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'''Jeter Connelly Pritchard''' (July 12, 1857 – April 10, 1921), also known as '''J. C. Pritchard''',<ref>[https://docsouth.unc.edu/wwi/pritchard/pritchard.html Pritchard, Jeter Connelly, 1857-1921.]. ''Documenting the American South''. Retrieved September 29, 2021.</ref> was a judge from [[North Carolina]] who served as the state's U.S. senator from 1895 to 1903. A [[Republican]], he was part of the "Fusion" alliance between the GOP and statewide Populist Party which opposed the [[Jim Crow]] Democrats.

'''Jeter Connelly Pritchard''' (July 12, 1857 – April 10, 1921), also known as '''J. C. Pritchard''',<ref>[https://docsouth.unc.edu/wwi/pritchard/pritchard.html Pritchard, Jeter Connelly, 1857-1921.]. ''Documenting the American South''. Retrieved September 29, 2021.</ref> was a judge from [[North Carolina]] who served as the state's U.S. senator from 1895 to 1903. A [[Republican]], he was part of the "Fusion" alliance between the GOP and statewide Populist Party which opposed the [[Jim Crow]] Democrats.

==Political career==

==Political career==

Pritchard was re-elected in 1897 with 54% of the state legislature's vote,<ref group=note>Prior to the passage of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution, United States senators were picked by state legislatures rather than elected by popular vote.</ref> defeating [[Populist Party]] nominee Cyrus Thompson and Democrat Rufus A. Doughton.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=273407 NC US Senate Race - Jan 20, 1897]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved September 29, 2021.</ref>

Pritchard was re-elected in 1897 with 54% of the state legislature's vote,<ref group=note>Prior to the passage of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution, United States senators were picked by state legislatures rather than elected by popular vote.</ref> defeating [[Populist Party]] nominee Cyrus Thompson and Democrat Rufus A. Doughton.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=273407 NC US Senate Race - Jan 20, 1897]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved September 29, 2021.</ref>

Although Pritchard held a [[conservative]] voting record and Populist leader Marion P. Butler was considered a [[progressive]], the two managed to form a strong political coalition which controlled state politics for some time before it was overthrown by white supremacist Democrats.<ref name=fascinatingpolitics>Fascinating Politics (September 29, 2021). [https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2021/09/29/the-republican-families-of-old-north-carolina/ The Republican Families of Old North Carolina]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved September 29, 2021.</ref>

Although Pritchard held a [[conservative]] voting record and Populist leader Marion P. Butler was considered a [[progressive]], the two managed to form a strong political coalition which controlled state politics for some time before it was overthrown by white supremacist Democrats.<ref name=fascinatingpolitics/>

Crucial to Pritchard's election victories were black voters who during the time comprised over half of the state's GOP base.<ref name=lilywhitemovement>Justesen, Benjamin R. (2006). [https://www.ncpedia.org/lily-white-politics Lily-White Politics]. ''NCPedia''. Retrieved September 29, 2021.</ref> As white supremacist Democratic Party terrorism (particularly the "Red Shirts") was prevalent in the South, Pritchard in 1898 requested President Kinley send federal troops to safeguard black voting rights amidst Jim Crow threats and intimidation.<ref name=fascinatingpolitics/> McKinley ultimately did not do so, and the following widespread voter suppression resulted in sweeping general election victories for the Democratic Party. The Wilmington insurrection subsequently broke out, which resulted in the murders of many blacks in the city.

Crucial to Pritchard's election victories were black voters who during the time comprised over half of the state's GOP base.<ref name=lilywhitemovement>Justesen, Benjamin R. (2006). [https://www.ncpedia.org/lily-white-politics Lily-White Politics]. ''NCPedia''. Retrieved September 29, 2021.</ref> As white supremacist Democratic Party terrorism (particularly the "Red Shirts") was prevalent in the South, Pritchard in 1898 requested President Kinley send federal troops to safeguard black voting rights amidst Jim Crow threats and intimidation.<ref name=fascinatingpolitics/> McKinley ultimately did not do so, and the following widespread voter suppression resulted in sweeping general election victories for the Democratic Party. The Wilmington insurrection subsequently broke out, which resulted in the murders of many blacks in the city.