January 10 …

The expulsion and later reinstatement of the Original 33 African-American legislators in the Georgia General Assembly during Reconstruction became a pivotal struggle over political rights and citizenship in the United States.

After the Civil War, Reconstruction laws and new state constitutions enabled African American men to vote and assume office throughout the South. In Georgia, the elections of 1868 saw the election of 33 Black legislators, known as the “Original 33,” to the Georgia General Assembly, featuring notable figures such as Tunis Campbell, Henry McNeal Turner, Abram Colby, and Jefferson Franklin Long.

This election marked a significant shift in Southern politics, as formerly enslaved individuals and other African Americans began to engage directly in government. However, many white lawmakers contended that, while Black men had the right to vote according to the new state constitution, they were not legally allowed to serve as legislators. On September 3, 1868, white Democratic members of the Georgia House and Senate voted to expel the Black representatives and senators, ousting them from their positions and leaving their districts without representation.

The expulsion of the 33 elected individuals provoked outrage among African American communities and Republican leaders nationwide. Many of the displaced legislators vocally protested, with Henry McNeal Turner delivering a powerful speech asserting that African Americans possessed the same right to hold office as white citizens.

Reports of intimidation, violence, and political retaliation against Black leaders ensued, particularly in rural areas where Black political engagement had flourished. The controversy swiftly attracted the attention of federal authorities, prompting the United States Congress to delay Georgia’s full readmission for representation until the state rectified the injustice.

In June 1869, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that African Americans had the right to hold public office. Under pressure from federal Reconstruction officials and military authorities, Georgia conducted new elections, allowing the previously expelled legislators to reclaim their positions.

On January 10, 1870, the elected 33 African Americans were officially reinstated and sworn back into the Georgia General Assembly after federal pressure and legal rulings affirmed their right to hold office.

These events left a lasting impact on American society, culture, and political history. Their expulsion underscored the vehement resistance among many white Southern leaders to Black political involvement, while their reinstatement illustrated the crucial role of federal intervention in safeguarding civil rights during Reconstruction.

This episode significantly influenced national discussions on citizenship, equal protection, and the rights enshrined in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. Although many of these legislators continued to face discrimination and political backlash, their service marked an early milestone in African American political leadership in the United States.

In subsequent years, the Original 33 have been honored for their bravery and historical significance through state commemorations, educational initiatives, and historical markers that celebrate their contributions to the evolution of representative democracy in Georgia and the broader civil rights movement.