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The Start of a New Era
President James Garfield is shot and eventually dies. At the time people assumed he was assassinated because of the patronage system. This means that he was giving jobs to party loyalists and not the best people available. -
The Start of the "Understanding Clause"
There was a constitutional convention in Mississippi that saw this first being enacted. The Understanding Clause said that in order for the person to be able to vote they had to be able to understand parts of the constitution. As you could imagine this caused trouble because former slaves were completely illiterate and this made it so that they could not vote. -
African American People are Voting in the South
In the South at the beginning of the 1890's African American people were voting in large numbers. This was caused by the Democrats buying votes from African Americans, but also because of the Populist Party. People of the Populist Party went out of their way to make cross racial ties in an effort to gain more voters and to help people who live in poverty from both nationalities. -
People Aren't Being Swayed
Although the Democrats are trying to persuade people from being part of the Populist Party, people aren't really buying it and are staying with them. Democrats soon found that the only way to prevent black votes for the populist party was with violence and fraud. -
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African American People Are Voting in the South
In the South at the beginning of the 1890's African American people were voting in large numbers. This was caused by the Democrats buying votes from African Americans, but also because of the Populist Party. People of the Populist Party went out of their way to make cross racial ties in an effort to gain more voters and to help people who live in poverty from both nationalities. -
The Democrats Fight Back
As a direct cause from the Populist Party directly reaching out their hand to help African Americans and gain the voters in the South, the Democrats started calling themselves "The White Man's Party". They also started saying that the Populist Party was trying to impose "Negro Rule". -
A Depression Hits
An economic depression hit the United States and many people blamed the Democrat Grover Cleveland. This resulted in the Republicans taking control and most people outside of the South to stop supporting the Democrats. This resulted in the Democrats using shady tactics in the South that included using racism to prevent black people from voting. -
Ben Tillman Admits Wronging
"Pitchfork" Ben Tillman said: "We stuffed ballot boxes,” he said in 1900. “We shot them. We are not ashamed of it.” “We had to do it”... -
Every State has Adopted the Understand Clause
By 1908 every southern state has adopted the Understanding Clause. This severely limited the amount of African American voters in the South.
