02 - Facts of Reconstruction by John R. Lynch

After the American Civil War, John R. Lynch, a former slave from Mississippi, embarked on an extraordinary political journey starting in 1869 as Justice of the Peace and later becoming a Mississippi State Representative. At just 26 years old, he was elected to the US Congress in 1873, where he actively championed several important bills, including a pivotal debate supporting the Civil Rights Act of 1875, aimed at ending discrimination in public accommodations. In 1884, Lynch made history as the first African American nominated for the position of Temporary Chairman of the Republican National Convention in Chicago, following a stirring speech by Theodore Roosevelt. His service continued during the Spanish-American War as he held roles such as Treasury Auditor and Paymaster. After joining the Regular Army in 1901, Lynch served in various locations, including the United States, Cuba, and the Philippines, before retiring in 1911. He married Cora Williams and settled in Chicago, where he practiced law and engaged in real estate. Upon his death in Chicago in 1939 at the age of 92, he was honored with a military burial in Arlington National Cemetery, a testament to his dual legacy as a Congressman and veteran. In his later years, Lynch authored a significant work, The Facts of Reconstruction, along with several articles that challenged the prevailing Dunning School historiography, which minimized the contributions of African Americans during Reconstruction. Drawing from his firsthand experiences in Reconstruction-era governments, Lynchs book serves as an essential primary source for understanding this transformative period in American history. (Introduction by Guero and Wikipedia.)