A broad scan of political history in Virginia would suggest that African-American political activity disappeared by 1897 and failed to reappear until the 1930's. A look into local politics can contradict this and other state-wide generalizations.

Political Developments in Virginia
Political Developments in Charlottesville

1865 End of Civil War...Reconstruction Begins 1867 Virgina, along with other seceeded States, has to guarantee African-American suffrage as a condition of readmission.

December 3, 1867 Constitutional Convention (also called Underwood Convention) held in Richmond. 25 of the 105 members of the convention are African Americans. 1867 African American, J.T.S. Taylor, is elected to the Constitutional Convention

July 6, 1869 General Assembly elected. 27 of the 180 new members are African Americans.
1870 The Fifteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution is ratified.
1869 J.T.S. Taylor is nominated as a General Assembly representative, but defeated.

1891 Not one African American remains in either house of the state legislature. April 10, 14, 20, 1896 African-Americans J.T.S. Taylor, G.P. Inge, Noah Jackson, C.E. Coles, S. Saunders actively participate in Republican Mass and Committee meetings. July 13, 1896 Political Correspondence reports that African Americans are "canvassing the city and urging the election of a colored man to the position of City Chairman."
November 9, 1898 The Daily Progress reports "THE ELECTION. A Quiet Day Everywhere and a Small Vote." The article claims that the Democrats are unchallenged, the Republicans seem unmotivated, and the African Americans grow tired.

1894 Walton Act, disfranchising law based on literacy, goes into effect.

1898 The Republican Party and African Americans seem to have been eliminated from Virginia Politics

March 1900 Politicians debate over merits of Constitutional Convention. Many Republicans favor African-American voter exclusion in hopes of ending voter fraud and restablishing two-party system. The "lily white" movement begins. May 24, 1900 Albemarle County (which includes Charlottesville) votes in favor of Constitutional Convention.

August, 13, 1900 "WILL IT WORK," an editorial in The Daily Progress, questions the feasibility of a "lily white" Republican party and its fairness with respect to African Americans.

August 20, 22, 23, 1900 In articles "VOTE OF NEGROES", "MEETING OF COLORED MEN", and "THE CONFERENCE ADJOURNS", The Daily Progress reports about the Virginia Conference of Colored Men meeting at the Odd Fellows' Hall in Charlottesville, Virginia, in order to discuss methods of protest against African-American disfranchisement in upcoming Constitutional Convention. This group later developed into the Virginia (or Negro) Educational and Industrial Association.

June 21, 1901-July, 1902 Constitutional Convention held in Richmond. Main goal of the convention was to disfranchise African Americans legally. April 4, 1902 Suffrage proposal passed in Convention. July 10, 1902 New Constitutional Amendments go into effect.
November 14, 1902 With the support of the Virginia Educational and Industrial Association, lawyers James Hayes (an African-American from Richmond) and John S. Wise (a white Republican from New York) bring two suits to the Virgnia courts testing the validity of the new constitution. By 1904, appeals are denied and the State Supreme Court supports the 1902 amendments as constitutional.
October 4, 1902 The Daily Progress reports on the "Recent Voter Registration Drive". 755 whites and 84 African Americans are registered. The article proceeds to explain the reasons certain African Americans are able to qualify and lists them by name.

1905-1920 Republican Party strengthens efforts to become a "lily white" party and distances itself from African Americans. Republican leaders openly announce that African-American participation is undesired and the party excludes African Americans from state conventions.
October 11, 1906 African Americans hold meeting in Richmond to select African-American independent candidate as a political gesture against "lily white" movement.
1908Virginian African Americans and "old-line" Republicans send independent delegation to National Convention in protest of "lily white" delegation.
July 30, 1912 "Black and Tan Alliance" led by James A. Hayes holds a counter convention in protest of delegation selected at Roanoke.
September 1912 Richmond Democratic Committee agrees to cooperate with the National Negro Wilson League, in an attempt to break traditional alliance with Republican Party.
May 22, 1907 In "SWELLED CITY'S VOTING LISTS", The Daily Progress comments on the increase of African American registered voters and lists the number of new registrants since November. The new total includes 659 whites and 135 African Americans. The number of African American voters has more than doubled within the past year.
1908 In a campaign for the upcoming Presidential Election, members from the Republican party publish the voter registration requirements in The Daily Progress. The P.S. reads: "If, when you read these laws, you get mad, remember that the Democratic party made them to beat you, and make up your mind to qualify yourself to vote against such a party."

