HW 2/20

Is Morgan pushing racism as a propaganda tool for political gains? Most southern states in the late 1800s had a black population that was near 50% of the total population. This surge in political power through votes was a clear threat to democrats like Morgan. Keeping racial tensions high and limiting the voting turnout of the blacks in a state like Alabama would be quite advantageous to him. Interestingly, a couple republican governors were voted in just after blacks received the right to vote until the terrorism of the KKK began to persuade them to vote democrat or stay away from voting booths like in the instance of the Eutaw massacre. A success that democrats retained in the gubernatorial race in Alabama for over 100 years subsequent.
What were Morton’s political leanings? What were the New York Tribune’s political leanings? Obviously he was racially motivated in his findings and clearly biased towards white supremacy but I think having an understanding of the greater context of who he was and what were his other motivations as well as influences would be advantageous is understanding the times. For instance, was the average white man in America at the time racist or were only those of a certain philosophy or ideology racist?

Jake’s Expanse