Although many hoped President Lincoln’s Reconstruction policies would end the conflict in the South, the aftermath of Blaine’s victory quickly proved this hope to be misplaced. Chafing under the broadly accepted vision of President Lincoln, the Ku Klux Klan led by ex-Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest would begin a reign of terror in parts of the South. The KKK’s presence would concentrate in Georgia, Louisiana, and South Carolina, along with pockets in other states to harass black citizens and intimidate potential Republican voters, especially the few blacks who could vote. The KKK has also strongly opposed the “New Departure” Strategy and has attempted to coerce local Democratic parties to make White Supremacy their guiding principle. Blaine responded by passing the Enforcement Act of 1870 which made interfering with voters a federal crime and allowed federal marshals to prosecute any people who partake in such actions, and the extremely controversial Ku Klux Klan Act of 1870 which allowed the Federal military to enforce laws of Congress, made state officials liable for violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1867, prohibited suspected Klansmen from serving on juries related to Klan prosecutions, and, most controversially, temporarily suspended habeas corpus in areas where the Klan was present. Using the full weight of both the Department of War and Justice, Blaine has begun the mass arrests and prosecutions of Klansmen, and the KKK has vanished from polling stations across the South. Nonetheless, Blaine’s opponents among the National Union Republicans and Democrats accuse him of tyranny and accuse him of dismantling Lincoln’s Reconstruction with many Southern NURs voting against the Ku Klux Klan Act, and even the President’s closest advisor, Secretary of Treasury Garfield expressing opposition.
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Ex-Confederate Lt. General Nathaniel B. Forrest is rumored to be close to closing the KKK with the Federal government on the march.
Blaine would also sign the Naturalization Act of 1870 which allowed for the naturalization of people of African descent, though, not ones of Chinese descent with Blaine making appearances in California to denounce the evils of “coolie labor,” and also provided for the right of all citizens to sit on juries. Blaine has also endorsed Constitutional Amendments for the Civil Rights Act and universal suffrage, and, has used his patronage in the South to support Radicals and many carpetbaggers who have enacted universal suffrage in some cases despite pleas from scalawags like James Alcorn and Andrew Jackson Hamilton to let native Southerners run the state parties. Nonetheless, Blaine has also signed the Amnesty Act of 1869 pardoning all Confederates, except for Confederate President Jefferson Davis, who remains in Canada.
Economically, Blaine has used his decisive mandate to continue the transformation of the Federal Government’s role in American society. Blaine has signed legislation continuing the Freedman’s Bureau and expanding its operations in securing advancements for Black citizens in health, education, and wages with the Freedman’s Bureau paying renewed attention to securing improved contracts for black workers. Blaine also doubled down on railroad expansion, expanding grants and subsidies for the Texas & Pacific Railway’s planned “Second Continental Railroad,” which would stretch from Pennsylvania through the South to St. Louis and then to Texas before ending in San Diego. Blaine has also sponsored grants for a variety of railroads for Southern and Western states at the behest of Republican politicians with many opponents of railroad land grants arguing that Blaine was favoring railroad companies with whom he was close, citing the relationship between the Union Pacific Railroad and leading Republican politicians, such as Blaine. Blaine also passed a bill expanding the Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1862 to Southern states, allowing for the expansion of existing state universities and creating new ones in states like Alabama and Arkansas. The Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1870 has also provided for black colleges and universities, but, has been criticized by men like Benjamin Butler for facilitating segregated education with no regulations on segregation within Southern education. In response to complaints from Southerners that public education is too costly to fund, Blaine has also endorsed a bill by freshman Congressman Henry W. Blair for universal education funded by the Federal Government. While pleasing fiscal conservatives with his signature of the Public Credit Act of 1869, affirming the nation’s commitment to gold, Blaine has been unable to abolish the income tax and has only paid down small parts of the national debt due to his spending, with Democrats and anti-Blaine Republicans criticizing his inability to do so.
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Congressman Henry W. Blair has begun the fight for free and universal education.
Blaine has also faced criticism over alleged corruption. Soon after he entered the Presidency, the Black Friday conspiracy by Jay Gould and Jay Fisk to corner the gold market began. While Blaine was able to avoid financial armageddon, Blaine and Treasury Secretary Garfield have been severely criticized for following the two men’s wishes for much of their plot with Black Friday leading to an economic downturn for numerous months while the pair escaped without legal punishment. Blaine has fiercely opposed Civil Service reform, with his only concession being a Civil Service Commission undermined by his decision to make William A. Richardson, known for his belief in looser ethics, Chairman. Rumors have emerged about improprieties in the Port Authority of New York and contracts given by the Post Office for “Star Routes,” all of which have been denied by the President and those accused. Secretary of State John A. Logan, Postmaster General Stephen W. Dorsey, and Secretary of War Ulysses Grant have also been accused of letting incompetence and corruption fester within the Departments, with Dorsey and Grant in particular under fire over allegations of managing Departments filled with bribery, corruption, rigged contracts, and other illicit practices while Dorsey has been accused of personal involvement with Star Routes.