1920 The 19th Ammendment is adopted. September-October, 1920 Impartial registration and delay tactics are used to limit the number of African-American women able to register to vote.
1920 "Lily black" movement takes serious action. Most Virginian African Ameircans completely sever relations with Republican Party and run an entire slate of African-American candidates on the State and National level.
October 5, 1920 Three African-American women are successful in registering to vote: Mrs. Maggie P. Burley, Mamie J. Farwell, Mrs. Alice Grady.

July 14, 1921 Republican party openly declares itself a white man's party at the State convention in Norfolk. GOP expresses disapproval towards the Democratic party's persistence in playing the race card against republicans. November 1, 1921 In The Daily Progress, certain Republican leaders publish a letter protesting African-American electoral judges appointed. November 5, 1920, the Electoral Board answers that they performed their duties faithfully and legally "believing that there are more colored Republicans in the City of Charlottesville than white Republicans". November 1921 Albemarle County Republican Committee publishes a full-page ad, "A CHEAP POLITICAL TRICK. REPUBLICANS ASK FOR FAIR PLAY", in response to the appointment of African-American electoral judges.

July, 1922 Republican Congressional Convention held in Luray. GOP continues to proclaim itself a "lily white" party. Charlottesville sends two delegations, one led by L.W. Cox and the other by R.N. Flannagan. The Cox delegation which includes four African Americans is dismissed from convention. April 17, 1922 Chairman L.W. Cox sends a letter to State Chairman John E. Beard requesting to delay the city convention to elect delegates to the Congressional Convention in July. May 5, 1922 R.N. Flannagan, President of the Henry Anderson Independent Club, sends a letter to the Republicans of Charlottesville proposing to hold a city convention May 15th in protest of Cox's delay. May 16, 1922 The Daily Progress gives a report about the Republican meeting led by Flannagan and lists the delegates chosen. June 15, 1922 Cox calls to order city convention to elect representatives to attend Republican Congressional Convention. Four African Americans are elected. July 23, 1922 In "NEGROES AGAIN BARRED FROM G.O.P. CONVENTION" The Daily Progress reports the dismissal of the Cox delegation and the seating of Flannagan's "lily white" delegation.

