 In 1896, North Carolina passed a statute that made voter registration more complicated and reduced the number of blacks on voter registration rolls.In 1898, in an election characterized by violence, fraud, and intimidation of black voters by Red Shirts, white Democrats regained control of the state legislature.Two days after the election, a small group of whites in Wilmington implemented their plan to take over the city government if the Democrats were not elected, although the mayor and a majority of city council were white.