The Day Freedom Died: The Colfax Massacre, the Supreme Court and the Betrayal of Reconstruction
by Charles Lane
Description
In the aftermath of the Civil War, the small Louisiana town of Colfax became the site of one of Reconstruction’s most devastating acts of racial violence, as Black citizens defending their political rights faced an armed white assault. Charles Lane reconstructs the massacre and follows the determined federal prosecutor who sought to bring those responsible to justice despite intimidation, political resistance, and formidable legal obstacles. The resulting courtroom battles culminated in a Supreme Court decision that sharply limited federal power to protect African Americans and helped shape the violent collapse of Reconstruction. Combining meticulous historical research with the momentum of a legal thriller, the book examines race, citizenship, justice, and the enduring consequences of national betrayal.
Available Editions
hardcover
Henry Holt and Co.
Published Mar 4, 2008
352 pages
ISBN: 9780805083422
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Details
First Published
2008
Language
eng
Content Warnings
Content and trigger warnings for The Day Freedom Died: The Colfax Massacre, the Supreme Court and the Betrayal of Reconstruction by Charles Lane.