Reconstruction
During Reconstruction African Americans had more
political rights than they would have again for over 100
years.
African Americans were given the right to vote.
1867 32 black legislators were elected to Georgia’s General
Assembly
Most prominent: Henry McNeal Turner
Henry Mc Neal Turner
St. James AME Church
Turner was born on
February 1, 1833, South
Carolina.
Bishop of the African
Methodist Episcopal
Church
During the Civil War was
a chaplain
1867 helped organized
the Republican party in
Georgia
1867 Elected to
Georgia’s House of
Representatives
Henry Mc Neal Turner
In 1863, as the first Negro
Chaplain in the U.S. Army.
Received threats from the
KKK
1868 expelled from his
seat in government
Postmaster in Macon
Black legislators
constantly harassed some
were killed, beaten or
jailed during their term.
Liberia
With the support of white
businessmen from Alabama,
Turner helped organize the
International Migration Society
to promote the return of African
Americans to Africa. The IMS
successfully transported three
ships of African American
migrants to Liberia.
Liberia
A country of western Africa on the Atlantic
Ocean. It was founded (1821) through the
efforts of the American Colonization
Society and settled mainly by freed slaves
from 1822 to the 1860s. Liberia is the
oldest independent country in Africa
(established 1847). A military coup in 1980
led to a full-scale civil war in 1990. A
cease-fire agreement was reached in
1996, and elections were held in 1997.
Monrovia is the capital and the largest
city.
Population: 3,200,000.
Blacks in Politics
1867-first time blacks could run
for office
Constitutional Convention-Tunis
Camplbell, and Henry McNeal
Turner
1868-thirty two blacks were
elected to Ga.’s General Assembly.
In September of 1868-twenty
eight were expelled-said black not
able to hold public office
BLACKS IN POLITICS
By 1908 African Americans were
disfranchised
Not until 1962 did African Americans hold
seats in Georgia’s General Assembly
Most important contributions of Black
legislators-Education