The United States of Lyncherdom
Encyclopedia
The United States of Lyncherdom was an essay by Mark Twain
written in 1901. He was prompted to do so after the lynching
of Will Godley, his grandfather French Godley, and Eugene Carter (aka Barrett). They were accused in the rape and murder of Gazelle Wild (or Casselle Wilds) on August 19, 1901
in Pierce City, Missouri
, located in Twain's home state. It blames lynching in the United States
on the herd mentality
that prevails among Americans
. Twain decided that the country was not ready for the essay, and shelved it. A redacted version was finally published in 1923, when Twain's literary executor, Albert Bigelow Paine
, slipped it into a posthumous collection, Europe and Elsewhere.
Twain discusses law enforcement officials who stopped lynchings. One was Sheriff Joseph Merrill of Carroll County, Georgia
and the other was Thomas Beloat of Gibson County, Indiana
.
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
written in 1901. He was prompted to do so after the lynching
Lynching
Lynching is an extrajudicial execution carried out by a mob, often by hanging, but also by burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a population of people. It is related to other means of social control that...
of Will Godley, his grandfather French Godley, and Eugene Carter (aka Barrett). They were accused in the rape and murder of Gazelle Wild (or Casselle Wilds) on August 19, 1901
in Pierce City, Missouri
Pierce City, Missouri
Pierce City is a city in Lawrence County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,385 at the 2000 census. In 2010, the town annexed down Missouri Route 97 into Barry County to a point just north of US Route 60.-Geography:...
, located in Twain's home state. It blames lynching in the United States
Lynching in the United States
Lynching, the practice of killing people by extrajudicial mob action, occurred in the United States chiefly from the late 18th century through the 1960s. Lynchings took place most frequently in the South from 1890 to the 1920s, with a peak in the annual toll in 1892.It is associated with...
on the herd mentality
Herd mentality
Herd mentality describes how people are influenced by their peers to adopt certain behaviors, follow trends, and/or purchase items. Examples of the herd mentality include stock market trends, fashions in apparel, cars, taste in music, home décor, etc...
that prevails among Americans
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Twain decided that the country was not ready for the essay, and shelved it. A redacted version was finally published in 1923, when Twain's literary executor, Albert Bigelow Paine
Albert Bigelow Paine
Albert Bigelow Paine was an American author and biographer best known for his work with Mark Twain. Paine was a member of the Pulitzer Prize Committee and wrote in several genres, including fiction, humour, and verse....
, slipped it into a posthumous collection, Europe and Elsewhere.
Twain discusses law enforcement officials who stopped lynchings. One was Sheriff Joseph Merrill of Carroll County, Georgia
Carroll County, Georgia
Carroll County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 87,268. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 111,954...
and the other was Thomas Beloat of Gibson County, Indiana
Gibson County, Indiana
Gibson County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Indiana and is included in the Evansville, Indiana–Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 33,503. The county seat is Princeton.-Geography:...
.
External links
- The United States of Lyncherdom