Begin this activity by reviewing with the students The Military Reconstruction Acts.

Despite President Andrew Johnson’s opposition, the Republican-controlled Congress passed the Military Reconstruction Acts in 1867. Under these acts, the former Confederate states (except for Tennessee) were to be taken out of the Union and temporarily ruled by military governors. Each of the ten states had to hold a new constitutional convention. In order to be successful, African American men had to be able to vote for representatives at the new conventions. The new conventions had to: 1) create new state governments that abolished slavery; 2) ratify the Fourteenth Amendment guaranteeing citizenship rights to African Americans; and 3) provide for the enfranchisement, or voting rights, of Black men.  

These new state governments became the nation’s first meaningful experiment in interracial (involving members of different racial groups) democracy. African Americans were represented through their votes, which tended to go to the Republican Party. They were also represented directly; for the first time, large numbers of African Americans were elected to office. In 1870, the Fifteenth amendment to the Constitution was ratified, making it illegal to deny men the vote on the basis of race.

Next, have students examine images that depict aspects of African American participation in the electoral process. Have each group complete the Political Cartoon Analysis handout and/or respond to the specific questions below.

“Electioneering in the South”

• What in the image and text suggest to you that the authors are in favor of African Americans voting and holding office?
• What suggests to you that the authors hold negative attitudes?

“The First Colored Senator and Representatives” and “Radical Members” viewed together

• What do these images suggest about the African Americans depicted in them?

Upon completing the questions, each group should report to the class on the print(s) it analyzed. Next, have students examine ““Colored Rule in a Reconstructed (?) State” as a whole class. Note:This cartoon includes racial stereotypes. See the “Teaching Tips” section above for suggestions about how to handle content with racist language. As a class, consider the Political Cartoon Analysis questions and/or respond to the following: 

• How does the artist depict Black legislators? What stereotypes do you notice in this image?
• What in the image suggests the attitude of the cartoon’s creator toward Black state legislators?
• How does the idea of African American officeholders in this cartoon differ from their image in “The First Colored Senator and Representatives” and “Radical Members”?”
• How does this image differ from “Electioneering in the South?”
• What message might Harper’s Weekly readers take away from “Colored Rule in a Reconstructed (?) State?”
• What might account for the apparent change in attitude towards African Americans and the electoral process between 1868 and 1874 in these political cartoons?