National Union Republican Party:
President Blaine ran in 1868 with a promise to unite the party, yet, has overseen the fragmenting of the coalition that ruled the previous decade. His policies on civil rights, railroads, and civil service reform have led to discontent within the party along with other controversial issues. Stalwart Republicans have backed the President on policy, even if many have personal conflicts with the President, such as Roscoe Conkling. They argue, first and foremost, that Blaine’s actions against the Ku Klux Klan are defending the principles of the Civil War, and reject the argument that the Ku Klux Klan Act attacks civil liberties by pointing to President Lincoln’s suspensions of habeas corpus during the Civil War. They also fervently argue in favor of railroad grants, free public education, and interventionist economics, although some are more skeptical of the latter due to fears of devaluing the Gold Standard and potentially ruinous national debt. A uniting belief among Stalwarts is opposition to civil service reform, or Roscoe Conkling dubbed “snivel service reform” with Conkling infamously deriding leading reform advocate George William Curtis as a “man milliner.” On other issues, Stalwarts advocate for an assimilationist Native policy, while seeing no issues in the current Department of Interior, staunchly support protectionist tariff policy, oppose amnesty for Jefferson Davis, are uncompromisingly in favor of the Gold Standard, support an expansionary foreign policy, and support Constitutional Amendments for Civil Rights and Suffrage.
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Cartoon mocking the many allegations of corruption against President Blaine from his leading editorial enemy, Thomas Nast.
The Liberal Republicans represent discontent within the Republican Party with President Blaine's policies for various reasons ranging from corruption, civil rights, and tariffs to even simple patronage. The Liberal Republican movement would begin in Missouri in opposition to the Stalwart-controlled state Government that had enacted the most Radical Reconstruction with a total disenfranchisement of thousands of ex-Confederates. Liberal Republicans would run ex-Senator John B. Henderson against Stalwart Governor Joseph W. McClurg with Democratic support, quickly attracting the attention of national observers. President Blaine would pressure leading Republicans and state officers to support McClurg, but, to the shock of many, 11 Republican Senators led by Charles Sumner and Carl Schurz would publish a letter first criticizing the “illiberality and corruption” of the Missouri Government before attacking Blaine for “chopping off the heads of those suspected of sympathizing with Mr. Henderson.” At the core of the Liberal Republican message is a call for civil service reform, a reformation of the Federal Government’s Departments (Interior, Postal, and War are often brought up by name), and, a call for eliminating rotation in office. Another important call among Liberal Republicans is demands for the end of patronage for Carpetbaggers in the South and the continuation of Lincoln’s “just” Reconstruction.
The wing is also broadly in favor of lower tariffs, an anathema to the traditional Republican message, but, one that has caught on among reformers who see the protective tariff as a shield for protecting certain monopolies and interests. On civil rights issues, Liberal Republicans are divided with some like Sumner and Edmund G. Ross endorsing further civil rights measures and Constitutional Amendments for at least the Civil Rights Act while others like Schurz and Senator Orris Ferry are more skeptical. Similarly, on railroads and land grants, the party is broadly opposed, but some more moderate Liberal Republicans, who are entirely committed to the party, but still take issue with Blaine such as Ohio Governor Rutherford B. Hayes and Congressman William A. Wheeler are supportive. There is more consensus in the party in favor of funding education, however. Liberal Republicans also favor pardoning Jefferson Davis, the rapid abolishment of the income tax, a limited foreign policy, and the assimilation of Native Americans while arguing corruption in the Department of Interior plagues relations with various tribes.
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Cartoon mocking Democratic pledges of support for equal rights and civil service reform, also by Nast.
Democratic Party:
Reeling after another smashing electoral defeat, the Democrats are reduced to only rhetorical pleas against the Republican program in Congress. Facing internal divisions and external domination, the party of Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren has been brought to its knees and the very question of its survival is at stake. Like the Republicans, the Democrats face divisions on many of the major issues, both policy and philosophical. As a whole, the Democratic Party has strongly endorsed lower tariffs, and the abolition of the income tax, pardoning Jefferson Davis, and has vehemently attacked Blaine on corruption and endorsed civil service reform. But, the party still faces fissures despite a limited consensus.
