Bibliograph

The day freedom died, the Colfax massacre, the Supreme Court, and the betrayal of Reconstruction, Charles Lane

Type

Label

The day freedom died, the Colfax massacre, the Supreme Court, and the betrayal of Reconstruction, Charles Lane

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references (p. [307]-312) and index

resource.biographical

contains biographical information

Illustrations

platesmapsillustrations

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

The day freedom died

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

172984718

Responsibility statement

Charles Lane

Sub title

the Colfax massacre, the Supreme Court, and the betrayal of Reconstruction

Summary

Following the Civil War, Colfax, Louisiana, was a town, like many, where Negroes and whites mingled uneasily. But on April 13, 1873, a small army of white ex-Confederate soldiers, enraged after attempts by freedmen to assert their new rights, killed more than sixty Negroes who had occupied a courthouse. Now, journalist Charles Lane transforms this nearly forgotten incident into a historical saga. Seeking justice for the slain, one brave U.S. attorney, James Beckwith, risked his life and career to investigate and punish the perpetrators--but they all went free. What followed was a series of courtroom dramas that culminated at the Supreme Court, where the verdict compromised the victories of the Civil War and left Southern blacks at the mercy of violent whites for generations.--From publisher description

Table Of Contents

Prologue -- "Wholesale murder" -- From plantation to parish -- Power struggle -- War -- Blood on the red -- Black-letter law -- Manhunt -- Louisiana on trial -- A justice's judgment -- "If Louisiana goes..." -- The court speaks -- Epilogue -- Appednix: How many died?

Classification

Creator