An unidentified Black legislator speaking to a diverse (but predominantly white and some Black) assembly in the North Carolina State House.
This illustration gives us a rare visual record of Black political power during Reconstruction, a period when Black men were elected to office for the first time.

Pen and Ink illustration, ca 1870's. This image is often attributed to foreign correspondents or artists documenting American events at that time. This image is titled "A Southern Parliament: A Black Man in a North Carolina Legislature Addressing the Assembly,"

Sourced from: Bettmann Collection Via Getty Images
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From: The Lowcountry Digital History Initiative (LDHI) is a digital public history platform.

After Slavery: Race, Labor, and Politics in the Post-Emancipation Carolinas
Reconstruction in North Carolina: 1862-1876

This timeline charts influential events that occurred during Reconstruction in North Carolina, from the establishment of the Roanoke Island colony in 1862 to the election of former confederate Zebulon Vance as North Carolina Governor in 1876.

Roanoke Island Colony Established
February 1, 1862
General Ambrose E. Burnside established a colony for freedpeople on Roanoke Island under the direction of abolitionist and Union Army chaplain Horace James.

Union Forces Take New Bern
March 1, 1862 — March 31, 1862
Union forces take the strategically important town of New Bern, at the juncture of the Neuse and Trent Rivers. For the rest of the war the town becomes a refuge for slaves escaping Confederate-controlled North Carolina.

Union Forces Take Wilmington
February 22, 1865
Union troops take control of Wilmington, which will become an important site of confrontation between freedpeople and former Confederates throughout Reconstruction.

Sherman Enters North Carolina
March 1, 1865 — March 31, 1865
Sherman enters North Carolina in Rockingham County and marches to Raleigh, leaving widespread destruction and inciting a wave of slave desertions and escapes.

Lee Surrenders
April 9, 1865
Lee surrenders to Grant at Appomattox. Seventeen days later, on April 26th, General Joseph E. Johnston surrenders to Sherman, ending the Civil War in North Carolina.

Schofield Announces End of War in NC and Declares All Slaves Freed
April 27, 1865 — April 28, 1865
General John M. Schofield assumes control of the military occupation in North Carolina, issuing General Orders Nos. 31 and 32, announcing the end to the war in the state and declaring all slaves freed by the Emancipation Proclamation.

Johnson Issues Proclamation of Amnesty and Pardon
May 25, 1865
Andrew Johnson issues his proclamation of amnesty and pardon, clearing the way for planters to reclaim land ‘abandoned’ during the war.

Holden Appointed Provisional Governor
May 29, 1865
Wartime unionist William Woods Holden is appointed Provisional Governor by President Andrew Johnson.

Whittlesey Appointed Freedman's Bureau Assistant Commissioner for NC
June 1, 1865 — June 30, 1865
Colonel Eliphalet Whittlesey appointed Freedmen's Bureau Assistant Commissioner for North Carolina, with headquarters at Raleigh.

Mutiny in Wilmington
September 1, 1865 — September 30, 1865
Black troops in Wilmington mutiny against white officers, protesting the indifference of their army superiors for the interests of freedpeople.

NC Freedman's Convention Held at Raleigh
September 29, 1865 — October 3, 1865
North Carolina Freedmen’s Convention held at Raleigh.

NC Convention Held
October 1, 1865 — October 31, 1865
North Carolina Convention held to aid reorganization of state government.

Worth Elected Governor
November 9, 1865
Conservative Jonathan Worth elected Governor in all-white election, defeating Provisional Governor William W. Holden.

NC Black Code Enacted
January 1, 1866 — January 31, 1866
North Carolina Black Code enacted. Provisions include the outlawing of interracial marriage, restrictions against African-Americans testifying in court, limitations on freedpeople’s mobility, ownership of weapons.

Black Troops in Wilmington Occupy Jail
February 1, 1866 — February 28, 1866
Black troops in Wilmington occupy the city’s jail to block a public whipping of black prisoners.

Steedman-Fullerton' Report Delivered to Congress
May 1, 1866 — May 31, 1866
The ‘Steedman-Fullerton’ report on the Freedmen’s Bureau in Virginia and North Carolina is officially delivered to Congress. Freedmen's Bureau Assistant Commissioner Whittlesey will lose his position over its findings.

Second NC Freedman's Convention
October 2, 1866 — October 5, 1866
Second North Carolina Freedmen’s Convention.

NC Legislature Rejects the Fourteenth Amendment
December 14, 1866
Encouraged by Governor Worth, Johnson-era North Carolina legislature rejects the Fourteenth Amendment.

NC Legislature Rejects the Fourteenth Amendment
December 14, 1866
Encouraged by Governor Worth, Johnson-era North Carolina legislature rejects the Fourteenth Amendment.

North Carolinian Constitutional Convention Meets in Raleigh
January 14, 1868
North Carolinian Constitutional Convention meets in Raleigh. With overwhelming support from former slaves, the Republican Party gains control of the Convention. Of 120 state representatives elected, Republicans take 107 and Conservatives just 13.

1st Reports of Ku Klux Klan in NC
March 1, 1868 — March 31, 1868
In lead up to the election on the new State Constitution the first reports emerge of the appearance of the Ku Klux Klan in North Carolina.

Union League' Established in Raleigh
March 26, 1868
Statewide ‘Union League’ is established in Raleigh, with Holden as its president. James Jones and James Harris are leading African American members of the North Carolina League, which promotes racial equality and supports the galvanizes the Republican electorate. At a grassroots level, the Union Leagues become involved in labor organizing and Black self-defense.

