Chapter 20: Politics & Progress

Reconstruction Ends Chapter 20 Section 1

A New Era Brings New Concerns ► During the late 1800s, Texas experienced a lot of growth and expansion. ► A network of railroads spread throughout the state, agriculture boomed, and existing industries expanded. Main Street Waco, Texas in late 1800s

San Marcos Train Depot: 1890

Democrats Rewrite the Constitution ► In 1874 Democrats returned to power in Texas and a new state constitution was written in 1876 – this is the state’s current constitution (more than 400 amendments have been added). ► The earlier state constitution of 1869 was written by Radical Republicans. Most state leaders disliked this constitution because they believed it gave too much power to only a few leaders.

► The new Constitution of 1874 created a government with limited powers. ► Provisions included: 1) limited the power of the governor 1) limited the power of the governor 2) made the legislature meet every 2 years 2) made the legislature meet every 2 years and set term limits on the legislature and set term limits on the legislature 3) lowered state employees’ salaries 3) lowered state employees’ salaries 4) guaranteed low taxes 4) guaranteed low taxes 5) reduced money to be spent on education 5) reduced money to be spent on education Democrats Rewrite the Constitution

► The U.S. Constitution’s 15 th Amendment guaranteed voting rights for all men, but NOT women. They were denied suffrage, or the right to vote.

Democrats Control State Politics ► Most elected leaders after Reconstruction were conservative Democrats. ► The Texas Republican Party, which many African Americans supported, had little power.  Norris Wright Cuney was a leading African American Republican, was a collector of customs for the port of Galveston. ► Sometimes African Americans were threatened, denied jobs, or harmed if they tried to take part in politics or vote.

Spending Cuts Reduce State Debt ► The large public debt at the end of Reconstruction ($3 million) continued to increase. ► It was $5.5 million by the spring of 1879 when Richard Hubbard succeeded Governor Coke. ► Governor Oran M. Roberts took office in 1879 and balanced the budget by cutting pensions for veterans and school funding.

Lawmen Keep Order ► Lawlessness was a major problem in Texas after the Civil War as many unemployed people flocked to the Texas frontier. ► Some turned to robbing trains, stagecoaches, and banks, as well as cattle rustling and horse theft. ► Communities formed vigilante committees to restore law and order on the Texas Frontier.

Sam Bass John Wesley Hardin Billy the Kid Jesse James Texas Outlaws of the Late 1800s

Texas Needs a Capitol ► The Constitution of 1876 included a plan for a new capitol. ► On November 9, 1881, the existing capitol burned after catching fire during a rainstorm. ► Work on a new capitol began in 1882 and was completed in 1888.

Historical photo of the Texas capitol on fire: 1881

► The new capitol was modeled after the U.S. Capitol. ► Texas’ capitol is the largest capitol building in the United States! ► It has more square footage than any state capitol and is 7 feet taller than the U.S. Capitol. Texas Needs a Capitol

Women Fight for Their Rights ► Although women in Texas accounted for about half of the population by 1900, they did not have the same legal rights as men. ► The Women’s Christian Temperance Union was the first Texas group to endorse suffrage.

► The Texas Equal Rights Association had 48 charter members, including 9 men. ► Other organizations included:  Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs,  the Texas Farmers’ Alliance  Texas Federation of Labor Women Fight for Their Rights

► The women of Texas would not gain the right to vote until after World War I in 1918.

Women at Work ► Most Texas women at the turn of the 20 th century worked at home as wives, mothers, and homemakers. ► Teaching was the most important profession open to women at the time. Some even started schools. ► Some women worked as maids, secretaries, merchants, physicians, journalists, and artists.

Transportation and Industry – Railroads come to Texas Chapter 20 Section 2

I. Texans Demand Railroads Before 1900 most people traveled by wagons and buggies. Poor transportation slowed Texas’ development. Farmers and Merchants could only market goods in nearby areas – not many opportunities to make profits.

A Network of Steel Connects Texas Before the Civil War, only 400 miles of Railroad in Texas – First Rail connections with other states made. Towns paid railroads to build tracks in their cities.

A Network of Steel State encouraged building through the Land Grant Law of 1876: 16 sections (10,240 acres) of land given to rail company for every mile of track built. 32 million acres given until 1882.

T&P 610 – owned by TX State Railroad

A Network of Steel By ,000 miles of track in Texas. Travel times across the state went from days or weeks to hours. New towns built near railroads. Existing towns near railroads grew up. Towns located away or outside of railroads dried up. Towns where rail lines met became center of business – Houston, Fort Worth, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio – grew into major cities.

Downtown Dallas, TX 1900Downtown Ft. Worth, TX 1900

Improving Transportation No State Road system existed in 1880s. Every county built and maintained its own roads. Most roads were unpaved and became mud pits, or were very dusty and dirty.

