William Beverly Nash facts for kids
William "Beverly" Nash (born 1822 – died 1888) was an important African American leader in South Carolina. He was born into slavery in Virginia. When he was 43, he became free after the 13th Amendment was passed. After the Civil War, he became a state senator during the Reconstruction Era. He helped write South Carolina's 1868 Constitution. Nash served in state government for 21 years.
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Early Life and Freedom
Not much is known about Beverly Nash's early years. He was born enslaved in Virginia. When he was thirteen, a politician named William C. Preston brought Nash to Columbia, South Carolina. In Columbia, Nash learned to be a barber. He also worked at Hunt's Hotel as a shoeshiner, bellhop, and waiter. During this time, Nash secretly taught himself to read and write. He also learned about local politics from Preston and hotel guests.
Becoming a Politician
Nash helped start the Union League in Columbia, South Carolina. This was a powerful Black political group. In 1864, Nash began a successful career in politics and business. During Reconstruction, Nash became active in the Republican Party.
On November 20, 1865, he represented Columbia at the Colored Peoples Convention. This meeting was held in Charleston to speak out against the Black Codes. In 1866, he became well-known for criticizing the Freedmen's Bureau. He was named a magistrate for Columbia in 1867.
Nash pushed for all men to have the right to vote. He was a delegate at the National Freedmen's Convention in Washington, D.C. In 1868, he was elected to the state senate.
Working for Change
As a senator, Nash was part of a group called Radical Republicans. This group gained power in the U.S. Congress and state governments. The U.S. Congress required former Confederate states to create new constitutions. They also had to approve the 14th Amendment.
South Carolina held a meeting to write a new government plan. For the first time, Black men could vote for the people who would write this plan. Nash and other Black Radical Republicans helped write the new constitution. This important document made sure of many things:
- Free public education for all children.
- More rights for women.
- It ended the state's Black Codes.
- It stopped people from being jailed for not paying debts.
- It made sure race was not a reason to stop someone from voting.
Beverly Nash and other Black leaders, like Robert DeLarge and Robert Smalls, worked to improve the state government. They also wanted more public services. In 1871, Nash, DeLarge, Smalls, and others tried to form a new political party.
End of Political Career
In 1887, White Southerners ended the Reconstruction Era. They removed Southern Black politicians from public offices. White Southerners took back control of South Carolina's government. They also made it harder for Black people to vote.
Early in 1887, Nash resigned from his senate seat. This happened after White Democrats put political pressure on him.
After his political career ended, Nash continued to work in real estate. He died at home from heart problems when he was 66. He is buried at Randolph Cemetery with eight other Reconstruction-era lawmakers.
Legacy
The Smithsonian has a special pinback button with his picture on it. Nash also appears in a large picture made from photographs of 63 South Carolina Radical Republican lawmakers. This picture is titled "Radical Members of the South Carolina Legislature."
See also
