United States House of Representatives: History, Art, & Archives
Search the website

History, Art & Archives of the U.S. House of Representatives

Edition for Educators—Black History Month: African-American Congressmen in Committee

by Education on February 22, 2016

The institution of Jim Crow laws in the late 1800s sharply limited the number of African Americans elected to Congress until passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965. As voting reforms led to greater black political participation and more African-Americans being elected to Congress, Black Members began to establish seniority sufficient to attain chairmanships and better committee assignments.

More >
Categories: Education, Minorities in Congress

Categories

Authors

Blog Roll

Monthly Archive

Office of the Historian: history@mail.house.gov
Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk: art@mail.house.gov, archives@mail.house.gov