Reconstruction in Louisiana: The New Orleans Massacre of 1866: The Riot

    The end of the civil war did not bring civil rights or voting rights to the freedmen. Ex-Confederates controlled the legislature. Therefore, in an attempt to alter the existing constitution with Radical Republican support, Governor Wells recalled the 1864 constitutional convention delegates. On June 26, 1866, around 43 delegates began meeting at the Mechanic's Institute. The Convention was set to begin on July 30, but the Democrats were angrily opposed, and wished to stop it. Stories printed in the Democratic newspapers added to the growing unrest. On the 30th, only 25 delegates were in the building, but a large white crowd gathered outside the proceedings.

    A group of two or three hundred freedmen began marching up Burgundy Street to show their support. They crossed Canal and stopped outside the Institute. The white mob, said to be composed of policemen, firemen, and armed white youths, attacked the assembled African-Americans. Many ran into the Institute to escape, but the white mob broke in and continued to attack. The delegates and freedmen broke up chairs to use as clubs in defense. At least 37 freedmen and delegates were killed. Men who begged to simply be arrested were shot and killed instead. Hundreds more were injured and arrested by the police. Although Federal troops were stationed in the city, they only arrived after the killing was finished.