43rd Congress

Joseph Hayne Rainey

Joseph Hayne Rainey

Congressman Joseph Rainey, born into slavery, was the first Black representative from South Carolina and the first African American to serve in the...

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Josiah Thomas Walls

Josiah Thomas Walls

Congressman Josiah Walls was the first Black representative to the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida. He served from 1871 to 1873 and from...

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Alonzo Jacob Ransier

Alonzo Jacob Ransier

Congressman Alonzo Ransier represented South Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1873 to 1875 (43rd Congress). He served on the...

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James Thomas Rapier

James Thomas Rapier

Congressman James Rapier was one of three Black representatives to Congress from Alabama during Reconstruction. He served for one term, from 1873 to...

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Richard Harvey Cain

Richard Harvey Cain

Congressman Richard Cain represented South Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1873 to 1875 and from 1877 to 1879 (43rd and 45th...

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John Roy Lynch

John Roy Lynch

Congressman John Lynch was the first Black American member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi and the youngest member of the 43rd...

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Robert Brown Elliott

Robert Brown Elliott

Congressman Robert Elliott represented South Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1871 to 1874 (42nd-43rd Congresses), when he...

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