
The first American ironclad warship, the USS Monitor is launched.
31 Jan

White dwarf
Alvan Graham Clark discovers the white dwarf star Sirius B, a companion of Sirius, through an 18.5-inch (47 cm) telescope now located at Northwestern University.
13 Mar

Emancipation Proclamation
American Civil War: The U.S. federal government forbids all Union army officers from returning fugitive slaves, thus effectively annulling the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 and setting the stage for the Emancipation Proclamation.
15 May

Abraham Lincoln
President Abraham Lincoln signs a bill into law creating the United States Bureau of Agriculture. It is later renamed the United States Department of Agriculture.
17 Aug

Dakota War of 1862
American Indian Wars: The Dakota War of 1862 begins in Minnesota as Lakota warriors attack white settlements along the Minnesota River.

Events on April 16 in history

District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act (April 16, 1862)

References

Choose Another Date

Events on 1862

USS Monitor

White dwarf

Emancipation Proclamation

Abraham Lincoln

Dakota War of 1862