My husband, Bob U., wrote a series of articles, which I think are really insightful. This is Part 2. I invite your comments.You can visit Bob at http://bobuhlar.gather.com/
Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1860 as the first Republican Party President of the United States. It was a close race between candidates from four parties.
The Republican Party advocated an end to slavery in the United States. Lincoln would issue his Emancipation Proclamation. This triggered the secession of southern states from the union and the War Between the States.
Southern states were convinced that they could not survive without slavery, which provided cheap labor to plantations.
In the years after the Civil War, Lincoln's politics saw southern white conservatives become Democrats and newly emancipated slaves became Republicans.
Sixteen years later, the Republican candidate for president, Rutherford B. Hayes would sell the soul of the Republican Party - and the freedom of those emancipated southern blacks.
The election of 1876 was disputed. Democratic candidate Samuel J. Tilden had won the popular vote by approximately 250,000 votes. But the returns from Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina were disputed. The Republican controlled congress created a commission to investigate the controversy and declare a winner.
The results remain muddled until leaders in those three states extorted a promise from Hayes. Hayes would end reconstruction and ignore pending legislation legalizing segregation and poll taxes in the south.
Electors from those three states cast their votes for Hayes. He won the 1876 Electoral College Vote 185-184.
Throughout this period, evangelical Christian leaders praised slavery and segregation as being supported by passages from the Old Testament.
Southern conservatives now had laws codifying their prejudices and continued to elect racist Democrats to public office.
Disenfranchised southern blacks would have to wait almost 90 years for the federal government to enforce equal rights.
Tomorrow - Part 3: Seeds of Civil Rights
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Comments: 26
The Southern states actually began their secessionism before the inauguaration which took place on March, 1861. In fact, by January, several states left the Union.
Unfortunately, the Southern preachers did not read their Bible carefully enough because the book does NOT condone slavery as it was practiced in the USA.
I am an astute student of American history and will match my knowledge of the subject with any college professor. The best writing on the subject of biblically sanctioned slavery was Angelina Grimké's essay entitled ''Appeal To The Christian Women of the South'':
Grimke Essay
I consider this the greatest writing ever created by any American woman writer. If Southern bigots and preachers only troubled themselves to read it there would not have been a Civil War.
As for the Bible... there is just about every perversion one could think of in it, but many people read it and take everything literally. They also look to justify their pre-conceived notions and long-standing beliefs rather than read it with an open mind to the spirit underlying the teachings. In other words, the metaphysical interpretation and symbolism.
Interesting how the political parties have swapped out bases since they came to be. What is left for the Republicans now? They've earned the rep of being the party of the white and wealthy or the white and rabid religious.
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"Southern conservatives now had laws codifying their prejudices and continued to elect racist Democrats to public office."
I clipped and quoted these two sentences, Carla, because they appear to me to be contradictory. Might just be my trouble reading clearly on line. It seems to me if Hayes were to "ignore" these laws the southern conservatives would NOT have had the laws they wanted. Or am I just confused.
I'm enjoying being able to read this US history chronologically in such a clear way. I studied this over 50 years ago and much has been lost that wasn't thought about for so long. Thanks.
Thought you might want to see my face. Too bad you hide behind a symbol.
You will note the words "Part 2" in the title. This would imply that I am building a case and that there will be more to come.
Essentially, Hayes took the heat off Southern States and allowed them to discriminate.
Less than 20 years after Lincoln's election, The Republican Party stopped being the party of reform and progressive ideas.
If you can learn one new thing every day then there is no danger of ever becoming a repugnicon.
Wow two ignorant comments in one post, a new record for lexy.
The bill was written a year after the start of the war.
With the war being not about slavory but the north's forced movement of industry on Southern plantations. THe South was already in the process of trying to settle the Slaves in their own Communities, and both James Buchanan and Abraham Lincoln had refused to help them.
"The Emancipation Proclamation consists of two executive orders issued by United States President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War. The first one, issued September 22, 1862"
Civil war started in April 12, 1861.
17 months between the start of the war, and the bill, does not match your fantasy, as usual.
You are ignoring the fact that it was a campaign promise by Lincoln. The Southern States anticipated the proclamation, even though it was not made official until September 1862.
Any other nits you want to pick?
Correction: FORMER Klansman.
By contrast, Republican McCain, like Reagan, identified himself as a Contra which is a self acknowledged fascist terrorist group.