kids encyclopedia robot

African American officeholders during and following the Reconstruction era facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

More than 1,500 African American officeholders served during the Reconstruction era (1865–1877). This was a special time after the American Civil War when the United States worked to rebuild the Southern states and give rights to formerly enslaved people. These brave leaders held important jobs in government. They served in the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and in state and local governments.

First Colored Senator and Representatives
First African American U.S. Senator Hiram Revels and U.S. Representatives (R-MS), Rep. Benjamin S. Turner (R-AL), Robert DeLarge (R-SC), Josiah Walls (R-FL), Jefferson Long (R-GA), Joseph Rainey and Robert B. Elliott (R-SC)

Many African Americans were elected or appointed to offices. This happened especially after new laws called the Reconstruction Acts were passed in 1867 and 1868. Even after Reconstruction officially ended in 1877, some continued to serve. However, new laws and practices, often called white supremacy and disenfranchisement, later made it very hard for African Americans to vote or hold office. This list shares some of the most important officeholders before the year 1900.


U.S. Senate

African Americans made history by serving in the U.S. Senate.

  • Hiram Rhodes Revels (Republican), Senator from Mississippi (1870-1871). He was the first African American U.S. Senator.
  • Blanche Bruce (Republican), Senator from Mississippi (1875-1881). He was the first African American to serve a full term in the Senate.
  • P. B. S. Pinchback was elected by Louisiana in 1873. However, the Senate did not allow him to take his seat.

U.S. House

Many African Americans also served in the United States House of Representatives. They worked to represent their states and communities.

Alabama

More than 100 African Americans served in the Alabama Legislature between 1868 and 1878.

State Senate

Some notable state senators included:

House

Many African Americans served in the Alabama House of Representatives.

Other

Arkansas

Between 1868 and 1893, 85 African American men served in Arkansas's state legislature. This was possible due to the 1868 Arkansas Constitution. After 1893, it would be many years until another African American served.

Statewide officeholders

Arkansas Constitutional Convention

Arkansas Senate

Senators included:

Arkansas House

Many African Americans served in the Arkansas House.

Local office

Colorado

House

Local offices

Florida

  • Jonathan Clarkson Gibbs held important statewide roles as Florida Secretary of State and Secretary of Public Instruction.

Senate

Senators included:

House

Many African Americans served in the Florida House of Representatives.

Local officials

  • James Page (minister) was a Leon County commissioner.

Georgia

Senate

State senators included:

House

Many African Americans served in the Georgia House.

Illinois

House

Indiana

  • James S. Hinton was the first African American to serve in the Indiana state legislature (1881–1882).

Kansas

  • Alfred Fairfax was the first African American to serve in the Kansas state legislature (1888–1889).

Louisiana

In Louisiana, 24 African Americans served in the Louisiana Senate and over 100 in the Louisiana House of Representatives. Six black men held statewide office.

Three African Americans served as Louisiana's lieutenant governor:

Others served as secretary of state, state treasurer, and state superintendent of education.

Members of the Louisiana Senate

Members of the Louisiana House of Representatives

Local offices

Maryland

Local offices

  • William Butler was a member of the Annapolis Board of Aldermen (1873).
  • William H. Day was Baltimore Inspector of Schools.

Massachusetts

House

Local offices

Michigan

House

Local offices

  • Samuel C. Watson served on the State Board of Estimates and Detroit City Council.

Minnesota

  • John Francis Wheaton was the first African American to serve in the Minnesota state legislature (1899–1900).

Mississippi

Mississippi was the only state to elect African American candidates to the U.S. Senate during Reconstruction. However, the Mississippi Plan was a violent effort to stop African Americans from voting and holding office.

U.S. Senate

Members of the Legislature, State of Mississippi, 1874-'75 - photographed by E. Von Seutter, Jackson, Miss. LCCN2006687066
Photo composite of Mississippi state legislators in 1874 by E. von Seutter

Members of the Mississippi Senate

Members of the Mississippi House of Representatives

Many African Americans served in the Mississippi House.

Other

Nebraska

Members of the Nebraska House of Representatives

Local offices

North Carolina

Ohio

Members of the Ohio Senate

Members of the Ohio House of Representatives

Local offices

South Carolina

South Carolina had many African American leaders during Reconstruction.

Radical Republicans in the South Carolina Legislature
A composite image of 63 "Radical Republicans" in the South Carolina Legislature in 1868 including 50 "negroes or mullatoes"

Members of South Carolina Senate

Members of South Carolina House of Representatives

Many African Americans served in the South Carolina House.

Local offices

Tennessee

  • Sampson W. Keeble (1873) was the only African American in the Tennessee Legislature during the 1870s.
  • More followed in the 1880s, like John W. Boyd and Samuel A. McElwee. They worked for schools for African Americans and voting rights.

Texas

Four African Americans were elected to the Texas Senate, and 32 others served in the Texas House of Representatives.

Members of the Texas Senate

Members of the Texas House of Representatives

Virginia

Reconstruction in Virginia lasted from 1869 to 1890.

Members of the Virginia Senate

Members of the Virginia House of Delegates

Many African Americans served in the Virginia House of Delegates.

Virginia Constitutional Convention

Washington

  • William Owen Bush was the first African American to serve in the Washington state legislature (1889–1891).

West Virginia

  • Christopher Payne was the first African American to serve in the West Virginia state legislature (1896).

Wyoming

  • William Jefferson Hardin was the first African American to serve in the Wyoming state legislature (1879 - 1883).

Washington, D.C.

  • Solomon G. Brown served in the House of Delegates for Washington D.C. (1871-1874).
  • John Mercer Langston was appointed to the Board of Health.
  • William E. Matthews was the first black person to receive an appointment in the United States Postal Service in Washington D.C. (1870).

See Also

  • List of African-American United States Representatives
  • List of African-American United States Senators
  • List of African-American officeholders (1900–1999)
  • List of African-American officeholders (2000–present)
  • List of African-American state legislators
  • Black officeholders during the Reconstruction era
kids search engine
African American officeholders during and following the Reconstruction era Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.