He was the first African to be elected into Congress in 1870
This series of laws was called the Black Codes.
Most Black Codes were passed in 1865-66 in Southern states to control the conduct of newly-freed African Americans after the Civil War.
Depending on the state, they established rules regarding:
- the legitimacy of black people's jobs (if their work was not recognized by whites, they could be considered criminal vagrants),
- their right to own property (like land) or businesses,
- their movement through public spaces,
- their right to carry weapons,
- their right to marry or live with whites, etc.
The first universal credit card, which could be used at a variety of establishments, was introduced by the Diners' Club, Inc., in 1950.