Political Developments in Virginia	Political Developments in Charlottesville
1865 End of Civil War...Reconstruction Begins 1867 Virgina, along with other seceeded States, has to guarantee African-American suffrage as a condition of readmission.
December 3, 1867 Constitutional Convention (also called Underwood Convention) held in Richmond. 25 of the 105 members of the convention are African Americans.	1867 African American, J.T.S. Taylor, is elected to the Constitutional Convention
July 6, 1869 General Assembly elected. 27 of the 180 new members are African Americans. 1870 The Fifteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution is ratified.	1869 J.T.S. Taylor is nominated as a General Assembly representative, but defeated.
1891 Not one African American remains in either house of the state legislature.	April 10, 14, 20, 1896 African-Americans J.T.S. Taylor, G.P. Inge, Noah Jackson, C.E. Coles, S. Saunders actively participate in Republican Mass and Committee meetings. July 13, 1896 Political Correspondence reports that African Americans are "canvassing the city and urging the election of a colored man to the position of City Chairman." November 9, 1898 The Daily Progress reports "THE ELECTION. A Quiet Day Everywhere and a Small Vote." The article claims that the Democrats are unchallenged, the Republicans seem unmotivated, and the African Americans grow tired.
1894 Walton Act, disfranchising law based on literacy, goes into effect.
1898 The Republican Party and African Americans seem to have been eliminated from Virginia Politics
March 1900 Politicians debate over merits of Constitutional Convention. Many Republicans favor African-American voter exclusion in hopes of ending voter fraud and restablishing two-party system. The "lily white" movement begins.	May 24, 1900 Albemarle County (which includes Charlottesville) votes in favor of Constitutional Convention.
	August, 13, 1900 "WILL IT WORK," an editorial in The Daily Progress, questions the feasibility of a "lily white" Republican party and its fairness with respect to African Americans.
	August 20, 22, 23, 1900 In articles "VOTE OF NEGROES", "MEETING OF COLORED MEN", and "THE CONFERENCE ADJOURNS", The Daily Progress reports about the Virginia Conference of Colored Men meeting at the Odd Fellows' Hall in Charlottesville, Virginia, in order to discuss methods of protest against African-American disfranchisement in upcoming Constitutional Convention. This group later developed into the Virginia (or Negro) Educational and Industrial Association.
June 21, 1901-July, 1902 Constitutional Convention held in Richmond. Main goal of the convention was to disfranchise African Americans legally. April 4, 1902 Suffrage proposal passed in Convention. July 10, 1902 New Constitutional Amendments go into effect. November 14, 1902 With the support of the Virginia Educational and Industrial Association, lawyers James Hayes (an African-American from Richmond) and John S. Wise (a white Republican from New York) bring two suits to the Virgnia courts testing the validity of the new constitution. By 1904, appeals are denied and the State Supreme Court supports the 1902 amendments as constitutional.	October 4, 1902 The Daily Progress reports on the "Recent Voter Registration Drive". 755 whites and 84 African Americans are registered. The article proceeds to explain the reasons certain African Americans are able to qualify and lists them by name.
1905-1920 Republican Party strengthens efforts to become a "lily white" party and distances itself from African Americans. Republican leaders openly announce that African-American participation is undesired and the party excludes African Americans from state conventions. October 11, 1906 African Americans hold meeting in Richmond to select African-American independent candidate as a political gesture against "lily white" movement. 1908Virginian African Americans and "old-line" Republicans send independent delegation to National Convention in protest of "lily white" delegation. July 30, 1912 "Black and Tan Alliance" led by James A. Hayes holds a counter convention in protest of delegation selected at Roanoke. September 1912 Richmond Democratic Committee agrees to cooperate with the National Negro Wilson League, in an attempt to break traditional alliance with Republican Party.	May 22, 1907 In "SWELLED CITY'S VOTING LISTS", The Daily Progress comments on the increase of African American registered voters and lists the number of new registrants since November. The new total includes 659 whites and 135 African Americans. The number of African American voters has more than doubled within the past year. 1908 In a campaign for the upcoming Presidential Election, members from the Republican party publish the voter registration requirements in The Daily Progress. The P.S. reads: "If, when you read these laws, you get mad, remember that the Democratic party made them to beat you, and make up your mind to qualify yourself to vote against such a party."
1920 The 19th Ammendment is adopted. September-October, 1920 Impartial registration and delay tactics are used to limit the number of African-American women able to register to vote. 1920 "Lily black" movement takes serious action. Most Virginian African Ameircans completely sever relations with Republican Party and run an entire slate of African-American candidates on the State and National level.	October 5, 1920 Three African-American women are successful in registering to vote: Mrs. Maggie P. Burley, Mamie J. Farwell, Mrs. Alice Grady.
July 14, 1921 Republican party openly declares itself a white man's party at the State convention in Norfolk. GOP expresses disapproval towards the Democratic party's persistence in playing the race card against republicans.	November 1, 1921 In The Daily Progress, certain Republican leaders publish a letter protesting African-American electoral judges appointed. November 5, 1920, the Electoral Board answers that they performed their duties faithfully and legally "believing that there are more colored Republicans in the City of Charlottesville than white Republicans". November 1921 Albemarle County Republican Committee publishes a full-page ad, "A CHEAP POLITICAL TRICK. REPUBLICANS ASK FOR FAIR PLAY", in response to the appointment of African-American electoral judges.
July, 1922 Republican Congressional Convention held in Luray. GOP continues to proclaim itself a "lily white" party. Charlottesville sends two delegations, one led by L.W. Cox and the other by R.N. Flannagan. The Cox delegation which includes four African Americans is dismissed from convention.	April 17, 1922 Chairman L.W. Cox sends a letter to State Chairman John E. Beard requesting to delay the city convention to elect delegates to the Congressional Convention in July. May 5, 1922 R.N. Flannagan, President of the Henry Anderson Independent Club, sends a letter to the Republicans of Charlottesville proposing to hold a city convention May 15th in protest of Cox's delay. May 16, 1922 The Daily Progress gives a report about the Republican meeting led by Flannagan and lists the delegates chosen. June 15, 1922 Cox calls to order city convention to elect representatives to attend Republican Congressional Convention. Four African Americans are elected. July 23, 1922 In "NEGROES AGAIN BARRED FROM G.O.P. CONVENTION" The Daily Progress reports the dismissal of the Cox delegation and the seating of Flannagan's "lily white" delegation.