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'''Wade Hampton, III''' (March 28, 1818 – April 11, 1902) was a [[South Carolina]] planter, soldier, and politician especially prominent during the [[Civil War]], [[Reconstruction]], and the post-Reconstruction era. He served in the army of the [[Confederate States of America]] during the war, rising to the rank of lieutenant general and commanding the cavalry of [[Robert E. Lee]]'s Army of Northern Virginia from 1864 to 1865. In South Carolina during Reconstruction, he emerged as a leader of the "[[Redeemers]]," southern [[Democratic]] whites who were opposed to [[Republican]] rule and sought to regain control of their state governments. After Reconstruction ended in South Carolina, Hampton served from 1876 to 1879 as the state's governor, then from 1879 to 1891 as U.S. Senator.  

'''Wade Hampton, III''' (March 28, 1818 – April 11, 1902) was a [[South Carolina]] planter, soldier, and politician especially prominent during the [[Civil War]], [[Reconstruction]], and the post-Reconstruction era. He served in the army of the [[Confederate States of America]] during the war, rising to the rank of lieutenant general and commanding the cavalry of [[Robert E. Lee]]'s Army of Northern Virginia from 1864 to 1865. In South Carolina during Reconstruction, he emerged as a leader of the "[[Redeemers]]," southern [[Democratic]] whites who were opposed to [[Republican]] rule and sought to regain control of their state governments. After Reconstruction ended in South Carolina, Hampton served from 1876 to 1879 as the state's governor, then from 1879 to 1891 as U.S. Senator.  

One of the wealthiest planters and largest slaveholders in the antebellum South, Hampton was widely regarded as a typical figure of the region's planter-aristocracy, and also respected for his wartime exploits and gentlemanly conduct. During his post-war political career, despite the partisan and racial conflicts that divided the region, he presented himself as a proponent for national unity and racial reconciliation. Although considered by modern-day standards to have been a racist, he was distinctly not a demagogue (in contrast to [[Ben Tillman]]) and there is no evidence that he ever encouraged or incited violence against blacks.<ref name=greenvilleonline>Hyde, Paul (May 16, 2015). [https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2017/05/16/petition-calls-dropping-racist-name-wade-hampton/325234001/ Petition calls for dropping 'racist' name of Wade Hampton]. ''Greenville News''. Retrieved August 14, 2021.</ref>

One of the wealthiest planters and largest slaveholders in the antebellum South, Hampton was widely regarded as a typical figure of the region's planter-aristocracy, and also respected for his wartime exploits and gentlemanly conduct. During his post-war political career, despite the partisan and racial conflicts that divided the region, he presented himself as a proponent for national unity and racial reconciliation. Although considered by modern-day standards to have been an undoubted racist, he was distinctly not a demagogue (in contrast to [[Ben Tillman]]) and there is no evidence that he ever encouraged or incited violence against blacks.<ref name=greenvilleonline>Hyde, Paul (May 16, 2015). [https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2017/05/16/petition-calls-dropping-racist-name-wade-hampton/325234001/ Petition calls for dropping 'racist' name of Wade Hampton]. ''Greenville News''. Retrieved August 14, 2021.</ref>

==Early life==

==Early life==