Between 1882 (when reliable statistics were first collected) and 1968 (when the classic forms of lynching had disappeared), 4,743 persons died of lynching, 3,446 of them black men and women. Mississippi (539 black victims, 42 white) led this grim parade of death, followed by Georgia (492, 39), Texas (352, 141), Louisiana (335, 56), and Alabama (299, 48). From 1882 to 1901, the annual number nationally usually exceeded 100; 1892 had a record 230 deaths (161 black, 69 white). Although lynchings declined somewhat in the twentieth century, there were still 97 in 1908 (89 black, 8 white), 83 in the racially troubled postwar year of 1919 (76, 7, plus some 25 race riots), 30 in 1926 (23, 7), and 28 in 1933 (24, 4).
Visit, read, and if you have multimedia capabilities, listen to the interactive web site, Without Sanctuary.
I am expecting that some of you will find today's readings and discussion profoundly disturbing. In fact, I would be a bit disappointed if this was not the case. All too often we are ready to assume that inter-social conflict is something that happens elsewhere... in Ireland, or Israel, or Afghanistan, certainly not in "civilized" America. And yet our own record is bloody enough, and surprisingy unknown. There are a number of voices speaking to you today, and it is important that you consider them. Note that popular sentiments divided on this issue, and that for every anti-lynch crusader like Ida Wells there were civic voices raised defending the practice. Note, too, that not all the lynchings were southern, Urbana, Illinois, scene of a late 19th century lynching was home to the University of Illinois. Not all the persons lynched were black. However, in many cases where a white person was lynched the "crime" involved over familiarity with black persons.
Observe, too, the faces in the crowds at those remarkable series of photographs which form the core of Without Sanctuary. Note the dress. Coats, ties, vests--the uniform of emerging middle America. Your character might very well have been a face in those crowds, or if not, a silent encourager of them.
For Wednesday, April 23International Adventures
Read, in Chambers,
Chapter I. pp. 44 - 49 (from The Taste of Empire, to
The Challenge of Change)
in Fink,
1898: The Meaning of the Maine279 - 286
9.1 Alfred T. Mahan Proclaims the Importance of
Sea Power, 1890 254-265
9.2Theodore Roosevelt Links War in the Philippines
to the Ideal of the Strenuous Life, 1899, 165 - 267
9.3William Jennings Bryan Opposes U. S.
Occupation of the Philipines, 1900.267-270
9.4 Albert Beveridge Defends U. S, Imperialism, 1900 270-272
Theodore Roosevelt and the Strenuous Life (Bederman) 286 - 294
To this point, the course has been more or less inward looking. This is appropriate, because, excepting always the immigrant's abiding interest in news from home, Americans had little interest in the world beyond the nation's borders. This was to change as the United States caught the Imperialism Bug. Today's readings will explore the conflict which added Puerto Rico to the American Nation (as commonwealth, not at state), and gained confirmed our interests in the Pacific, as well. Through this conflict, Theodore Roosevelt became a national figure. Not all Americans were convinced that foreign adventures were in the country's interests, however, as the debate between Bryan and Beveridge shows. Note, too that there is a significant element of racism involved in the American argument, both for, and against the annexation of the islands of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.
The two bracketing essays are interesting examples of interpretive history. I'd like to spend a little time considering them as such, if possible.
For Friday, April 23Oh What a Bully War!
INTERNET Treasure Hunt:
From time to time I've been sending you around the internet to retrieve everything from photographs and postcards to magazine articles, advertisements, and sheet music. Now it's your chance. A CONTEST... with a real prize (honest). Throughout this week I'd like to have you prowl around the Internet for primary source material related to the Spanish American War. Collections will be judged on the basis of numbers of items located, variety of sources located, and variety of items located. Deadline for entry is Friday at the beginning of class. Winner will be anounced on Monday, April 29.
This class, and the class following, we'll look at the PBS film, Crucible of Empire.
The Battleship Maine, the sinking of which in Havana Harbor provided the incident which began the Spanish American War
