Negro Republican Party
Encyclopedia
The Negro Republican Party is the name given to African American branches of the Republican Party formed in the southern USA after the American Civil War
(1861–1865).
William F. Butler
of Jefferson County, Kentucky
, USA, who spoke at the first convention of the Negro Republican Party held in Lexington, Kentucky
in November 1867, became president of the party.
The religious leader Elisha Green was chosen a vice president of the Kentucky branch at the Lexington
convention in 1867. He was a leading Baptist preacher in Maysville
and Paris
until he died in 1889.
The Democratics
were opposed to the Negro Republicans, which represented the majority of eligible voters in some states. In 1866 the "Old Guard" magazine accused them of using force and fraud to gain and retain power, and representing "but a despised faction of the American people".
Many years later, the New Orleans Picayune was hostile to the organization in Louisiana
, publishing editorials in the 1890s in favor of disenfranchizing negroes on the basis that they were "unfit to vote, ignorant, shiftless, depraved and criminal-minded", and would be controlled by a "ring" of white politicians.
In September 1895 after a "pow-wow" of the Negro Republican Party, the Picayune claimed that whites would be willing to accept subordinate positions in the party to control the Negro vote.
In his 1920 book "Children of the Slaves", the British author Stephen Graham
mentions that in New Orleans the Negro Republican Party could not count for much in votes.
African Americans were allowed to vote in Alabama
until 1901, when the state disenfranchised them although still letting them register. The Negro Republican Party in Birmingham, Alabama
was organized in opposition to the lily-white Republican party, after that party prevented any of the twenty-five black delegates from taking part in its Birmingham convention.
In Maryland
, while the Democrats were typically against allowing blacks to vote at all, the Republicans wanted to give them this and other basic rights, but many did not want blacks to hold important political offices or to have frequent contact with whites. Their vote was important to the Republicans though. In 1909, at a time when the Democrats were pushing for disenfranchisement in the state, the Republicans called on all members of the Negro Republican Party to turn out on voting day in every district.
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...
(1861–1865).
William F. Butler
William F. Butler
William F. Butler was an African American leader born in Jefferson County, Kentucky, USA who became president of the Negro Republican Party formed after the American Civil War.Speaking in Louisville, Kentucky in 1867, Butler said "We claim .....
of Jefferson County, Kentucky
Jefferson County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 693,604 people, 287,012 households, and 183,113 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 305,835 housing units at an average density of...
, USA, who spoke at the first convention of the Negro Republican Party held in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
in November 1867, became president of the party.
The religious leader Elisha Green was chosen a vice president of the Kentucky branch at the Lexington
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
convention in 1867. He was a leading Baptist preacher in Maysville
Maysville, Kentucky
Maysville is a city in and the county seat of Mason County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 8,993 at the 2000 census, making it the fiftieth largest city in Kentucky by population. Maysville is on the Ohio River, northeast of Lexington. It is the principal city of the Maysville...
and Paris
Paris, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,183 people, 3,857 households, and 2,487 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,222 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 84.23% White, 12.71% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16%...
until he died in 1889.
The Democratics
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
were opposed to the Negro Republicans, which represented the majority of eligible voters in some states. In 1866 the "Old Guard" magazine accused them of using force and fraud to gain and retain power, and representing "but a despised faction of the American people".
Many years later, the New Orleans Picayune was hostile to the organization in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, publishing editorials in the 1890s in favor of disenfranchizing negroes on the basis that they were "unfit to vote, ignorant, shiftless, depraved and criminal-minded", and would be controlled by a "ring" of white politicians.
In September 1895 after a "pow-wow" of the Negro Republican Party, the Picayune claimed that whites would be willing to accept subordinate positions in the party to control the Negro vote.
In his 1920 book "Children of the Slaves", the British author Stephen Graham
Stephen Graham (author)
Stephen Graham was a British journalist, travel-writer, essayist and novelist. His best-known books recount his travels around pre-revolutionary Russia and his journey to Jerusalem with a group of Russian Christian pilgrims...
mentions that in New Orleans the Negro Republican Party could not count for much in votes.
African Americans were allowed to vote in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
until 1901, when the state disenfranchised them although still letting them register. The Negro Republican Party in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
was organized in opposition to the lily-white Republican party, after that party prevented any of the twenty-five black delegates from taking part in its Birmingham convention.
In Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, while the Democrats were typically against allowing blacks to vote at all, the Republicans wanted to give them this and other basic rights, but many did not want blacks to hold important political offices or to have frequent contact with whites. Their vote was important to the Republicans though. In 1909, at a time when the Democrats were pushing for disenfranchisement in the state, the Republicans called on all members of the Negro Republican Party to turn out on voting day in every district.