New State Constitution Approved
April 1, 1868 — March 30, 1868
New State Constitution overwhelmingly approved, guaranteeing formal equality before the law and a number of progressive measures, including commitment to free public schooling for all.

Freedman's Bureau Operations Cease in NC
May 1, 1869 — May 31, 1869
With the exception of its educational remit, Freedmen’s Bureau operations cease in North Carolina.

Wyatt Outlaw Lynched by Klan
February 26, 1870
African American Republican leader (and former Union League President) Wyatt Outlaw lynched by the Klan near Alamance County Courthouse.

Senator Stephens Murdered by KKK
May 21, 1870
Republican State Senator John W. Stephens murdered by the KKK in Caswell County Courthouse.

Governor Holden Condemns Klan
June 1, 1870 — June 30, 1870
Governor Holden issues a proclamation condemning the actions of the Klan.

Holden Declares Caswell and Alamance Counties in State of Rebellion
June 8, 1870
Holden declares that Caswell and Alamance County are in a state of rebellion. Former Union guerrilla leader George Kirk is appointed by Holden to suppress the Klan. This proves successful: approximately 100 arrests are made.

Some Arrested in Alamance County Apply for Write of Habeas Corpus; Ignored
July 1, 1870 — July 30, 1870
One of those arrested in Alamance County (A.G. Moore) applies for a writ of habeas corpus to the Chief Justice of North Carolina Richmond M. Pearson. Others follow and Pearson is forthcoming in granting the writs. Holden instructs Kirk to ignore these.

Conservatives Take Control of NC General Assembly
August 1, 1870 — August 30, 1870
Conservatives take control of the North Carolina General Assembly.

Akerman Rules Against Holden's Refusal to Grant Writs of Habeas Corpus
August 8, 1870
President Grant’s Attorney General Amos T. Akerman rules against Holden’s refusal to grant the writs of habeas corpus.

General Assembly Introduces Resolution to Impeach Holden
December 9, 1870
The Conservative-dominated General Assembly introduces a resolution to impeach Holden.

Trial of Holden begins
December 23, 1870
Trial of Holden begins.

Holden Impeached
March 22, 1871
Holden is impeached. Conservatives succeed in ousting Holden as Governor.

Democrats Trounce Republicans in State Elections
November 1, 1874 — November 30, 1874
Democrats trounce Republicans in state elections.

Democrats Hold Elections for a Constitutional Convention
September 1, 1875 — September 30, 1875
Democrats hold elections for a constitutional convention. The results are extremely close: 58 Republicans are elected, 58 Democrats, and 3 Independents.

Tar Heel Voters Ratify New State Constitution
November 1, 1875 — November 30, 1875
Tar Heel voters ratify a new state Constitution banning secret political societies and reestablishing much of the power of the state’s General Assembly.

Vance Elected NC Governor
November 7, 1876
Former Confederate Zebulon Vance is elected North Carolina Governor. Conservatives will dominate the state’s politics for the next 20 years.
-End of this timeline-

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In North Carolina, President Johnson appointed William W. Holden as provisional governor, and many Confederates were pardoned. Jonathan Worth, wartime state treasurer, then defeated Holden for the governorship, and many former Confederate officials were elected to Congress. Congress, however, refused to seat these delegates on the grounds that they had been disloyal to the Union and freedmen were being mistreated (via the "Black Codes").

Johnson and the U.S. Congress clashed over Reconstruction policy. Congress wanted full citizenship and civil rights for freedmen, while Johnson did not. Congressional Republicans overrode Johnson's veto to pass Reconstruction acts, which placed the southern states, except Tennessee, under military control, disfranchised many former Confederates, and required states to revise their constitutions to enfranchise freedmen.

When these states were reorganized under their new constitutions, they were required to ratify the 14th Amendment, which would allow them to regain their seats in Congress. North Carolina ratified the 14th Amendment on July 4, 1868 and was readmitted to the Union.

Several African American military units pulled duty in North Carolina during the occupation. The 37th U.S. Colored Troops were stationed at various points along the coast until February 1867. The 40th U.S. Infantry (colored) served in North Carolina from March 1867 through March 1869. During this period, Fort Macon was used as a jail.

In 1869, the 15th Amendment was passed by Congress, prohibiting any state from denying a citizen the right to vote because of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. North Carolina ratified the 15th Amendment on March 5, 1869.

Controlling the 1871 legislature, Democrats impeached Holden and removed him from office (the first governor in American history to suffer such a fate). The Republican Party did win the governorship in 1872 and nearly controlled the state convention of 1875 that revised the constitution for Democratic advantage. But in 1876, the Democratic Party established white supremacy in state government and used fraud, lies, and racial violence to remain in power.

Thus Jubilation turned to Jim Crow, and another uphill battle was begun for Black North Carolinians. This legacy was still being felt by the time of the white overthrow of Black government in Wilmington — one of North Carolina's most progressive towns — in 1898 (popularly known as the Wilmington Coup).

A few more African Americans from North Carolina did, however, serve in the U.S. Congress in the late nineteenth century, including James E. O'Hara (1883-1887); Henry P. Cheatham (1889-1893); and George Henry White (1897-1901). White was the only Black member of Congress during his tenure, and 28 years would pass before another Black member was seated.

It would take diligent activism and new Civil Rights laws passed in the mid-1960s for the South to even begin to push back the legacy and ideals of slavery. That struggle continues today.

Other sources: NCPedia; Wikipedia;