Question
But it also contained numerous other provisions. These included office-holding disabilities and
disenfranchisement (to deny someone their right to _____________) for many white southerners,
along with incentives for states either to grant black voting rights or proportionally lose representation in
Congress. However, Georgia unanimously rejected the Fourteenth Amendment and was placed under military
control. In July 1868, the General Assembly ratified the Fourteenth Amendment, and Georgia was readmitted
to the Union. During the April 1868 campaign of Joseph E. Brown, he argued that the new constitution did
not grant office-holding rights on blacks. Consequently, in July, the General Assembly's Democrats and their
white Republican allies began a campaign to expel the black legislators. In June 1869 the Supreme Court of
Georgia ruled two-to-one that blacks did indeed have a constitutional right to hold office in Georgia. They
reinstated the expelled black legislators, and the newly constituted legislature ratified the Fifteenth
Amendment and Georgia was again readmitted to the Union.
Summarize the reasoning behind the removal of the Black legislators from the Georgia General Assembly and
research some of the Black legislators who were affected and fill in the blank
disenfranchisement (to deny someone their right to _____________) for many white southerners,
along with incentives for states either to grant black voting rights or proportionally lose representation in
Congress. However, Georgia unanimously rejected the Fourteenth Amendment and was placed under military
control. In July 1868, the General Assembly ratified the Fourteenth Amendment, and Georgia was readmitted
to the Union. During the April 1868 campaign of Joseph E. Brown, he argued that the new constitution did
not grant office-holding rights on blacks. Consequently, in July, the General Assembly's Democrats and their
white Republican allies began a campaign to expel the black legislators. In June 1869 the Supreme Court of
Georgia ruled two-to-one that blacks did indeed have a constitutional right to hold office in Georgia. They
reinstated the expelled black legislators, and the newly constituted legislature ratified the Fifteenth
Amendment and Georgia was again readmitted to the Union.
Summarize the reasoning behind the removal of the Black legislators from the Georgia General Assembly and
research some of the Black legislators who were affected and fill in the blank
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The removal of Black legislators from the Georgia General Assembly stemmed from the belief held by many white Southern politicians that the new constitution did not grant office-holding rights to Black individuals. This sentiment was notably championed by Joseph E. Brown, who argued against the legitimacy of Black legislators’ positions. The political climate at the time was fraught with tension following the Civil War and during the Reconstruction era, and there was significant opposition from white Democrats and some allies among white Republicans, who sought to diminish Black political power.
These efforts were ultimately met with judicial challenges, as in June 1869, the Supreme Court of Georgia ruled that Black individuals indeed had the constitutional right to hold office, leading to the reinstatement of the expelled Black legislators and the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment.
In the context of the provided text, the blank can be filled with the term **vote** to indicate that disenfranchisement was aimed at denying white Southerners their right to vote.
Some notable Black legislators affected during this time included:
1. **Henry McNeal Turner**: He was one of the first Black ministers and politicians in Georgia and served in the General Assembly. Turner was a strong advocate for civil rights and played a significant role in Black political life after the Civil War.
2. **Alexander H. Stephens**: Though he was a prominent figure in the Confederate government, following the war, his political career illustrates the complexities of race and power in post-war politics, particularly as Black legislators began asserting their rights.
3. **Benjamin F. Lee**: Another notable figure among the expelled Black legislators, Lee was committed to advocating for the rights of Black citizens and held a prominent role in the political developments during Reconstruction.
4. **David D. Porter**: He served as a delegate in the General Assembly and was among the early elected officials who represented the interests of Black Georgians during the Reconstruction era.
These legislators were part of an important chapter in American history, paving the way for future civil rights advancements despite the significant backlash they faced from those opposed to their presence in political power.
These efforts were ultimately met with judicial challenges, as in June 1869, the Supreme Court of Georgia ruled that Black individuals indeed had the constitutional right to hold office, leading to the reinstatement of the expelled Black legislators and the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment.
In the context of the provided text, the blank can be filled with the term **vote** to indicate that disenfranchisement was aimed at denying white Southerners their right to vote.
Some notable Black legislators affected during this time included:
1. **Henry McNeal Turner**: He was one of the first Black ministers and politicians in Georgia and served in the General Assembly. Turner was a strong advocate for civil rights and played a significant role in Black political life after the Civil War.
2. **Alexander H. Stephens**: Though he was a prominent figure in the Confederate government, following the war, his political career illustrates the complexities of race and power in post-war politics, particularly as Black legislators began asserting their rights.
3. **Benjamin F. Lee**: Another notable figure among the expelled Black legislators, Lee was committed to advocating for the rights of Black citizens and held a prominent role in the political developments during Reconstruction.
4. **David D. Porter**: He served as a delegate in the General Assembly and was among the early elected officials who represented the interests of Black Georgians during the Reconstruction era.
These legislators were part of an important chapter in American history, paving the way for future civil rights advancements despite the significant backlash they faced from those opposed to their presence in political power.