Black History The History Behind D.C. Emancipation Day On April 16 1862, Former U.S. President Lincoln signed the D.C. Compensated Emancipation Act of 1862 into law.Related Posts Juneteenth Is Now A National Holiday 06/17/2023 Everything You Need To Know About Juneteenth 06/06/2023 Discover Your Black History Using The Freedmen’s Bureau Search Portal 02/28/2023