The 44th Congress of the United States (1875–1877) convened with a historic high of eight African American members, the largest number during the Reconstruction era.
One U.S. Senator:
Blanche K. Bruce of Mississippi – the first African American to serve a full term in the Senate.
Seven U.S. Representatives:
Jeremiah Haralson – Alabama
Josiah T. Walls – Florida
John R. Lynch – Mississippi
John A. Hyman – North Carolina
Charles E. Nash – Louisiana
Joseph H. Rainey – South Carolina
Robert Smalls – South Carolina
This moment marked a peak in Black political representation during Reconstruction, before the rise of Jim Crow laws would severely roll back these gains for nearly a century.
© 2025 KnowThyHistory.com. Know Thy History
