Independent Party (Florida)

The Independent Party was a political party formed in Florida in the wake of schisms between African Americans and northerners who came south after the American Civil War and became involved in Florida politics during the Reconstruction era. It also sought to appeal to disaffected Democrats.[1][2]

The party held a convention in June 1884 in Live Oak, Florida[3] Frank W. Pope, a former Democrat, was nominated as their gubernatorial candidate in that year's election.[4]

Pope faced the threat of lynching in Madison County where allegations of election fraud and murderous violence were documented in 1882.[5] Democrats won the election in 1884 and imposed restrictions on who could register thereafter, blocking most African Americans from voting and solidifying their party's control.[3]

References
  1. The Florida Handbook. Peninsular Publishing Company. May 29, 1987. ISBN 9780961600006 – via Google Books.
  2. Cash, William Thomas (May 29, 1938). "The Story of Florida". American historical society, Incorporated – via Google Books.
  3. Brown, Canter (May 29, 1998). Florida's Black Public Officials, 1867-1924. University of Alabama Press. ISBN 9780817309152 – via Google Books.
  4. Heersink, Boris; Jenkins, Jeffery A. (March 19, 2020). Republican Party Politics and the American South, 1865–1968. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781107158436 – via Google Books.
  5. Congress, United States (September 23, 1889). "Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the ... Congress". U.S. Government Printing Office – via Google Books.
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