White League facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White League |
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| White Man's League Participant in Reconstruction Era violence |
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White League and Ku Klux Klan alliance, in illustration, by Thomas Nast, in Harper's Weekly, October 24, 1874
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| Active | 1874–1876 |
| Ideology | White supremacy, Neo-Confederate, Anti-Reconstruction |
| Preceded by | Confederate army veterans |
| Succeeded by | State militias |
| Allies | Ku Klux Klan |
| Opponents | U.S. government, Northerners, African Americans, Carpetbaggers, Scalawags, Republican Party |
| Battles and wars | Coushatta massacre Battle of Liberty Place |
The White League, also known as the White Man's League, was a group formed in the Southern United States in 1874. This group used violence and threats to stop African Americans who had been enslaved (called freedmen) from voting. They also wanted to prevent the Republican Party from gaining power in the South after the American Civil War.
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Understanding the White League
The White League was a group of people, mostly white men, who believed that white people were superior to others. They wanted to keep control of the Southern states during a time called the Reconstruction Era. This was the period after the Civil War when the U.S. government was trying to rebuild the South and ensure rights for newly freed slaves.
How the White League Started
The first part of the White League was created in Grant Parish, Louisiana. This happened in 1874. Many of its first members were former soldiers from the Confederate army. Some of these individuals had been involved in a violent event called the Colfax massacre in April 1873. After its start in Grant Parish, new groups of the White League quickly formed in New Orleans and other parts of Louisiana.
What Were Their Goals?
The main goals of the White League were:
- To stop African Americans from voting.
- To remove members of the Republican Party from political office.
- To bring back the old ways of the South before the Civil War, where white people had all the power.
- They used fear and violence to achieve these goals.
Actions and Influence
The White League was involved in several violent events. Two notable ones were the Coushatta massacre and the Battle of Liberty Place. These events showed how the group used force to try and control politics and society in Louisiana. Their actions were a big challenge to the U.S. government's efforts to bring peace and equality to the South.
What Happened to the White League?
The White League was active for a few years, from 1874 to 1876. Over time, some of its members joined official state military groups, like the National Guard. This allowed them to continue their influence in different ways. The group eventually faded away as the Reconstruction Era ended. However, their actions had a lasting impact on the history of the South and the fight for civil rights.
