The First African Americans in Congress
House of Representatives historian Matthew Wasniewski and House curator Farar Elliott talked the history of African Americans who served in Congress during the late 19th century.
Description
House of Representatives Historian Matthew Wasniewski and House curator Farar Elliott talked about the history of African Americans who served in Congress during the late 19th century.
Bell Ringer Assignment
- How many African Americans served in Congress between 1870 and 1901?
- Explain the role of Congress during the decade after the Civil War with regards to African Americans gaining political rights and being elected to Congress.
- Describe the Republican Reconstruction governments put in place in Southern states and their role in African Americans being elected to Congress.
- Who was John Willis Menard and how did his experience illustrate the difficulty of African Americans in politics?
- Describe the background of Joseph Rainey and his eventual election to Congress.
Participants
Vocabulary
- 13th Amendment
- 14th Amendment
- 15th Amendment
- Civil Rights Acts Of 1866
- Civil War
- Confederates
- Conscription
- Constituency
- Paradox
- Radical Republicans
- Ratified
- Reconstruction
- Secession