Reconstruction: The First Black Legislators
Excerpt from "African American Firsts in Government," Book #4 in the African American History for Kids series by T.M. Moody
On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed an important document called the Emancipation Proclamation. This document stated that all enslaved people in the Confederate states had to be set free. It would take over two years before all the enslaved people were set free. There weren’t phones or the internet back then, so messengers traveled on horseback to bring important news.
On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and told the enslaved people the good news. This was the last group of enslaved people in the United States. June 19 is the official end of slavery and became known as Juneteenth. Juneteenth became a national holiday in 2021.
The Amendments
In the United States, the Constitution is the most important document. It helps the government operate and protect the rights of citizens. Changes can be made to the Constitution with amendments. An amendment is a change or addition to an original, legal document. There were three important amendments that were written after slavery ended.
On December 6, 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment was passed. This amendment stated that no one could be forced into slavery or forced to work without being paid. There would be two other laws added to the United States Constitution that were also important.
In 1868, the Fourteenth Amendment was passed, giving citizenship to anyone who was born in the United States, including previously enslaved people. This amendment also helped provide equal protection under the law for all people, regardless of their race or color.
In 1870, the Fifteenth Amendment was passed and African American men were given the right to vote. This was a very important amendment because many states had laws that prevented African Americans from voting. This amendment made it illegal to deny someone the right to vote based on their race or color.
With these three amendments, a new time period began known as Reconstruction. Now free, enslaved people had to create new lives for themselves. Programs were put in place so they could get an education and find paying jobs.
Since the Fifteenth Amendment gave African American men the right to vote, there would be many African American men who served as legislators during Reconstruction. African Americans legislators were members of the Republican party because it was President Abraham Lincoln’s party.
Hiram Rhodes Revels (1827-1901)
In 1870, Senator Hiram Rhodes Revels became the first African American to serve in the U.S. Senate. He represented Mississippi (MS) as a Republican. He would serve until 1871.
Blanche K. Bruce (1841-1898)
The Mississippi (MS) state legislature elected former enslaved person Blanche K. Bruce to the Senate in 1874. He was the second African American to serve in the Senate (1875 to 1881) and became the first African American to preside over the Senate in 1879. He would be the last African American senator for eighty-six years.
Joseph Hayne Rainey (1832-1887)
In 1870, Representative Joseph Hayne Rainey became the first African American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. He represented South Carolina (SC) as a Republican.
The Beginning of Jim Crow
Even though there were many African American men that served in a political office, Reconstruction was not an easy time!
Earlier, we mentioned many of the African American legislators were Republicans. During this time period, the Democratic party was the popular party in the south. Democrats supported slavery and would fight against the changes Reconstruction brought. A lot of hope and work that happened during Reconstruction would stop in 1877.
A new set of “laws” known as Jim Crow would make it hard for African Americans for many years to come. State and local governments can create their own laws. Many of the Southern states made laws that pushed for segregation.
African American Firsts in Government Books
African American History for Kids Series, #4
Learn about African American Firsts in Government who shaped the world like Barack Obama, Shirley Chisholm, Thurgood Marshall, Kamala Harris, and many more.
This BOOK includes:
short, easy-to-read biographies for ages 8-11
a timeline of events
a glossary to help deepen a child’s vocabulary and comprehension
African Americans Firsts Activity Book, #1
The ACTIVITY BOOK also has over 30 activity pages which include coloring, word search, crossword puzzle, mazes, and much more.