Indiana White Caps facts for kids

The White caps were groups of people in southern Indiana during the late 1800s. They were known for taking the law into their own hands, which is sometimes called vigilante justice. Today, their actions are often seen as a form of scary and harmful acts. These groups became common after the American Civil War and continued until the early 1900s. They were especially active in places like Crawford County in the late 1880s.

White Caps in Indiana

The White caps were groups that believed they needed to enforce rules and punish people themselves, instead of letting the official police and courts do it. This idea of "vigilante justice" meant they acted as judge, jury, and sometimes executioner. They were active in Indiana from the time after the American Civil War until around 1900.

Why Were They Active?

These groups often formed because people felt the official law enforcement wasn't doing enough. They took it upon themselves to deal with people they thought were breaking rules or committing crimes. Their actions often caused fear and harm in the communities where they operated.

Government Actions Against White Caps

Over time, the government of Indiana took steps to stop the White caps and other groups like them.

Early Efforts to Stop Them

Isaac P. Gray, who was the Governor of Indiana, began trying to stop these vigilante groups. He believed that the law should be enforced by official authorities, not by private groups.

Changing Policies

Later, another Governor of Indiana, James A. Mount, was actually part of one of these White cap groups. Because of this, he changed the state's plan and stopped trying to prevent the groups from acting.

However, the next governor, Winfield T. Durbin, started the policy of stopping these groups again in 1900. This happened two years after the Indiana General Assembly (the state's law-making body) passed a strong law against mob violence.

Ending Mob Violence

The strong actions taken by the authorities helped to end unlawful killings by groups of people in Indiana. Since then, only two such cases have been recorded. These were the killings of Thomas Shipp and Abram Smith in 1930.

It's important to know that these acts of mob violence in Indiana were not always based on race. They often happened to anyone suspected of a serious crime, like murder. Between 1860 and 1910, at least 68 people were killed this way. Out of these, 20 were Black people and 48 were White people.