During the 1876 presidential election Republican leaning African-American wards in Indianapolis, Indiana had been politically astute and active in recent elections. However growing Democratic Party activism and intimidation led some African-Americans to relocate to the fifth and six Congressional Districts for their own protection. Democrats from Kentucky and other nearby Democratic Party strongholds came to Indianapolis and settled in the formerly black Republican wards. As their numbers increased, Democratic Party operatives organized political rallies and barbecues to stir up there base and insure their supporters would turn out on Election Day. At one such political rally, party leaders barbecued 17 oxen, 80 sheep, and 50 hogs, which liberally fed and satisfied thousands of Democrats. When the event ended, one couldn't gather enough food “to give a lunch to a canary bird.”
