Blanche K. Bruce & Hiram Revels

Definition

Blanche K. Bruce and Hiram Revels were African-American politicians during Reconstruction. Revels was first African American senator while Bruce was first elected black senator to serve a full term.

Analogy

Imagine them as trailblazers or pioneers, much like Neil Armstrong stepping onto moon for first time; they broke racial barriers in US politics.

Related terms

Reconstruction Era: The period after Civil War when southern states were reorganized and reintegrated into Union.

14th Amendment: Constitutional amendment granting citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in United States—including former slaves—and guaranteed all citizens “equal protection of laws.”

15th Amendment: Constitutional amendment that prohibited government from denying citizen’s right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.