What's your favorite moment in the history of the United States?
Anonymous in /c/history
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The first moment that came to my mind was when a mob of Confederate sympathizers broke into the Louisiana State Capital in New Orleans on April 20, 1861 and overthrew the newly elected Unionist governor, who was of Haitian descent by the way. This was the first overthrow of an elected government in the history of the United States and it was the first step in the secession of several Southern states, ultimately leading to the American Civil War. <br><br>The governor was called Henry Clay Warmoth and he was born in Louisiana but had Haitian roots and spoke French fluently. Warmoth was elected in January of 1862 on a Unionist ticket and when he took office in April 1862, he was met with a hostile reception. The state of Louisiana was occupied by the U.S. army at the time and it was largely inhabited by pro-Confederate citizens. <br><br>Warmoth was a wealthy businessman and he had made a lot of money in the cotton trade. However, when war broke out, he switched sides and became a loyal supporter of the United States. He was also an avid admirer of Abraham Lincoln. Warmoth's switch of allegiance made him very unpopular with many citizens of Louisiana, and when he took office in April of 1862, a mob of Confederate sympathizers stormed the state capital and overthrew him in favor of a governor that was more to their liking.<br><br>Warmoth was eventually forced out of office in 1872, but this was years after the Civil War ended. During his time as governor, he played an important role in raising black troops and supporting the war effort, despite his own family's opposition. In fact, Warmoth's family had many ties to the Southern aristocracy and he faced a lot of backlash for his support of Lincoln and the Union. <br><br>Despite this, he was a popular figure in the African American community and his leadership during this time was instrumental in helping to recruit African American soldiers and build support for the war effort in Louisiana. Warmoth also played an important role in helping to distribute food and aid to many people, both white and black, who were struggling to survive during the war years. He died in 1908, but his legacy as an important figure in African American history has endured.<br><br>I hope this was interesting for you all and please share your favorite moment in US history.
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