The Colfax Massacre 1873

Summary

The Colfax Massacre of 1873 marked the violent end of Reconstruction in the South, as white supremacists targeted Black freedmen in Colfax, Louisiana, killing 165 individuals. The event arose from political tensions after a contested local election, leading to an attack organized by white supremacist groups. Despite federal intervention, the massacre's aftermath paved the way for the erosion of Black political rights, culminating in the Supreme Court case *United States v. Cruikshank*, which limited federal protections. This brutal incident underscores the struggles of Black Americans during Reconstruction and its devastating impact on civil rights in the South.

Takeaways

• 😀 Colfax, Louisiana is a small town in Grant Parish, part of the Alexandria, Louisiana metropolitan area, with a population of under 2,000.
• 😀 The 1872 election in Colfax saw both Republican freedmen and white Democrats claiming victory, leading to violent conflict.
• 😀 The Colfax Massacre, occurring on Easter Sunday 1873, involved the murder of 165 black freedmen by white supremacists, including the Klan and the Knights of the White Camellia.
• 😀 The massacre occurred after a violent attack on the courthouse, with attackers using rifles, ammunition, and even a cannon.
• 😀 President Grant declared martial law in Colfax after the massacre, and federal troops captured nine men, but only three were convicted.
• 😀 The Colfax Massacre was part of the broader white supremacist efforts to regain control of southern governments after the Civil War and Reconstruction.
• 😀 The 1873 massacre marked a turning point, with the end of Reconstruction policies in the South and increasing control by white supremacists.
• 😀 The US Supreme Court's 1875 ruling in United States vs. Cruikshank weakened protections for black citizens, limiting federal action against individual rights violations.
• 😀 The Colfax Massacre and subsequent legal outcomes greatly contributed to the decline of Republican influence and black political rights in the South.
• 😀 A historical marker in Colfax, placed in 1950, commemorates the massacre, and a cemetery obelisk honors those who fought for white supremacy during the event.

Q & A

What historical event is discussed in the script related to Colfax, Louisiana?

The script discusses the Colfax Massacre of 1873, where a violent assault led to the deaths of 165 Black freedmen after the local election in Colfax, Louisiana.

What was the role of the federal government during the Colfax Massacre?

After the massacre, President Grant declared martial law, and federal soldiers captured nine men involved in the attack, though only three were convicted.

How did the U.S. Supreme Court affect the legal outcomes after the Colfax Massacre?

In the 1875 case of United States v. Cruikshank, the Supreme Court ruled that constitutional rights violations by individuals, like those during the massacre, could not be prosecuted under federal law, thus leaving freedmen vulnerable to future attacks.

What impact did the Colfax Massacre have on the political landscape of the South?

The massacre marked the end of Reconstruction in the South, as it effectively ended the political power of Southern Republicans and the protection of Black suffrage and rights.

How did the white supremacist groups organize the attack in Colfax?

The Knights of the White Camellia and the Ku Klux Klan were believed to have organized the attack, with 140 armed white men assaulting the courthouse, eventually executing 165 Black freedmen.

What was the economic context in the South during the time of the Colfax Massacre?

The Panic of 1873 had caused economic disruption, leading to falling farm prices, high unemployment, and increased frustration among white supremacists, who linked these issues to Black political participation.

What was the fate of the perpetrators of the Colfax Massacre?

Only three of the perpetrators were convicted of violating the Enforcement Act of 1870, but the Supreme Court's ruling in United States v. Cruikshank severely limited the enforcement of constitutional rights for Black citizens.

How did the federal government respond to the rise of white supremacy after the Colfax Massacre?

In 1874, following the Colfax Massacre, white supremacists organized an armed march on New Orleans, which led President Grant to send federal troops to restore order in the city.

What was the significance of the historical marker in Colfax?

A historical marker was placed in Colfax in 1950 to commemorate the massacre, reading: 'Colfax riot... 150 Negros were slain,' marking the end of carpetbagger rule in Louisiana.

What does the 12-foot obelisk in Colfax cemetery commemorate?

The obelisk commemorates the lives of white supremacist heroes, such as Stephen Decatur Parish, James West, and Sidney Harris, who died in the Colfax Massacre while fighting for white supremacy.