The 1872 state election results in Louisiana
were disputed between the regular Republicans and
a coalition of Liberal Republicans and Democrats,
with each side inaugurating their own governor and
legislature. A federal district judge ruled that
the regular Republicans were the victors, so
newly-reelected President Ulysses S. Grant sent
federal troops to ensure compliance with the
judicial decree.
Many whites in Louisiana refused to accept that
decision. They established a shadow government and
used paramilitary units known as the White League
to intimidate and attack blacks and white
Republicans.
The worst incident of violence was the Colfax
Massacre of April 13, 1873. The fighting left two
white men and 70 black men dead, with half of the
latter killed after they surrendered. Federal
officials arrested and indicted over 100 white
men. They were later freed, however, when the U.S.
Supreme Court ruled that the basis for their
prosecution (part of the 1870 enforcement act) was
unconstitutional.
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