Question

The bloodiest act of violence during Reconstruction took place in __________ in 1873, where armed whites killed hundreds of former slaves, including fifty militia members who had surrendered.

Answer 1

Colfax. Louisiana is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

Colfax Massacre occurred on 13th April 1873 in the town of Colfax. It was a clash between the blacks and whites in which 150 blacks and more than three whites died. The Louisiana governor's race was the cause of racial tensions which caused the massacre. That year the Republicans had won the contest and tried to control the state while the angry democrats wanted revenge. In the Colfax parish, Democrats organized a white militia to challenge the black state militia which was under the control of governor.

On the Easter Sunday of 1873, the white insurgents which included ex-Confederate and Union soldiers led the assault on Grant Parish Courthouse, the courthouse was surrounded by black citizens. Although they were armed their ammunition was not sufficient. The white soldiers killed the white defenders even when they had surrendered their weapons. It came to be known as the Colfax massacre.