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
House of representatives. And im a historian, has going. And we want to talk today about the history of African American representation in the 20th century. And we have a lot of artifacts, from house collection, they have to do with that in a lot of history to cover. In the last African American sort of to be elected in the 19th century leaves a 1901, george white of North Carolina. And then its a long time before another African American comes into the house, and that is oscar to priest from illinois. And we have a couple of really rare artifacts from this man, from the 19 twenties and thirties. But before a legit because i love them so much, matt, tell us a little bit about oscar, and how he got into congress . So theres a long period, almost three decades after George Henry White leaves congress, where there is no African Americans who served in either house or the senate. And that has everything to do with a gym crow laws that go in the books in the south. In the way that changes o
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
Africanamerican representation in the 20th century and have a lot of artifacts from the house collection that have to do with that and a lot of history to cover. And the last africanamerican sort of to be eleshgted in the 19th century leaves in 1901, george white of north carkarcar and a long time before another africanamerican comes into the house. Oscar depriest from illinois. We have a couple of really rare artifacts from Oscar Depriest from the 1920s and 30s. But before i launch into them, because i love them so much, matt, tell us a little bit about Oscar Depriest and how he got into congress. So theres a long period. Almost three decades after George Henry White leaves congress where theres no africanamericans who serve in either the house or the senate. And that has everything to do with the jim crow laws that go on the books in the south, and the way that that changes over time during those decades, theres a critical thing going on in the south where africanamericans begin to l
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