Also American

Person · 1836–1903

Francis L. Cardozo

The first Black American to hold statewide office, as South Carolina's secretary of state and treasurer.

A pioneer of [[reconstruction-politics]].

A Glasgow-educated minister, Francis Cardozo led South Carolina's land-reform efforts and built schools, becoming the highest-ranking Black official of the era.

Reconstruction & Black Political Power

On the timeline

  1. January 14, 1868
    South Carolina's Black-majority convention

    For the first time, a Black-majority convention (73 of 124 delegates) writes a state constitution — among the most democratic of its day.

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