Race Riots/ Urban Riots in the United States: 1898 Wilmington, North Carolina Essential Question: To what degree is change dependent on Conflict? And Can Conflict be Prevented? Background: Riots are shocking events where the ordinary rules of society break down. London 2011 was gripped by the sight of burning cars and hooded youths looting shops. But why do riots happen? What reason could there be for such destruction? Is it poverty and unemployment? Are people alienated from society? Or was it simple opportunism by criminals? Are they provoked by police brutality? Or did the police do too little to stop them? Are they the sign of a breakdown in morality? Are they a product of a “culture of dependency”? Or do some people just want to see the world burn? The United States has its own history of civil unrest; and much of our history involves poverty, race, in cities. Therefore, it is worthwhile to look at some of the dynamics and causes of the major urban race riots that have occurred in the United States. Many Riots from the late 20th century till today, stand out as particularly dramatic moments in American urban history, and it is useful to tease out some of the historical contingencies and large social conditions that produced these periods of strife in order to prevent more violence from occurring. - Source: Nielsen, Author Robert. “What Causes Riots?” Whistling In The Wind, 1 Mar. 2013, whistlinginthewind.org/2013/02/28/what-causes-riots/. Task/ World Class Outcome: Investigate the 1898 Wilmington Race Riot and generate an understanding of current events to purpose solutions to achieve future objectives. In doing so, use the graphic organizer to help you find out more information about the Riots researched. Background Who was the President? What was his role? What National Event is occurring / occurred Description of City Who is targeted Why? Key People and their Role What Sparked the riot? What group did the harm? Explain William Mckinley who did nothing state elections a new port city who was thriving that have a high african american population Causes African americans because they took control of politics and possibly some white populist southern democrats hunted down african americans and killed or banished them. alfred waddell burns down alex manly's newspaper business alex manly said that white men also has inappropriate relations with black women to combat the argument that black men have inappropriate relations with white women. white democratic mob led by waddell Riot Specifics Describe the Riot in hunted down african americans and wither killed or details banished them Role of Police? nonexistent Role of Federal nonexistent Government? Including President How many people 25 african americans confirmed but 100 were predicted were killed? By and killed by waddell's mob Whom? Why? Aftermath Restoration of white democrats just take over order? How did the city gain control? What effect has led to a drastic disparity to the african american this had on society? population in wilmington Document ANovember 1898- Wilmington, North Carolina President William McKinley In 1898, Wilmington was a thriving port city on the coast of North Carolina. About two-thirds of the population was African American. African Americans were business people who owned barbershops, restaurants, tailor shops, and drug stores. African Americans also held positions as firemen and policemen. Overall, the African American and white races existed peacefully but separately. Good relations continued until the election of 1896, when the white Democrats lost control of state politics. A group of predominantly white Populists and African American Republicans won political control of the state. The white Democrats promised to avenge their defeat in the election of 1898. Daniel Schenck, a Democratic party leader, warned, “It will be the meanest, vilest, dirtiest campaign since 1876” (the election that ended reconstruction in the South). The Democratic campaign focused on white women’s fears of African American males and the threat of African American men being lynched. Prior to the election, a white newspaper in Wilmington published a controversial speech given by a Georgia feminist. In her speech she supported the lynching of African American males for inappropriate relationships with white women. Alex Manly, an African American newspaper editor in Wilmington, was infuriated by the newspaper article. Mr. Manly wrote editorials in his newspaper arguing that white males were just as guilty of having inappropriate relationships with African American women. The exchange of words between the two newspapers increased racial tensions. Alfred Moore Waddell, a former Confederate officer and U.S. Congressman, called for the removal of the Republicans and Populists then in power in Wilmington. He proposed in a speech that the white citizens, if necessary, should “choke the Cape Fear with carcasses.” African American voters turned out in large numbers for the election of 1898. However, the Democrats who favored white supremacy stuffed the ballot boxes and won the election. Two days after the election, violence erupted into the “Wilmington Race Riot.” A mob of about 2000, led by Waddell set Alex Manly’s newspaper office on fire, and tensions between African Americans and whites exploded. The whites demanded that Manly and his newspaper cease to publish and that Manly be banned from the community. African Americans armed themselves and whites began to hunt and gun them down. When the riot ended the next day, it was reported that twenty-five African Americans had been killed. However, it was strongly suspected that hundreds of African Americans had been killed and their bodies dumped into the river. In addition, hundreds of African Americans were banished from the city of Wilmington. This event, the Wilmington Race Riot, marked a turning point in North Carolina’s history because more restrictions were placed on African American voterssuch as the grandfather-clause and poll taxes. State and federal leaders failed to react to the violence in Wilmington. No federal troops were sent because President William McKinley received no request for assistance from Governor Russell. The U.S. Attorney General’s Office investigated, but the files were closed with no indictments in 1900. African Americans nationwide rallied to the cause of Wilmington’s blacks and tried to pressure President McKinley into action. However, many leading blacks were split on the best solution to the “Negro problem” and no nationwide campaign materialized. Source: http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-newsouth/4360:
