In what year did Congress take over Washington, D.C.?
1871
Congress blamed the District’s financial issues on Black voters.
What did Congress do in response to the financial mess in D.C.?
Took over the capital city
This was justified by claims that the city was being ‘Africanized’.
Who was the president that vetoed the D.C. Suffrage Bill?
President Andrew Johnson
The bill was later overridden by Congress.
What significant event occurred on January 8, 1867?
Congress gave Black men the right to vote
This was two years before the 15th Amendment.
What was the reaction of the Washington Evening Star to the D.C. Suffrage Bill?
Warned it would create a ‘negro utopia’
This reflected the fears of a growing Black intellectual class.
Who was elected mayor of D.C. with the help of Black voters in 1868?
Sayles J. Bowen
Bowen was a former clerk at the Treasury Department.
What percentage of administration positions did Bowen appoint to Black residents?
About 30 percent
He also advocated for integrated schools.
What did the Bowen administration achieve in terms of public works?
- Expanded education for Black children
- Built sewer lines
- Installed streetlights
- Cleaned up alleys
These improvements were part of the city’s growth.
What caused the debt in Washington D.C. to balloon?
Civic improvements and mismanagement
Opposition emphasized the growing debt as a reason for taking over the government.
What was the outcome of the 1870 election for Bowen?
Lost reelection to Matthew G. Emery
He lost by a significant margin of 3,219 votes.
Who lobbied Congress to revoke the charters of D.C. cities?
Alexander Robey Shepherd
He was appointed to the Board of Public Works by President Ulysses S. Grant.
What did Congress do in response to the growing debt in D.C.?
Took over D.C. government and appointed city commissioners
This was seen as a response to the ‘curse of black suffrage’.
In what year was the Home Rule Act signed?
1973
This act allowed D.C. to elect its own mayor and council.
What was the population of D.C. by the 1950 census?
Nearly 800,000
The population included 35 percent identifying as African American.
What did Rep. John L. McMillan oppose regarding home rule?
He cited concerns about minorities controlling the government
His opposition was consistent from 1945 to 1973.
What emotions might Black residents of D.C. have felt during the shift from empowerment to disenfranchisement?
Frustration and betrayal
This shift is evidenced by the loss of voting rights and the takeover of the government.
What qualities made Sayles Bowen an effective leader?
- Advocacy for Black rights
- Public works improvements
- Political inclusivity
He faced challenges like financial mismanagement and opposition.
Describe a moment in the article that evokes outrage or sympathy.
The blame for D.C.’s problems falling on Black voters
This is highlighted in the context of the 1874 congressional investigation.
How did early voting rights for Black men in the 1860s shift perspectives on current voting rights debates?
Highlighted historical struggles and progress
This context emphasizes ongoing issues of disenfranchisement.
If explaining to a younger student why D.C. struggles with full representation, what part of the article would you use?
The historical context of the D.C. Suffrage Bill and its aftermath
This illustrates the long-standing issues of disenfranchisement.
What does the cycle of progress → backlash → progress → backlash illustrate about D.C.’s struggle for home rule?
A persistent struggle against systemic disenfranchisement
This pattern reflects the ongoing fight for rights and representation.
