Question

10. Why was Henry McNeal Turner removed from the Georgia Legislature?

Answer 1

Henry McNeal Turner was removed from the Georgia Legislature in 1868 due to his race. As one of the first African American elected officials during Reconstruction, Turner served as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives. However, in 1868, the Georgia Legislature was expelled from the national government by Congress after it refused to allow African American representatives to take their seats, citing that they were not part of "the people." Turner was ultimately expelled as part of this broader political struggle over race and representation in the post-Civil War South. His removal reflected the resistance from some white lawmakers to the inclusion of African Americans in government and highlighted the challenges faced by Black leaders during this period.