Wilmington Coup d'état

November 10, 1898 - A violent race riot broke out on this day in Wilmington, North Carolina. Angry whites attacked the city's black leaders after being stirred into a frenzy by sensationalized news stories about "negro domination."

At the time, Wilmington was the biggest city in the state and its population was predominantly black. The local paper had published an editorial that was critical of the inflammatory stories that were circulating across the state, but by writing about taboo topics like interracial sex - the editorial only stoked the flames of white rage.

On the day that all hell broke loose, a mob of white supremacists and former confederate soldiers grew to about 500 men. Armed with a Gatling gun they moved through the city, attacking and killing blacks. Nobody is sure how many people died, but estimates run anywhere from 14 to 100.

All of the city's leaders (black and white) ran for the lives. The state and federal government did nothing in response to the coup. In fact, North Carolina would soon pass a "grandfather clause" that limited the voting rights of blacks. It would take over 70 years for blacks to regain their political power in the state.

The Wilmington Coup d'état still stands as the only instance in US history where a fairly elected municipal government was overthrown by force.