Departure Democrats argue that the modest gains made by Chief Justice Chase in the 1868 Election compared to the 1866 Midterms can only be expanded if the party continues expunging any links to secession and planter domination. Departure Democrats, first and foremost, focus on supporting “New South” Democrats who will focus on industry and avoid White Supremacy in local Southern elections. Departure Democrats are the foremost advocates of cooperation with the Liberal Republicans in areas where advantageous, such as the aforementioned Missouri Gubernatorial Election or in various Senate elections where more Liberal Republicans are facing election. Departure Democrats have previously largely supported railroad grants and land colleges, but, have expressed skepticism due to fears of corporate abuse, particularly by carpetbaggers. However, they largely support railroad construction done at the state level, except for instances of corruption (especially when associated with Republican legislators.) Concerning Civil Rights, Departure Democrats have all endorsed acceptance of President Lincoln’s Reconstruction, including the Civil Rights Act, but, have opposed the KKK Act for being tyrannical and alienating Southerners. Departure Democrats are more willing than most Democrats to accept an expanded Navy, but, still largely oppose expansionary efforts and are more skeptical of universal education with the public debt still having to be paid off.
Meanwhile, Bourbon Democrats remain quite similar to Departure Democrats and are closely connected, but, are more broadly fiscally conservative. Bourbon Democrats believe that, while state railroad subsidies are advisable, continued federal subsidies for railroads would be too fiscally ruinous and believe the Government’s priority should be to pay back the national debt. Bourbon Democrats also take a stronger stance against the Ku Klux Klan Act with many Bourbon Democrats accused of accepting Klan violence if it were to gain them votes. However, some Bourbons such as Henry Matthews and John M. Palmer have condemned Klan violence while opposing the Klan Act. Bourbons are also more likely to oppose the expansion of the Navy, and, especially, American imperialism.
Agrarian Democrats led by Thomas Ewing Jr and William R. Taylor are the only Democrats who oppose the Gold Standard, still agitating for inflating the economy through Greenbacks to facilitate faster Western settlement and pay off debts for farmers. Agrarian Democrats are also more associated with movements for labor rights with calls for enforcing an 8-hour day without cuts in federal employment, a Bureau of Labor Statistics, stringent opposition to corporate monopolies of railroads, and, opposition to land-grants on the ground that the land belonged to settlers, not bidders. Agrarian Democrats have also played up more overt racism towards black Americans and have stringently opposed the Ku Klux Klan Act, with the party attempting to make inroads with White Southern farmers. Agrarian Democrats also are staunchly anti-expansionism, focus on settler prerogative in Western territories, and have joined President Blaine in anti-Chinese rhetoric.
Finally, Redeemer Democrats have openly called for the restoration of White Supremacy and rule by any means necessary, including the Ku Klux Klan and other paramilitaries if need be. Redeemers employ unapologetically vitriolic and racist rhetoric in their campaigns, and, argue that Blacks are inherently undeserving of the rights of citizenship while focusing on many cases of Carpetbagger corruption to argue that Democratic planter rule in the South is preferable. Most Redeemers are members of the weakened planter elite who are committed to Conservative economic principles like the Gold Standard and are skeptical of even state subsidies for railroads. But, above all, they are committed to the restoration of a White South, and face condemnation from even many Democrats.
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Hello Everyone!
I have what I realise is a long shot of a question, but Google and my amateur genealogy have proven fruitless thus far.
A few months ago I looked up my ‘hacked’ results and was surprised to see ~0.25% African DNA. I figured it was a mistake until my mother and first cousin did theirs as well and received similar results.
However, I cannot figure out where it is coming from! One of my grandparents was Welsh, so I’m thinking it’s less likely on that branch. The other was descended from Palatine Loyalists who came to Ontario from Upstate New York during the American Revolution. This is the branch it seems more likely to be coming from, but there are no records that indicate anything.
Does anyone have any knowledge of the Palatines keeping slaves or being involved with the Underground Railroad, possibly? I would just love to have more information about this surprise bit of DNA!

Was a Jamaican political activist Founder of Panafricanism
Marcus Garvey wanted DOCS Africans to return to Africa to gain economic independence and rebuild a vibrant Black nation. His crusade during his time inspired Malcom X, Nelson Mandela and has had a global resurgence today.
In 1914 He created the Universal Negro Improvement Association. Dedicated to uniting all Black people throughout the world.
In 1916 He immigrated to the United States.
He began publishing the Negro world newspaper in 1918. In 1919 he bought a factory and started a shipping company with the goal of having African Americans return to Africa.
J Edgar Hoover hires a negro agent to subvert Marcus Garvey's momentum.
A few years later, Garvey is accused of stock options fraud, he served 5 years in prison in the US and was afterwards deported.
He immigrated to the UK and tried to continue working tirelessly on his dream. He died at 52 in London. In 1960 Jamaica recognized him as the first Jamaican hero.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-XjloOKl60 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jbjiv4I0oY