Is it just me or...

[A18]

What did they do, ban every white guy from voting?

[opebo]

What did they do, ban every white guy from voting?

Yes, of course.  I believe that was the main thrust of Reconstruction.

[angus]

Yes, of course.  I believe that was the main thrust of Reconstruction.

you just can't give the GOP a break.     

[dazzleman]

I don't think South Carolina had full voting rights at that time.  There were probably many who were restricted from voting.

[??????????]

Yes the Republicans were big time despots from Lincoln up until TR.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

What did they do, ban every white guy from voting?

basically. SC was still under military occupation at the time.

[Storebought]

I had a post way back about how dodgy presidential elections were in the 19th century, particularly between 1824-1860. Historian Robert Remini's election returns for Andrew Jackson in 1824, '28, '32 are not even close to the AF's numbers.

And about the despotism of the GOP after Reconstruction: yes they were despots, but their corruption was nothing compared to Tammany Hall, the Molly Maguire machines of MA, and the terrorists of white Democrat South after 1866. I really can't feel much sympathy for either party then (until McKinley in 96, the first real Republican).

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

that's why I would've been a Republican up until McKinley. Then I would've been a "progressive Republican" (basically a swing voter voting for the most liberal candidate) and then would've finally become a Democrat after the New Deal.

[Bugs]

The only reason 1872 wasn't controversial was because it wasn't close like 1876 was.  Imagine an 1876 type controversy to go along with Greely's death before the Electoral vote. 

[??????????]

The Democrats were just as corrupt but they weren't as overt about it as the Republicans were. If you read about how Edgar Allen Poe died you will see that he was in Baltimore City during a mayoral election. He was well known for being an alcoholic and some Democratic thugs got him very drunk and dressed him up in 5-6 different outfits and forced him to vote at least 6 times. He later died of alcohol poisioning and was found dead in an alley.

[Bono]

I would have been a denmocrat until the last days of Cleveland. He rocked.

[raymondluxuryyacht]

Unlike other southern states, a majority of SC's population at the time was black.  They didn't really need to restrict anyone's voting rights to win (although both sides did).

[Wazza [INACTIVE]]

Blacks were the majority of the population in LA, MS and SC. Also during reconstruction many ex-confederates were prevented from voting.

[brucejoel99]

Blacks were the majority of the population in LA, MS and SC. Also during reconstruction many ex-confederates were prevented from voting.

Pretty much this.