Benjamin Harrison and the Struggle for African American Rights
johnbowe.info – Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President of the United States, served from 1889 to 1893 during a time of intense racial tension and inequality in the country. The post-Reconstruction era was a period marked by significant struggles for African Americans, as they faced continued disenfranchisement, segregation, and violence. Although Harrison’s presidency is often overshadowed by other aspects of his administration, his actions and policies regarding African American rights are crucial to understanding the broader fight for racial equality during the late 19th century.
Despite the challenges of the time, Benjamin Harrison’s tenure witnessed some notable efforts in the fight for African American civil rights. Though Harrison’s presidency was not a period of sweeping legal reforms in favor of African Americans, his administration laid the groundwork for future racial justice struggles. This article will examine Harrison’s policies and actions related to African American rights, as well as the broader context of the racial climate of the late 19th century.
The Political and Social Climate for African Americans in the Late 19th Century
The Aftermath of Reconstruction
The period following the Civil War, known as Reconstruction, was a brief but critical time in American history when African Americans gained significant political, social, and legal rights. During Reconstruction, Congress passed landmark legislation, including the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments—abolishing slavery, granting citizenship and equal protection under the law, and protecting voting rights for African Americans. African Americans made substantial political gains, especially in the Southern states, where many were elected to public office.
However, after Reconstruction ended in 1877 with the withdrawal of federal troops from the South, white supremacy was swiftly reasserted. Southern states began passing Jim Crow laws, which enforced racial segregation and disenfranchised African Americans. Voter suppression techniques, such as poll taxes, literacy tests, and violence from groups like the Ku Klux Klan, significantly undermined African Americans’ political power.
By the time Benjamin Harrison assumed the presidency in 1889, the country was embroiled in a racial hierarchy that restricted African Americans’ access to full civil rights. Racial segregation was prevalent in the South, and northern cities, while not as overtly segregated, still maintained racially discriminatory policies in housing, employment, and education.
The Influence of the Civil Rights Movement
Though the post-Reconstruction period was a time of intense setbacks for African American rights, it was also a period in which activism and resistance began to take root. The late 19th century saw the development of organizations and individuals dedicated to fighting for racial equality, notably Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells, and Booker T. Washington. Their work would lay the foundation for the civil rights movements that would gain prominence in the 20th century.
During Harrison’s presidency, African American leaders advocated for the end of racial discrimination, the extension of civil rights, and the protection of voting rights. However, the entrenched political and social systems meant that significant legislative reforms would be slow to materialize. Despite these challenges, Harrison’s presidency was not completely devoid of attention to African American rights.
Harrison’s Efforts to Promote African American Rights
Appointment of African Americans to Government Positions
One of Benjamin Harrison’s most significant contributions to African American civil rights was his appointments of African Americans to federal offices. Harrison was one of the few presidents of the time who made efforts to involve African Americans in public service and government positions, especially in areas where African American communities were growing or had significant influence.
Frederick Douglass
One of Harrison’s most notable appointments was that of Frederick Douglass, the renowned abolitionist and former slave, who was appointed as the U.S. Minister to Haiti in 1889. Douglass had already achieved fame as a writer, orator, and abolitionist, and his appointment was seen as an acknowledgment of African American capabilities in the highest levels of government. As U.S. Minister to Haiti, Douglass played a critical role in strengthening diplomatic relations between the United States and Haiti, as well as advocating for the rights of African Americans.
Douglass’s appointment was a groundbreaking moment, as it represented the elevation of an African American to an important diplomatic post in the federal government, breaking racial barriers in foreign diplomacy. Harrison’s willingness to appoint Douglass was a significant departure from the often entrenched racial discrimination of the time.
Other Appointments
Beyond Douglass, Harrison appointed several other African Americans to government positions. For instance, Thomas L. Jennings was appointed as a commissioner for the 1890 census, becoming the first African American to hold such a position. Harrison also appointed John M. Langston, a former congressman and the first African American to be elected to Congress from Virginia, as the U.S. minister to Haiti prior to Douglass. These appointments reflected Harrison’s commitment to providing African Americans with opportunities in public office, despite the prevailing racial biases of the time.
