Union Reform Party of South Carolina facts for kids
The Union Reform 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 rebuilt. The party was first known as the Citizen's Party. It was started in the spring of 1870 by some Republicans who wanted to make changes.
Their main goal was to stop Governor Robert Kingston Scott from being reelected. At this time, most voters in South Carolina were recently freed African Americans. They usually voted for the Republican Party. White conservatives in the state knew that the Democratic Party was not strong enough to win. So, they decided to team up with these Republicans who were leaving their old party. This team-up would make Governor Scott's government weaker. It would also give the conservatives a chance to influence a new government if their party won.
How the Union Reform Party Started
The Republicans who wanted reform and the white conservatives met on June 15, 1870. They gathered in Columbia, South Carolina. Their goal was to create a new party. This party would stand against the ideas of the Radical Republicans, who were a strong part of the Republican Party. Many African Americans also attended this meeting.
The Union Reform Party chose its candidates for the 1870 elections. They nominated Vermont Republican Richard B. Carpenter for Governor. For Lieutenant Governor, they chose Matthew Butler. There were plans to nominate an African American man for Lieutenant Governor. However, the two men asked for the job said no. So, the African Americans at the convention then nominated Butler themselves. For the races to elect lawmakers, an African American man was chosen to run in every area.
The Big Election of 1870
On October 10, 1870, Governor Scott was reelected as governor. He won by a lot, getting 62% of the votes compared to Carpenter's 38%. The Republicans also won all the races for Congress. They kept a large majority of seats in the South Carolina General Assembly, which is the state's main lawmaking body.
The Union Reform Party did not get many votes from African Americans. Most African Americans saw little difference between this new party and the Democratic Party. They generally felt that even if the Republican Party had problems, the Union Reform Party might limit their civil rights.
What Happened Next
After the election, the Union Reform Party became the main opposition group. Its members later split up. Some joined the Democratic Party. Others joined the Independent Republican Party for the 1872 election. Richard B. Carpenter, who ran for governor, was welcomed back into the Republican Party. In 1872, the General Assembly elected him to be a judge for the Fifth Circuit.
