At the end of the Civil War in 1865, America saw the beginning of a decade-long process known as the Reconstruction Era. Along with the Emancipation Proclamation passing in 1863 and the Thirteenth Amendment passed in 1864, the Reconstruction Era would see the foundation of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, as well as the Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments. As we know, the Thirteenth amendment barred slavery and involuntary servitude, leading to the rise of slavery in the prison system. The Fourteenth amendment declared any person born in the United States, excluding Native Americans, as a legal citizen. This amendment also prevented states from creating laws that would take away those rights. The Fifteenth amendment prevents “citizens from being denied voting rights based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude”. Lastly, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 would define U.S. citizenship.
“Such citizens, of every race and color, and without regard to any previous condition of slavery or involuntary servitude, shall have the same right in every state and territory in the United States, to make and enforce contracts, to sue, be parties, and give evidence, to inherit, purchase, lease, sell, hold, and convey real and personal property, and to full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings for the security of person and property, as is enjoyed by white citizens, and shall be subject to like punishment, pains, and penalties, and to none other, any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom to the contrary notwithstanding.”
While this time in American history surely brought radical change to the foundations of the United States, such change did not happen without resistance. Tensions were still high after the war, and many incidents involving racial violence persisted in the southern states. One such case of racial violence started in Memphis, Tennessee, when a white police officer attempted to arrest a black soldier. A three-day long riot erupted when 50 blacks attempted to interrupt the arrest. At least 46 blacks were murdered in the riots, including many black soldiers. Homes, churches, and schools were burned, and the police and firefighters “openly participated in the violence and looting.” Martial law was declared, and the incident was investigated, however, no arrests were made. This incident, known as the Memphis Riots of 1866, led to the passing of the Fourteenth amendment two years later.
Around the same time, Union occupation of New Orleans ended, and Mayor John T. Monroe, a confederacy supporter, would step back into office. Two months later, on July 30th, 1866, Monroe would lead a mob to the Louisiana Constitutional Convention, and murder around 200 black Union soldiers. This incident would be known as the New Orleans Massacre. Outrage over these subsequent acts of terror would allow the Republicans to take over Congress, first passing the Civil Rights Act, and a year later, passing the Reconstruction Acts of 1867. These acts were the first step in granting voting rights for African Americans. They also allowed the Union to impose martial law over the confederate states, and Mayor Monroe was removed from office. After the passing of the 14th amendment, African Americans gained citizenship, and with it, the right to run for political office. Soon in 1870, America would gain its first black Congressman, Hiram Rhodes Revels.
Revels was born on September 27th, 1827, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Born into a free family, Revels attended school until 1845, when he “was ordained in the African Methodist Episcopal Church”. Revels served in many AME churches around the country, before returning to school in 1855, to gain his college degree. Revels was one of the only blacks to have earned a college degree at the time and would later establish a school for Freedmen in St. Louis, after the Civil War. When Republicans were looking to rally support after the war, they requested the assistance of Revel, whom they saw as an inspiring leader for freedmen. With the help of John Roy Lynch, a representative of Massachusetts, Revels was elected to serve as a senate representative in the state of Mississippi. Despite opposition from the Democratic party, Revels was admitted to the United States Senate on February 25th, 1870.
When I first decided to research Hiram Revels, I admittedly expected little in the way of political service. However, as I read through his time acting as a member of the senate, I realized that Revels was one of many underappreciated figures in American history. In his short time as a senator, Revels made waves of progress in establishing black representation in the U.S. government. During his time of service, Revels defended 29 black Georgians, who were given positions in the state house of representatives and the senate before Georgia was readmitted to the Union. When Georgia was readmitted to the Union, Republicans and Democrats forced the blacks out of office, seating white representatives in their stead. In July of 1870, Revels argued that the Republicans “owed” the black citizens the right of representation, swearing loyalty to the Republican party. Revel’s speech successfully persuaded the Georgia legislature to return the black Georgians seats in the house and senate. Before his dismissal in March of 1871, Revels pridefully defended the rights of black mechanics who were refused admission to work for the U.S. Navy. His appeal to the War Department succeeded, and the workers were allowed entry.
Citations
“A Brief Overview of the American Civil War.” American Battlefield Trust, 16 Oct. 2018, www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/brief-overview-american-civil-war.
“The Civil Rights Bill of 1866.” US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives, history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1851-1900/The-Civil-Rights-Bill-of-1866/.
“REVELS, Hiram Rhodes.” US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives, history.house.gov/People/Listing/R/REVELS,-Hiram-Rhodes-(R000166)/.
Lanum, Mackenzie. “Memphis Riot, 1866 • BlackPast.” BlackPast, 12 Oct. 2019, www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/memphis-riot-1866/.
“Reconstruction and Its Aftermath.” Reconstruction and Its Aftermath, a Part of the African American Odyssey Exhibition, Is about the Difficulty Free Blacks Faced during the Reconstruction Period., memory.loc.gov/ammem/aaohtml/exhibit/aopart5.html.