South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1868
Encyclopedia
The 1868 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held for three days from April 14 to April 16, 1868 to select the governor
of the state of South Carolina
. The election for statewide offices was held simultaneously with the vote on the South Carolina Constitution of 1868. Robert Kingston Scott
won the election largely by the support of the newly franchised black
voters and became the 74th governor of South Carolina.
was formed in South Carolina in 1867 to contest the elections of 1868. Their members were chiefly composed of former slaves
, and much of their support was derived from the Union League
. They nominated Robert Kingston Scott
, an Ohioan and assistant commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau, as their nominee for Governor. The platform of the state Republican party
for the election was to enact Radical Republican reconstruction of the state.
Reorganizing for the election were the Democrats
who had not been active in state politics since the Civil War
. They nominated William D. Porter for Governor, although he declined the nomination and instead pressed for the voters to simply vote against the constitution. Nonetheless, he remained a Democratic candidate on the ballot. The Democratic platform for the election called for maintaining a policy of white supremacy
and disapproval of the Constitution of 1868.
was elected as the first Republican governor of South Carolina
. The huge vote by the blacks of the state enabled Scott to cruise to a comfortable win over the Democratic nominee, William Porter.
| colspan=5 |Republican
gain
|-
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
of the state of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. The election for statewide offices was held simultaneously with the vote on the South Carolina Constitution of 1868. Robert Kingston Scott
Robert Kingston Scott
Robert Kingston Scott was an American Republican politician, the 74th Governor of South Carolina, and an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
won the election largely by the support of the newly franchised black
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
voters and became the 74th governor of South Carolina.
Campaign
The Republican PartyRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
was formed in South Carolina in 1867 to contest the elections of 1868. Their members were chiefly composed of former slaves
Freedman
A freedman is a former slave who has been released from slavery, usually by legal means. Historically, slaves became freedmen either by manumission or emancipation ....
, and much of their support was derived from the Union League
Union League
A Union League is one of a number of organizations established starting in 1862, during the American Civil War to promote loyalty to the Union and the policies of Abraham Lincoln. They were also known as Loyal Leagues. They comprised upper middle class men who supported efforts such as the United...
. They nominated Robert Kingston Scott
Robert Kingston Scott
Robert Kingston Scott was an American Republican politician, the 74th Governor of South Carolina, and an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
, an Ohioan and assistant commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau, as their nominee for Governor. The platform of the state Republican party
South Carolina Republican Party
The South Carolina Republican Party and the South Carolina Democratic Party are the two major political parties within the U.S. state of South Carolina...
for the election was to enact Radical Republican reconstruction of the state.
Reorganizing for the election were the Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
who had not been active in state politics since the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. They nominated William D. Porter for Governor, although he declined the nomination and instead pressed for the voters to simply vote against the constitution. Nonetheless, he remained a Democratic candidate on the ballot. The Democratic platform for the election called for maintaining a policy of white supremacy
White supremacy
White supremacy is the belief, and promotion of the belief, that white people are superior to people of other racial backgrounds. The term is sometimes used specifically to describe a political ideology that advocates the social and political dominance by whites.White supremacy, as with racial...
and disapproval of the Constitution of 1868.
General election
The general election was held for three days from April 14 to April 16, 1868 and Robert Kingston ScottRobert Kingston Scott
Robert Kingston Scott was an American Republican politician, the 74th Governor of South Carolina, and an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
was elected as the first Republican governor of South Carolina
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
. The huge vote by the blacks of the state enabled Scott to cruise to a comfortable win over the Democratic nominee, William Porter.
| colspan=5 |Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
gain
|-
See also
- Governor of South CarolinaGovernor of South CarolinaThe Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
- List of Governors of South Carolina
- South Carolina gubernatorial elections