Most people know about the Emancipation Proclamation. But nine months before that famous order, something important happened in the nation's capital. On April 16, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the DC Emancipation Act. It freed about 3,100 enslaved people living in Washington, D.C. The act was remarkable for several reasons. First, the federal government paid enslavers up to three hundred dollars for each person they released. Second, freed people could apply for one hundred dollars to help them move to other countries. Many chose to stay in the United States. Third, this was the only time the government used compensation to end slavery. Some people in D.C. were angry about the law. They had made money from slavery for years. Others celebrated in the streets. Freed families hugged and cried with joy. Today, April 16 is a holiday in Washington, D.C. It is called Emancipation Day. Schools and government offices close. People gather to remember the day their city chose justice over profit.