Book excerpt: "They Stole a City" by Lauren Collins
In 1898, a group of white supremacists took over the city government of Wilmington, North Carolina. They used violence and threats to remove elected Black and white officials. The coup ended the city's multi-racial leadership and installed a white-only regime. Historians see this event as an early example of how democracy can be sabotaged in the United States.
Why it matters
Understanding this coup helps us see how racial violence has shaped American politics. It reminds us that protecting fair elections requires constant vigilance.
In brief
- What year did the coup in Wilmington happen?
- It happened in 1898.
- Who carried out the coup?
- White supremacists carried out the coup.
Different angles across outlets
Since only CBS News reported the story, all outlets frame it the same way: they describe the book excerpt as examining the 1898 Wilmington coup as a case study in democratic sabotage.
Related in the knowledge graph
organizationAmericanorganizationBookorganizationCityorganizationLauren Collins. The NeworganizationN.C.'sorganizationThey StoleorganizationWilmingtonorganizationYorker
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