 | GenghisTheHun (177)
03/23/2006 | I read "Origins of the New South" but I never read "Tom Watson" by Woodward. Racism was most prevalent among the poorest of the whites in the South and Watson appealed to that class.
I really don't think he ever changed his stance just emphasis. Post-Bellum Southland was grimly poor and the politicians concentrated more on that than race. As the Whites gained total control and the economy got better, the emphasis turned towards race.
White control was not made final until about 1900. I think the last Black Republican Congressman in the South was defeated in the election of 1898 or lost his seat by a contest. As the Bourbons gained control, the populists such as Watson turned to race to win elections and stay in power.
(2 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |
 | Drummond (60)
03/23/2006 | C Vann Woodward wrote an excellent biography of this fascinating figure in American politics who had worked with black people while aggressively pursuing reconstruction policies aimed at subduing racism in the south. The futility of the project having become apparent, I guess he figured if you can't beat em join em. He became a rabid spokesman for racists in the latter part of his life.
(4 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree) |