The Asheville Election Riot Of 1868

The 1868 presidential election was the first held in the country since the end of the Civil War. Recently freed slaves flocked to the polls on election day in Asheville, North Carolina, to cast their votes for the Republican Party. At the same time white voters came out to vote for the Democratic Party, run by former Confederates. A small clash occurred between two groups of opposing voters, which soon turned into rock-throwing and then into a full fledged riot in which several black voters were shot and one killed. Today we tell that story. The Stories podcast is available on RadioPublic, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Feedburner, Spotify Player FM and many other podcast apps. You can also find out podcasts on our website: www.storiespodcast.net. Thanks for listening!