List of African-American officeholders during Reconstruction
Encyclopedia
Many scholars have identified more than 1,500 African American officeholders during the Reconstruction period (1865–1876). All were Republicans
. However, Canter Brown, Jr. makes the salient point that, in some states (such as Florida
), the highest number of African Americans were elected or appointed to offices after 1876, after Reconstruction. The following is a partial list some of the most notable of the officeholders pre-1900.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. However, Canter Brown, Jr. makes the salient point that, in some states (such as Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
), the highest number of African Americans were elected or appointed to offices after 1876, after Reconstruction. The following is a partial list some of the most notable of the officeholders pre-1900.
- Blanche K. Bruce, U.S. Senator from Mississippi.
- Tunis CampbellTunis CampbellTunis Campbell was a prominent African American politician of the 19th century, and a major figure in Reconstruction Georgia....
, State Senator from Georgia. - Oscar James Dunn, Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana 1868-1871, First African-American elected to a state level position in the United States.
- Robert B. ElliottRobert B. ElliottRobert Brown Elliott was an African-American member of the United States House of Representatives from South Carolina, serving from 1871-1874.-Early life and education:...
, State House lawmaker, and U.S. Representative from South Carolina. - Jonathan Clarkson GibbsJonathan Clarkson GibbsJonathan Clarkson Gibbs, II was a Presbyterian minister and a prominent African-American officeholder during Reconstruction...
, Secretary of State and Secretary of Public Instruction of FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. - Mifflin Wistar GibbsMifflin Wistar GibbsMifflin Wistar Gibbs was an African-American abolitionist and judge. Gibbs was the eldest brother of fours siblings, including Jonathan Clarkson Gibbs, and was prominent in Reconstruction Arkansas...
, ArkansasArkansasArkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, judge, younger brother of Jonathan Clarkson GibbsJonathan Clarkson GibbsJonathan Clarkson Gibbs, II was a Presbyterian minister and a prominent African-American officeholder during Reconstruction...
. - Thomas Van Renssalaer GibbsThomas Van Renssalaer GibbsThomas Van Renssalaer Gibbs was the only son of Jonathan Clarkson Gibbs, and a member of the 1886 Florida Constitutional Convention. He was a member of the State House of Representatives. Gibbs was a cofounder of Florida A&M College, and served as its Vice President until his death in 1898...
, Florida House of RepresentativesFlorida House of RepresentativesThe Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The House is composed of 120 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 156,677.The House convenes at...
, son of Jonathan Clarkson GibbsJonathan Clarkson GibbsJonathan Clarkson Gibbs, II was a Presbyterian minister and a prominent African-American officeholder during Reconstruction...
. - John R. LynchJohn R. LynchJohn Roy Lynch was the first African-American Speaker of the House in Mississippi. He was also one of the first African-Americans elected to the U.S House of Representatives during Reconstruction, the period in United States history after the Civil War.-Biography:Lynch was born a slave near...
, Mississippi House of RepresentativesMississippi House of RepresentativesThe Mississippi House of Representatives is the lower house of the Mississippi Legislature, the lawmaking body of the U.S. state of Mississippi....
, elected to U.S. House of Representatives. - John Mercer LangstonJohn Mercer LangstonJohn Mercer Langston was an American abolitionist, attorney, educator, and political activist. He was the first dean of the law school at Howard University and helped create the department. He was the first president of what is now Virginia State University. In 1888 he was the first African...
, first African-American elected to the U.S. Congress from Virginia. First African-American to hold elected office in U.S. History (Township Clerk in Ohio). - James D. LynchJames D. LynchJames D. Lynch was the first African-American Secretary of State of Mississippi, and a minister. Lynch was born in Baltimore, Maryland. His mother was a slave, and his father was a white merchant and minister. Lynch obtained his early education at an elementary school instructed by Rev. Daniel...
, Secretary of State of MississippiSecretary of State of MississippiThe Secretary of State of Mississippi is the state secretary of state of the U.S. state of Mississippi.It is a constitutional official originally established under the Article IV, §14 of Mississippi Constitution of 1817, and was reestablished under Article V, §133 of the Mississippi Constitution of... - Samuel A. McElweeSamuel A. McElweeSamuel McElwee was born a slave in 1857 in Madison County, Tennessee. His parents were Robert and Georgianna McElwee. He was a lawyer and the most influential Republic party leader in Haywood County, Tennessee during Reconstruction. He served in Tennessee General Assembly from 1883 to 1888...
, member of the Tennessee General Assembly from 1883 to 1888. - Robert MeachamRobert MeachamRobert Meacham was an African-American leader in Florida during Reconstruction. He helped to establish the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Florida and acted as a minister. In 1868 he helped write Florida's Constitution. He went on to win a seat in the Florida state legislature as a state...
, Florida SenatorFlorida SenateThe Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Senate is composed of 40 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 470,032.... - John Willis MenardJohn Willis MenardJohn Willis Menard was the first African American elected to the United States Congress.Menard was born in Kaskaskia, Illinois, to parents of Louisiana Creole descent from New Orleans who were free people of color. He may have been related to Michel Branamour Menard, a French-Canadian fur trader...
, first African American elected to the U.S. Congress (denied his seat) - Charles H. Pearce, Florida SenateFlorida SenateThe Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Senate is composed of 40 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 470,032....
- P.B.S. Pinchback, governor of Louisiana
- Joseph Hayne Rainey, U.S. RepresentativeUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from South Carolina, member of the South Carolina SenateSouth Carolina SenateThe South Carolina Senate is the upper house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the lower house being the South Carolina House of Representatives...
. First African AmericanAfrican AmericanAfrican Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. - James T. RapierJames T. RapierJames Thomas Rapier was a United States Representative from 1873 until 1875. He was one of Alabama's three black congressmen during Reconstruction....
, United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. - Hiram Revels, U.S. Senator from Mississippi. First African American elected to the either house of Congress.
- Robert SmallsRobert SmallsRobert Smalls was an enslaved African American who, during and after the American Civil War, became a ship's pilot, sea captain, and politician. He freed himself and his family from slavery on May 13, 1862, by commandeering a Confederate transport ship, the Planter, to freedom in Charleston harbor...
, South Carolina RepresentativeSouth Carolina House of RepresentativesThe South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the upper house being the South Carolina Senate. It consists of 124 Representatives elected to two year terms at the same time as US Congressional elections...
, South Carolina SenatorSouth Carolina SenateThe South Carolina Senate is the upper house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the lower house being the South Carolina House of Representatives...
, U.S. RepresentativeUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution... - Josiah T. WallsJosiah T. WallsJosiah Thomas Walls was a United States Congressman who served three separate terms in Congress between 1871 and 1876.- Early life :...
, U.S. RepresentativeUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...