Black History Month "Republican Sweat"

February 20, 1895
Death of Republican activist Frederick Douglass – escaped slave, author, abolition leader, civil rights champion

12 Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday
February 12, 1909
On 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, African-American Republicans and women’s suffragists Ida Wells and Mary Terrell co-found the NAACP

February 11, 1856
Republican Montgomery Blair argues before U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of his client, the slave Dred Scott; later served in President Lincoln’s Cabinet


February 1, 1865
Chief Justice Salmon Chase swears in
Republican John S. Rock, first African-American to be admitted to practice before U.S. Supreme Court

February 3, 1870
After passing House with 98% Republican support and 97% Democrat opposition, Republicans’ 15th Amendment is ratified, granting vote to all Americans regardless of race

February 4, 1959
President Eisenhower informs Republican leaders of his plan to introduce 1960 Civil Rights Act, despite staunch opposition from many Democrats

February 5, 1866
U.S. Rep. Thaddeus Stevens (R-PA) introduces legislation, successfully opposed by Democrat President Andrew Johnson, to implement “40 acres and a mule” relief by distributing land to former slaves


February 8, 1894
Democrat Congress and Democrat President Grover Cleveland join to repeal Republicans’ Enforcement Act, which had enabled African-Americans to vote


February 17, 1973
Republican Navy Secretary John Warner commissions frigate in honor of first African-American naval aviator, Jesse L. Brown, who died in combat during Korean War


February 24, 1992
President George H. W. Bush appoints African-American Edward Perkins as U.S. Ambassador to United Nations


February 21, 1863
Republican Governor John Andrew establishes the 54th Massachusetts, the famous regiment of African-American U.S. troops in which two of Frederick Douglass’ sons served

February 28, 1871
Republican Congress passes Enforcement Act providing federal protection for African-American voters