Alabama gubernatorial election, 1870

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Alabama gubernatorial election, 1870
  1868 November 8, 1870 1872  

  Robert B. Lindsay.jpg William Hugh Smith.jpg
Nominee Robert B. Lindsay William Hugh Smith
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote77,72376,282
Percentage50.47%49.53%

Governor before election

William Hugh Smith
Republican

Elected Governor

Robert B. Lindsay
Democratic

The 1870 Alabama gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1870 in order to elect the Governor of Alabama. Incumbent Republican William Hugh Smith was narrowly defeated by Democrat Robert B. Lindsay.

William Hugh Smith American politician

William Hugh Smith was an American planter and politician, the 21st Governor of the U.S. state of Alabama. He was the first Republican elected as governor in the state, serving from 1868 to 1870 during the period of Reconstruction. A former slave owner, he had opposed secession from the union on the grounds it would imperil slave property. He appeared driven by practical consideration rather than principled opposition to slavery.

Robert B. Lindsay American politician

Robert Burns Lindsay was a Scots-American politician, elected as the 22nd Governor of the U.S. state of Alabama during Reconstruction, and serving one term from 1870 to 1872.

The run-up to the election was marred by political and racist terrorism by the Ku Klux Klan, in support of Lindsay. This violence included the lynching of four blacks and a white in Calhoun County, the murder of two blacks (one a Republican politician) in Greene County, and the October Eutaw riot. [1] In Greene County, for instance, the violence of the Eutaw riot is credited with swaying the vote in that county toward Lindsay: in the 1869 presidential election, Greene County had voted for Ulysses S. Grant by a margin of 2,000 votes; in the 1870 gubernatorial election it voted for Robert B. Lindsay by a margin of 43. [2]

Ku Klux Klan American white supremacy group

The Ku Klux Klan, commonly called the KKK or the Klan, is an American white supremacist hate group. The Klan has existed in three distinct eras at different points in time during the history of the United States. Each has advocated extremist reactionary positions such as white supremacy, white nationalism, anti-immigration and—especially in later iterations—Nordicism and anti-Catholicism. Historically, the KKK used terrorism—both physical assault and murder—against groups or individuals whom they opposed. All three movements have called for the "purification" of American society and all are considered right-wing extremist organizations. In each era, membership was secret and estimates of the total were highly exaggerated by both friends and enemies.

Calhoun County, Alabama County in the United States

Calhoun County is a county in the east central part of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 census, the population was 118,572. Its county seat is Anniston. It was named in honor of John C. Calhoun, noted politician and US Senator from South Carolina.

Greene County, Alabama County in the United States

Greene County is a county in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2010 census, the population was 9,045; it was the least populous county in Alabama. Its county seat is Eutaw. It was named in honor of Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene of Rhode Island. In the 2010 census, the county's population was 81.5% African-American.

Results

Alabama gubernatorial election, 1870 [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Robert B. Lindsay 77,72350.47
Republican William Hugh Smith 76,28249.53
Total votes154,005100.00
Democratic gain from Republican

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References

  1. Waldrep, Christopher (2011). Jury Discrimination: The Supreme Court, Public Opinion, and a Grassroots Fight for Racial Equality in Mississippi. U of Georgia P. pp. 137–38. ISBN   9780820341941.
  2. Shapiro, Herbert (1988). White Violence and Black Response: From Reconstruction to Montgomery. U of Massachusetts P. p. 12. ISBN   9780870235788.
  3. "AL Governor 1870". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 23, 2016.