Age of Reform in Texas

Reform-changes made to improve something Poll tax-A tax that each person must pay in order to vote Prohibition-a national movement to ban all alcohol Temperance- avoidance of alcohol Suffrage-the right to vote Trust- a group of similar companies who set prices and reduce competition Monopoly- one company’s complete control over a type of product or service Important Vocab MEANINGS:

Populism- a political movement created to look out for the interests of the average rural citizen Progressivism- social reform movement to improve society through government Blacklist- a list of persons to be boycotted or punished Impeach- bring charges against a public official to remove her/him from office Scrip- form of payment to workers that had to be spent in a company store Segregate- to separate people according to their race Important Vocab MEANINGS:

Early Reforms in Texas

Progressive Needs Without laws and changes to IMPROVE things, things would remain the same. Women could not vote and didn’t have the same rights as men. Children and laborers had unfair hours, pay and working conditions. The common man (the normal guy, without a lot of $) didn’t have anyone representing him in government. Education wasn’t given fairly to everyone. Corruption was a problem in businesses.

Progressive Needs (con’t) Mexican and Black Americans didn’t have the same rights as everyone else. Discrimination and segregation was practiced in businesses and schools. Alcoholism created problems in society. Families were affected. People needed leaders who would fight for changes.

A Time of Changes Industry and technology caused rapid growth in Texas in the late 1800s. Texans felt that the state government needed to change in order to keep up. The citizens began to demand REFORMS. The most important issue to Texans was to limit state government. Other issues: education, alcohol, suffrage.

Improving Education During the Republic Era, land was set aside for public schools Permanent School Fund Poll Tax- Collected to fund schools Counties allowed to form school districts. 1870s-1880s- Several state universities established. (University of Texas and Texas A&M)

Prohibition During the 1870s, citizens began to voice concerns about the effects of alcohol on society. The TEMPERANCE movement began. Most counties became “dry” (alcohol free) Texas ratified (accepted) the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, outlawing all alcohol. VIDEO

Women’s Suffrage The Texas Constitution 1876 denied women suffrage. Texas women created the Texas Woman Suffrage Association. After many years of trying and failing, women were able to vote for the first time in Texas state primaries in In June, 1919, Texas ratified the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, giving all women the right to vote. VIDEO

Oveta Culp Hobby Worked tirelessly for Women’s Rights Led the WAAC (Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps) 1 st woman to wear the uniform of a U.S. Army Officer Became the 1 st Secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare “No celebration of Armed Forces will be held in Houston if not open to everyone who has served”.

James Hogg and the Populists

The Call for Reform During the late 1800s to early 1900s, business and industry controlled Texas politics. Texas citizens demanded political reform.

Railroad Abuses Railroad companies were following unfair business practices, and had become corrupt. Texas citizens demanded reform of the railroads. They found their champion for reform in James Hogg.

Hogg’s Fight for Reform 1866 James Hogg was elected state attorney general. He led the fight to: -- reform of large corporations. -- to make monopolies illegal by passing a state antitrust law. Hogg was elected governor in 1890, and formed the Texas Railroad Commission.

Hogg’s reform appealed to Populists. Populists demanded government regulation of businesses and utility companies. They also campaigned for a graduated income tax and direct election of U.S. Senators. In 1896, populism faded away, being replaced by the Democratic Party, which held many populist values. Hogg and the Populists

Populism Populism was a political movement created to work for the rights of the common man. Everybody….the people on farms, without a lot of money….people in cities….rights for EVERYone. Not just the people with money and prestige.

Progressive Reforms: Agrarian Groups were disgruntled farmers who organized into a third political party to fight against Republicans and Democrats and were often referred to as Agrarian Democrats with the popular leader James Hogg. He limited: 1.amount of debt that a city could have 2.lengthened the school year from four to six months, 3.increased school funding 4.made it more difficult for prisoner pardons.

Populism After Hogg The new governor, Charles Culberson, took over and continued Hogg’s Populist agenda. He improved educational opportunities for African Americans and Mexican Americans. When his term ended, the Populist movement died.

Progressivism and James Ferguson

Reform Spreads to the Cities The thoughts, beliefs and desires about social, economic, and political reform came to be known as Progressivism. Those who supported the movement were called Progressives.

Disaster Leads to Change The Galveston Hurricane of 1900 created a basic ideal of Progressivism. After the city’s destruction, the surviving citizens decided that they needed a new form of local govt. to help with the seemingly impossible task of rebuilding. They created the city commission; each commissioner had specific experience and knowledge in areas to help the city. This new commission became a model for many U.S. cities.

Progressives Push for Change Progressives pushed for reform to labor laws. Companies could no longer use blacklists. Companies could no longer issue scrip (credit) instead of money for wages. Child labor laws were enacted.

Child Labor Laws Child labor laws were enacted. No child under age 14 could work in industrial plants. Children under 16 could no longer work in breweries, mines, or distilleries Children could not work nights Children could not work longer than 8 hours

Progressives Continue to Push for Change Progressives improved prison conditions. Created a fairer way to tax property. Passed new laws to safely inspect food and drugs before they could be sold to the public.

“Farmer Jim” Takes Office 1915 James Ferguson becomes governor. He concentrated on helping the poor tenant farmers, giving him the nickname “Farmer Jim”. He was very productive. He reformed tenant farming as promised, created the State Department of Forestry, improved rural schools, and increased funding to Texas colleges.

Farmer Jim, cont. He also made some very powerful enemies! Governor Ferguson was impeached after a dispute with the University of Texas Board of Regents. He was banned from ever again holding public office in Texas.

Jim Crow Laws After the Civil War, those in the South were still very much against freedom for African American slaves. Those states decided to pass the Jim Crow Laws, which discriminated against African Americans. This included: segregation of schools; use of public facilities; access to theaters, restaurants, etc. VIDEO

African Americans Seek Reform Many African American Texans found themselves powerless after Reconstruction. Democratic leaders harassed and t threatened them if they tried to vote. In 1902, the poll tax was enacted, requiring voters to pay a tax to be able to vote. Most minorities and many whites were too poor to pay the tax, and therefore could not vote. Segregation was widespread as a result of the Jim Crow Laws. In 1912, some Houston residents formed an NAACP chapter.

Hispanic Texans Many Mexican American citizens faced similar challenges. They were also victims of the Jim Crow Laws. Hispanics joined in the fight for better living and working conditions.

Hector P. Garcia Hector P. Garcia was a doctor who had graduated from a segregated high school. Garcia dedicated his life to Hispanic equality. He formed the American GI Forum to fight discrimination against Hispanics. He won the Presidential Medal of Honor. VIDEO