Efforts to Protect Voting Rights
Despite the widespread disenfranchisement of African Americans in the South due to voter suppression laws, Harrison made some efforts to address the issue of voting rights. The election of 1888, which Harrison won by a narrow margin, highlighted the fact that voter suppression in the South had significant political consequences. It became apparent that the South’s racial discrimination was directly influencing the outcome of national elections, given the large African American population that had been systematically prevented from voting.
During Harrison’s presidency, the Lodge Bill (also known as the Federal Elections Bill of 1890) was introduced by Republican Congressman Henry Cabot Lodge and was supported by the Harrison administration. The bill aimed to protect voting rights for African Americans by allowing federal oversight of elections in areas where voter suppression was rampant, particularly in the South. Under this bill, federal officials would be empowered to monitor elections and ensure that African Americans were not disenfranchised.
While the Lodge Bill had the potential to address the widespread disenfranchisement of African Americans, it was strongly opposed by Southern Democrats and was eventually defeated in the Senate. The failure of the Lodge Bill marked a significant setback for African American voting rights at the federal level and demonstrated the difficulty of enacting meaningful reforms to protect African American suffrage during the late 19th century.
The Compromise of 1890: Civil Rights and Federal Intervention
Harrison’s presidency was also marked by discussions on federal intervention in the South to protect the civil rights of African Americans. Harrison believed in the principle of federalism—that the federal government should have the power to intervene when state governments were violating the constitutional rights of citizens. In some ways, Harrison’s administration took a more active stance than previous ones in trying to protect African American civil rights. However, political compromises often meant that Harrison’s efforts fell short of bringing about the kind of sweeping reform necessary for substantive change.
Harrison’s administration, despite its progressive leanings, was ultimately unable to overcome the deeply entrenched system of Jim Crow in the South. The racial policies of segregation and disenfranchisement would continue to persist for many decades following Harrison’s presidency.
The Legacy of Benjamin Harrison’s Efforts for African American Rights
While Benjamin Harrison’s presidency did not result in groundbreaking legislation or major strides for African American civil rights, it did signal the beginning of a broader dialogue on race and rights that would continue to evolve in the years to come. Harrison’s appointments of African Americans to important positions in the federal government and his support for federal intervention to protect voting rights were notable in the context of a time when racial discrimination was the norm.
Although Harrison’s efforts were insufficient to bring about lasting legal reforms, they laid a foundation for future civil rights battles. The Lodge Bill, despite its failure, helped to draw attention to the ongoing racial issues that plagued the country, and it would influence future generations of activists and lawmakers who would fight for the protection of African American rights in the 20th century.
In many ways, Harrison’s presidency was a moment in history when the struggle for racial justice was at a crossroads. The political climate of the time was one where major changes to civil rights were not yet feasible, but the seeds of future reforms were being planted. Harrison’s recognition of the importance of federal oversight in securing voting rights and his appointments of African Americans to key positions demonstrated that change, although slow, was possible.
Conclusion: A Complex Legacy
Benjamin Harrison’s legacy regarding African American rights is a complex one. His administration, while not revolutionary in its accomplishments, represented a period of transition—a time when African Americans continued to struggle for basic civil rights, and when small steps were taken toward greater political representation and federal recognition of their rights.
In the end, Harrison’s presidency was not one of sweeping civil rights victories, but it did contribute to the broader movement toward equality. His appointments of African Americans to high-level positions in government, his efforts to protect voting rights through the Lodge Bill, and his acknowledgment of the need for federal intervention in state-level racial discrimination all contributed to the long fight for African American rights.
Ultimately, Harrison’s presidency serves as a reminder that the struggle for civil rights is a long and complicated journey, one that requires persistent effort, resilience, and the willingness to confront entrenched systems of injustice. While Harrison’s administration did not deliver the full measure of racial equality, his actions and his commitment to African American representation in government set a precedent for future leaders in the ongoing struggle for civil rights.
