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Joseph Rainey (R-SC), born into slavery, was the first African-American elected to the House of Representatives.
Explore current and historical political parties, map party control, and learn about polarization.
Visualize the 117th House and its members, and compare it with past congresses
Robert Smalls, born enslaved in South Carolina, stole the CSS Planter and delivered it to Union troops. After the Civil War, Smalls was elected to the South Carolina legislature and later to the U.S. Congress where he served 5 terms during and after Reconstruction.