Improving Transportation More and more roads were built in the 1880s and 1890s. Streetcars and trolley cars appeared in the 1870s and by 1900, cars were starting to be seen in Texas. Growing popularity of cars led state to improve roads.

Horse-Drawn Street Car in Texas: late 1800s

Electric Trolley in San Angelo, TX

Demands for Reform Chapter 20 Section 3

I. Monopolies Use Unfair Tactics In the late 1800s, large companies that operated in Texas joined together and formed trusts. In the late 1800s, large companies that operated in Texas joined together and formed trusts. These trusts: These trusts: –helped to prevent other companies from selling the same product or service; –reduced or eliminated competition and free trade; –Could hold a monopoly on a business, which allowed them to pay very low prices for materials they bought and charge very high prices for the goods they sold = huge profits.

II. Farmers Become Trapped in a Cycle of Debt Farmers worried about shrinking profits received from their crops. Farmers worried about shrinking profits received from their crops. Farmers found themselves in a cycle of debt they could not get out of. Farmers found themselves in a cycle of debt they could not get out of. How did the cycle of debt run? How did the cycle of debt run?

The Cycle of Debt: 1.Cotton prices fell during 1875 and remained low through To offset the drop in prices, farmers borrowed extra money to buy more land, equipment, seed, and other supplies to produce more crops = overproduction. 3.This overproduction dropped the price of cotton even more. 4.With lower crop prices and increased debts from land/equipment/seed purchases, many farmers could not get out of the cycle of debt. They must produce more and more crops to try to pay debts and make profits.

Casualty of Commercial Farming The rise of commercial farming in the lower Rio Grande Valley resulted in displacement of Mexican American landowners. The rise of commercial farming in the lower Rio Grande Valley resulted in displacement of Mexican American landowners.

III. Texans Call for Reforms – The Grange Formal name of the Grange = Patrons of Husbandry. Formal name of the Grange = Patrons of Husbandry. The Grange: The Grange: –social/political organization that called for economic changes; –set up stores throughout Texas where members could buy supplies more cheaply; –pressured state legislature to deal with unfair shipping rates charged by railroads. The Grange eventually replaced with more aggressive political organization = Farmers’ Alliance The Grange eventually replaced with more aggressive political organization = Farmers’ Alliance

III. Texans Call for Reforms By 1886, Farmers Alliance had 100,000 members. By 1886, Farmers Alliance had 100,000 members. Alliance members formed the Populist Party also called the People’s Party. Most party members were poor farmers and sometimes African Americans. Alliance members formed the Populist Party also called the People’s Party. Most party members were poor farmers and sometimes African Americans.

III. Texans Call for Reforms The Populist Party began to fade away in Texas before the turn of the century. The Populist Party began to fade away in Texas before the turn of the century.

IV. New Laws Prohibits Trusts TX legislature passed antitrust law stopping companies from joining together to fix prices or limit production TX legislature passed antitrust law stopping companies from joining together to fix prices or limit production. Main reason for antitrust laws - unfair business practices by railroads. Main reason for antitrust laws - unfair business practices by railroads. The law often has been used to prevent unfair practices. The law often has been used to prevent unfair practices.

V. Governor Hogg Regulates the Railroads At the request of Governor James S. Hogg in 1891, the legislature created the Texas Railroad Commission, a state agency to regulate railroads operating in Texas. At the request of Governor James S. Hogg in 1891, the legislature created the Texas Railroad Commission, a state agency to regulate railroads operating in Texas. Soon, many railroads ceased unfair practices, such as fixing prices and charging more for short hauls than for long hauls. Soon, many railroads ceased unfair practices, such as fixing prices and charging more for short hauls than for long hauls.

V. Governor Hogg Regulates the Railroads Since then, the Railroad Commission has been expanded to regulate other industries, particularly the oil industry. Since then, the Railroad Commission has been expanded to regulate other industries, particularly the oil industry. Governor Hogg is remembered as one of Texas’s most important governors, in part, because of his establishment of the Texas Railroad Commission. Governor Hogg is remembered as one of Texas’s most important governors, in part, because of his establishment of the Texas Railroad Commission.

V. About Governor James S. Hogg He was the first native-born Texan to become Governor; He was the first native-born Texan to become Governor; He helped write one of the first antitrust laws in Texas (and the U.S.) to protect the public from monopolies; He helped write one of the first antitrust laws in Texas (and the U.S.) to protect the public from monopolies; He supported bills to increase education funding; He supported bills to increase education funding; He would not back down from a fight against big business; and He would not back down from a fight against big business; and Spoke effectively to Texans of their hopes and dreams = “one of our own”. Spoke effectively to Texans of their hopes and dreams = “one of our own”.