Tvs american artifacts explore the history of the United States threw objects, up next we visit capitol hill to talk to house historian, matthew wasilewski. And house curative far elliott, about the history of African Americans in congress in the 19th century. And a selection of artifacts from the house collection. The story of how African Americans come to congress a 19 century, is not one that a lot of people are familiar with. We actually had 22 African Americans sir between 1870 and 1901. 20 in the house, to in the senate. Largely a house story. And it has to do with the role of congress, during the civil war. And in the decade after during a civil war, there were a group of radicals in congress, radicals because they believed in the equality of African Americans and wanted to create a society that was a multi racial society. These were radicals in the house like stevens, it was chairman of the means committee, and a very powerful leader. Also people like hadnt rewinter davis, ally
Elliott about the history of africanamericans in dmong the 19th century and a sea of artifacts from the house collection. The story of how africanamericans come to congress in the 19th century is not one a lot of people are familiar with. We actually have 22 africanamericans serve between 1870 and 1901. 20 in the house. 2 in the senate. Largely a house story. And it has to do with the role of congress during the civil war, and in the decade after. During the civil war there were a group of radicals in congress, radicals, because they believed in the equality of africanamericans, and wanted to create a society in the south after the war that was a multiracial society. These were radicals in the house, like thaddeus stephens, who was chairman of the ways and Means Committee and a very powerful leader. Also people like henry winter davis. Washburn. In the Senate People like Charles Sumner and Benjamin Wade and they really drove the agenda and pushed the Lincoln Administration to not only
We last broadcast book read updates. There are two i want to start with. One is this monumental Frederick Douglass prophet of freedom by david w. Blight, the definitive biography of Frederick Douglass especially what is going on in the United States with racial injustice, nobody was more consequential it has been more consequential on the target of race in america than Frederick Douglass. Way ahead of his time. He was not only in abolitionist and passionate abolitionists as a former slave but he insisted from the earliest time in the 1840s right through his death in the Nineteenth Century video quality was the goal and he would brook no deviation from that. He was very clear what the goal was and so many of his words ring true today and i recommend the biography. It is a long read but one of the things i learned about Frederick Douglass is he was an active suffragist. Absolutely. Very insistent. Had a distinguished career, was able to talk to a mixed race audience at a time when that w
The story of how africanamericans come to congress in the 19th century is not one a lot of people are familiar with. We actually have 22 africanamericans serve between 1870 and 1901. 20 in the house. 2 in the senate. Largely a house story. And it has to do with the role of congress during the civil war, and in the decade after. During the civil war there were a group of radicals in congress, radicals, because they believed in the equality of africanamericans, and wanted to create a society in the south after the war that was a multiracial society. These were radicals in the house, like thaddeus stephens, who was chairman of the ways and Means Committee and a very powerful leader. Also people like henry winter davis. Washburn. In the Senate People like Charles Sumner and benjamin wade. And they really drove the agenda and pushed the Lincoln Administration to not only prosecute the war more vigorously but also to have a reconstruction after the war that was one that was not so lenient to
Can you waste your hand . E your hand . [applause] and thank you to all the other members tonight. I did want to name everyone but i thought the fact since the two of you have been getting since before we open was special, so thank you. At that conclusion, we invite you to the book signing which will be downstairs in the library. Joining us tonight is Sidney Blumenthal and jamie raskin to discuss mr. Blumenthals new book, the third volume in his series on the 16th president. Sidney blumenthal is the author of a selfmade man and wrestling with his angel, the first two volumes in his biography, the political life of Abraham Lincoln. He is the former assistant and andor to resident clinton Senior Advisor to former secretary of state hillary clinton. He has been a National Staff reporter for the Washington Post and washington editor and writer for the new yorker. His books includes the clinton wars and the permanent campaign. Raised in illinois, he lived in washington, d. C. Jamie raskin r