Joseph Brooks
Encyclopedia
Joseph Brooks was a Republican
politician in Arkansas after the Civil War
. He is mainly remembered for losing the 1872 gubernatorial race in Arkansas and then leading a coup d'état
, now referred to as the Brooks–Baxter War, in 1874.
and worked as a minister, preacher, and Methodist
church official in Illinois and Missouri from 1840 to 1862. He also worked as a newspaper editor for the Central Christian Advocate in St. Louis.
In 1862 he joined the Union Army
as a chaplain. In 1863 Brooks, an ardent abolitionist since the 1850s, became the chaplain to the African American
Third Arkansas Infantry. He remained with this regiment until February 1865.
after the Civil War. He helped organize African Americans in Arkansas and tried to get them active in the Republican Party. He was a delegate at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention in 1868. His strong advocacy of voting rights for African Americans won him strong support from them. However, it eventually alienated other parts of the Republican Party.
During Reconstruction Joseph Brooks was the leader of the Liberal Republicans of Arkansas
. The party was nicknamed "The Brindle Tails" because it was said that when he spoke he sounded like a Brindle
-Tailed Bull. He is most remembered for his candidacy in the 1872 Gubernatorial Election. Both Brooks and his opponent, Elisha Baxter
, were Republicans and both apparently used fraud. Baxter was sworn in in 1873. Baxter alienated his Republican supporters by restoring former Confederate officers their voting rights. This move gave the Democratic Party a majority.
In 1874 disputes about the validity of the election led to the so-called Brooks–Baxter War. Brooks put together a militia of over 600 men and then took over the state house in Little Rock. He declared himself Governor. Baxter gathered about 2000 armed men and fought Brooks' men. Federal troops stationed themselves between the two parties. After an armed conflict and intervention from President
Grant
, he was removed from office. That same year, Grant appointed him the postmaster
of Little Rock
.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician in Arkansas after the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He is mainly remembered for losing the 1872 gubernatorial race in Arkansas and then leading a coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
, now referred to as the Brooks–Baxter War, in 1874.
Early life
Joseph Brooks was born in Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
and worked as a minister, preacher, and Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
church official in Illinois and Missouri from 1840 to 1862. He also worked as a newspaper editor for the Central Christian Advocate in St. Louis.
In 1862 he joined the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
as a chaplain. In 1863 Brooks, an ardent abolitionist since the 1850s, became the chaplain to the African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
Third Arkansas Infantry. He remained with this regiment until February 1865.
Arkansas and Reconstruction
Brooks leased a cotton plantation near Helena, ArkansasHelena, Arkansas
Helena is the eastern portion of Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, a city in Phillips County, Arkansas. As of the 2000 census, this portion of the city population was 6,323. Helena was the county seat of Phillips County until January 1, 2006, when it merged its government and city limits with...
after the Civil War. He helped organize African Americans in Arkansas and tried to get them active in the Republican Party. He was a delegate at the Arkansas Constitutional Convention in 1868. His strong advocacy of voting rights for African Americans won him strong support from them. However, it eventually alienated other parts of the Republican Party.
During Reconstruction Joseph Brooks was the leader of the Liberal Republicans of Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
. The party was nicknamed "The Brindle Tails" because it was said that when he spoke he sounded like a Brindle
Brindle
Brindle is a coat coloring pattern in animals, particularly dogs, cats, cattle, guinea pigs, crested geckos and, rarely, horses. It is sometimes described as "tiger striped", although the brindle pattern is more subtle than that of a tiger's coat...
-Tailed Bull. He is most remembered for his candidacy in the 1872 Gubernatorial Election. Both Brooks and his opponent, Elisha Baxter
Elisha Baxter
Elisha Baxter was the tenth Governor of the State of Arkansas.-Biography:Elisha Baxter was born in Rutherford County, North Carolina. Baxter received an appointment to the United States Military Academy but his father would not allow him to attend.In 1852 Baxter moved to Arkansas and opened a...
, were Republicans and both apparently used fraud. Baxter was sworn in in 1873. Baxter alienated his Republican supporters by restoring former Confederate officers their voting rights. This move gave the Democratic Party a majority.
In 1874 disputes about the validity of the election led to the so-called Brooks–Baxter War. Brooks put together a militia of over 600 men and then took over the state house in Little Rock. He declared himself Governor. Baxter gathered about 2000 armed men and fought Brooks' men. Federal troops stationed themselves between the two parties. After an armed conflict and intervention from President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
, he was removed from office. That same year, Grant appointed him the postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
of Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
.