"We are in a state of terror here. The White League rides through our county every night, threatening the lives of all who vote the Republican ticket. On election day, armed men stood at the polls, and many of our people were too frightened to cast their ballots. The state government cannot protect us, and the federal troops have been withdrawn from our town."
— Letter from an anonymous African American citizen in Louisiana, 1876
Which of the following historical developments is best illustrated by the letter?
- AThe initial implementation of Presidential Reconstruction policies immediately after the Civil War.
- The use of violence and voter intimidation by white supremacist groups to dismantle Reconstruction.Answer
- CThe successful national enforcement of voting rights under the Fifteenth Amendment.
- DThe rising sectional tension in the South over federal industrial tariff policies.
Answer
The use of violence and voter intimidation by white supremacist groups to dismantle Reconstruction.
The letter documents the tactics used by Redeemer organizations, specifically the White League, to violently suppress Republican votes in the South. This campaign of terror, combined with the reduction of federal intervention, successfully undermined the coalition supporting Reconstruction and restored conservative Democratic rule in Southern states.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Southern resistance and the collapse of Reconstruction