I would also like to recognize and thank one of our trustees who has joined us today, david blight. One of our panelists. Opportunity tois say how proud we are to count david among our trustees at New York Historical. I want to recognize laura washington and mercedes franklin, who are cochairs of our Frederick Douglass counsel. Of course, welcome all members who have joined up today. Who have joined up today. [applause] and i want to recognize a if not, my colleagues are going up and down the aisles with notecards and pencils. The notecards will be collected later on in the program. There will be a book signing following the program this morning. The book signing will take place right outside these central doors in the smith gallery. Copies of the books are available for purchase at our ny History Museum store, which is located to my left on the 77th street side. We are really, truly delighted to welcome our guest speakers. David blight, professor of American History and director of th
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
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
For those not voting this year you can call us at 202 . 488003 we begin with a story from the Associated Press this morning about early voting. A record avalanche of early votes has transformed the 2020 election. You can see pictures of folks voting in durham, North Carolina for the beginning goes like this. More than 22 million americans have already cast ballots in the 2020 election. A record shattering avalanche of early votes. The pandemic has transformed the way the nation votes. 22. 2 million, thats as a friday night, ballots submitted, representing 15 of all votes cast in the 2016 election. Even as eight states are not yet reporting their totals and voters still have more than two weeks to cast ballots. Americans rushed to vote, leading that a record of 150 million votes may be cast and turnout rates could be higher than any president ial election since 1908. The story goes on to say that so far, the turnout has been lopsided with democrats out in 42 republicans by 21 states. Re