Proceedings of the Black National and State Conventions, 1865-1900

Proceedings of the Black National and State Conventions, 1865-1900 Vol 1; traces the black convention movement in the years following the civil war. This volume covers the evolution of the convention movement up through the year 1870, with the passage in that year of the Fifteenth Amendment, granting black Americans the right to vote. Unlike the previous series, this book arranges the proceedings chronologically, beginning with the national conventions, followed by the states, for each of the given years. Each of the conventions is prefaced by an introduction. Since the number of conventions varied with respect to delegates present, issued debated, and impact, the introductions, accordingly vary in size. Reference notes for each convention has been placed at the end of that convention. Unless otherwise indicated, all conventions listed in this volume are in pamphlet form. Space limitations precluded presentation of all the national and state conventions which met during this period. Nevertheless, the materials included in this volume represent a significant cross-section of Afro-American thought and action that developed in the post-bellum years. Conventions not contained in this volume have been listed in the Appendix for the convenience of the reader. (No national conventions met in 1870, therefore, none included.)