Lesson 28: Sections 3 and 4 Reform Movements

Inequality is still a pressing issue. Political Issues: Inequality is still a pressing issue. Jim Crow laws enforced segregation. Anglo Americans also worked to limit African American political power. Anglo Americans used intimidation and fear to prevent them from exercising their rights.  

Suffrage Movement: gaining the right to vote Women in Texas Joined women’s associations to address social problems and women’s rights. Temperance Movement: aimed at reducing or stopping the drinking of alcohol. Suffrage Movement: gaining the right to vote More women began entering the work force and attending university. The University of Texas was among the first schools to begin coeducation.  

Railroads: Before 1900, most families traveled by wagon and buggies. Texas encouraged the building of railroads across the state by providing land grants to railroad companies. The Land Grant Law of 1876 authorized 16 sections (10, 240 acres) of land for every mile of track the railroad company laid.

Railroads: During this construction period, the state of Texas gave away more than 32 million acres. By 1900 a network of railroads totaling some 10,000 miles spread over Texas. Journeys that had taken days or weeks now took hours Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth developed rapidly because they were railroad centers.

Houston was mostly built by a lumber company owner. New Industry Grows: 1868 - meat-packing industry began in the city of Victoria, due to the development of the refrigerated railcars. 1900 – Lumbering was the most important and valuable industry in the state. Timber companies harvested the timber of East Texas. Orange and Beaumont became major sawmill centers. Houston was mostly built by a lumber company owner.  

Monopolies Use Unfair Tactics: In the late 1800s, large companies that operated in Texas joined together and formed 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 low prices for materials they bought and charge high prices for the goods they sold = huge profits

Farmers Become Trapped by Debt: Cotton prices fell during 1875, and remained low through 1900 Over production of cotton continued this cycle of debt. They also claim that railroads charged higher prices to farmers who had no choice than to use the local railroad to ship their goods.

Texans Call for Reforms – The Grange and Farmer’s Alliance: Formal name of the Grange = Patrons of Husbandry_. The Grange: organization that called for economic changes set up stores where members could buy supplies cheaper pressured state legislature to deal with unfair shipping rates charged by railroads

Farmer’s Alliance: Similar to the Grange, but larger and more involved in politics. Backed and voted for political candidates that supported their views. At its peak, the Farmer’s Alliance had nearly 3 million members. They included women, but denied membership to African Americans.

Populist Party: Officially known as the People’s Party. Political party created by the Farmer’s Alliance to address the issues of rural Americans. Called for regulation of transportation, particularly railroads, and a more stable economy based on silver.

New Laws Prohibits Trusts: 1889 - TX legislature passed antitrust laws stopping companies from joining together to fix prices or limit production. Main reason for antitrust laws – business practice by railroads. The law often has been used to prevent unfair practices.

Governor Hogg Regulates the Railroads: In 1891, the legislature created the Texas Railroad Commission, a state agency to regulate railroads operating in Texas. Many railroads ceased unfair practices, such as fixing prices and charging more for short hauls than for long hauls. The Railroad Commission has been expanded to regulate other industries, particularly the oil industry.

Amendments: 18th Amendment: Prohibition Amendment This amendment banned the production, consumption and sale of alcohol. 19th Amendment: Suffrage Amendment – This amendment gave women the right vote in any election 21st Amendment: Repealed the 18th amendment – This amendment allowed people to produce, consume and sale alcohol again.