Conservative Party (South Carolina) facts for kids
The Conservative Party of South Carolina was a political group in South Carolina during a time called Reconstruction. This was a period after the American Civil War when the Southern states were being rebuilt.
The party started in 1874. It was created by James Chestnut from a group called the State Tax Union. Its main goal was to bring together white voters in South Carolina. At this time, the main Democratic Party was not very strong in the state. Because of this, many Democrats joined the Conservative Party for the election in 1874. The Conservative Party stopped existing when the Democratic Party became strong again for the election in 1876.
How the Party Started
James Chestnut called a meeting for the State Tax Union. This meeting happened in Columbia on September 10, 1874. The main reasons for this meeting were to plan for the upcoming 1874 election. They also wanted to talk about a statement President Grant made on September 2. This statement was about problems happening in the Southern states.
Chestnut called for another meeting of the State Tax Union. This second meeting took place on October 8 in Columbia. At this meeting, they discussed how to win the election. They also chose people to run for different government jobs. The people at the meeting decided to support the candidates from the Independent Republican Party. They also agreed on a set of beliefs for their party. These beliefs focused on having honest and efficient government in the state.
The 1874 Election and Its Impact
The candidates supported by the Independent Republican Party lost the main election on November 3, 1874. However, the Conservative Party did manage to make a small difference. They reduced the number of seats the Republicans held in the House and the Senate.
In Charleston County, the Conservative Party and the Independent Republican Party worked together. This partnership helped some Conservatives get elected to the General Assembly from Charleston. It also helped an Independent Republican named Edmund W.M. Mackey win a seat in Congress. He represented the Second District.
The Party's End and Legacy
Even though the Conservative Party did not win many elections, it had a lasting effect. It helped set the stage for the Democratic Party to become strong again. The Conservatives' struggles made the Democrats realize something important. To take control of the state government, they needed to choose their own candidates for all statewide positions in the 1876 election. This led to the end of the Conservative Party as the Democratic Party rose again.
