Alfred Waddell was a former Confederate soldier, multi-term congressman, and later mayor of Wilmington He is perhaps best known for his involvement in the Wilmington Insurrection of 1898, a violent overthrow of the local government led by white supremacists. Waddell played a central role in stoking racial tensions and inciting the insurrection, which resulted in the expulsion of Black political leaders and the establishment of white supremacist rule in the city. Waddell became mayor only after the coup and he continued in this position until 1905.
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This lesson explores the Wilmington Massacre and Coup d’état of 1898 by examining the events and political environment leading up to and the people and groups involved in the massacre and coup.
