The New South Reimagining the South, Segregation, Populism, & the Path to the Progressive Era

Bourbon Triumvirate John Gordon Joseph Brown Alfred Colquitt Redemption Era : period after Reconstruction and before the “New South” Redeem the state from the hardships of Reconstruction (i.e.…The Republican Party) The Bourbon Triumvirate: Joseph Brown, Alfred Colquitt, and John Gordon Representative of Democrats who wanted stronger economic ties with northern industry but also to maintain “old South traditions” (White Supremacy) These three men dominated Georgia politics for a quarter century

The Bourbon Triumvirate & Southern Democrats Democrats controlled most state government after Reconstruction. Powerful Democratic leaders, like the Bourbon Triumvirate of Georgia, sought to remake the South Their goals were: expand Georgia’s economy and ties with industries in the North; maintain the tradition of white supremacy.

Southern Democratic Rule Successes State taxes lowered State war debts reduced Business and industry expanded Failures Did not improve lives of poor Education suffered Did not reform prisons Poor working conditions in factories

Decline of the Old School Democrats… “Independent Democrats” criticized the mainstream party leaders for not attending to the needs of the poor or improve education and working conditions in factories. Leaders like William and Rebecca Felton of Georgia worked to improve conditions for the poor, using newspapers to highlight problems in the state. The convict lease system “rented” prisoners to companies to use as workers. It took many years for the poor conditions the prisoners endured to be brought to light and changed.

The New South Era Challengers to the establishment Democrats wanted the South to be more industrialized. Henry Grady was a speaker and newspaper editor in Georgia. Grady described Georgia as a place which could have competitive industry and more efficient farming. Grady envisioned improved race relations in a “New South” which left its antebellum past behind.

“The New South” New South: A phrase used to describe southern progress in the late 1800s…Industry! Henry W. Grady: first to use the phrase…editor for the Atlanta Constitution Henry W. Grady Example of Georgia Industry

Henry Grady: “Voice of the New South” 1880: became managing editor of the Atlanta Constitution Known for his controversial editorials Visited northern cities and spoke about the “New South” Southern economy was growing as agriculture was replaced by industry (textile mills, coal mining, tobacco factories) Pointed out that race relations had improved (had they?) Ability to sell the New South brought jobs, recognition, and investments to GA economy Principal planner for 1881 International Cotton Exposition Increased circulation of Atlanta Constitution from 10,000 to 140,000 (used interview process) Died in 1889 at 39

The New South Modern capitalist values Industrial growth Improved transportation Henry Grady, editor of the Atlanta Constitution, spread the ideal of Laissez-faire” capitalism Offered tax-exemption to investors Cheap labor

Economic Progress Birmingham, AL: leading steel center Memphis, TN: growing lumber industry Richmond, VA: center of tobacco industry Cheap labor allowed GA, NC, and SC to become chief producers of textiles Southern RR companies converted to standard gauge

Continued Poverty Remained largely agricultural Northern investors controlled ¾ of the southern railroads, and by 1900 had control of the steel industry Industrial workers (94% were white) in the South earned ½ the national average Most remained in traditional roles of sharecropping and farming

Why did the South remain poverty-stricken? South’s late start at industrialization Poorly educated workforce Failed to invest in technical and engineering schools Political leadership provided little support for the education of either poor whites or African Americans

Attempt at Diversification George Washington Carver African American scientist at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama promoted the growing of peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybean

Segregation Democrats came to power in the southern states after Reconstruction Business community White supremacists Favored segregation in public facilities Often used racial fears of whites to remain in power

Discrimination and the Supreme Court… During Reconstruction federal laws had protected against racial discrimination U.S. Supreme Court began to strike down these laws in the 1870s Civil Rights Cases (1883) Ruled that Congress could not legislate against racial discrimination practiced by private citizens

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) Upheld a Louisiana law requiring “separate but equal accommodations” for white and black passengers on the railroads. Did not violate the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of “equal protection of the laws.” Jim Crow laws were passed by many states after Plessy. Separate washrooms, fountains, park benches, etc.

Loss of civil rights… Voter registration dropped Ex.: 130,334 registered in Louisiana in 1896 and only 1,342 in 1904 Literacy tests, poll taxes, “whites-only” primaries, grandfather clauses Barred from serving on juries Stiffer penalties for crimes committed by African Americans Lynch mobs killed over 1400 men in the 1890s Remained in farming jobs and low-paying domestic work

Responding to segregation… International Migration Society Booker T. Washington Established Tuskegee Institute Largest and best-known industrial school in the nation Organized the National Negro Business League Racial harmony and economic cooperation Would rise up through education (W.E.B. Du Bois would later argue against this)

Tuskegee Institute

Farm Problems: North, South, and West Farmers were becoming a minority Number of farms doubled Number of farmers went from 60% of population in 1860 to less than 37% in 1900

Agriculture Remained tied to cotton; 1870-1890 cotton acres more than doubled Overproduction caused cotton prices to decline by more than 50% by the 1890s Per capita income declined and farmers lost their farms By 1900, over ½ of white farmers and ¾ of black farmers were tenants (sharecropping)

Changes in Agriculture… More commercialized and specialized Farmers were getting food and goods from stores and catalogs More dependent on machines such as steam engines, seeders, and reaper-thresher combines

Falling Prices… Increased production and global competition from Argentina, Russia, and Canada drove prices down for wheat, cotton, and other crops Money supply was not changing, so went into deflation in the 1870s and 1880s Farmers faced high interest rates and need to pay off old debts

Rising costs for the little guys… Monopolistic corporations kept prices high Middlemen took profit before selling to farmers Railroads, warehouses, and elevators charges high rates for transportation and storage Heavy taxes on property and land, but did not tax income from stocks and bonds Unfair tariffs

Fighting back… National Grange Movement National Grange of Patrons of Husbandry Originally a social and educational organization for farmers Established cooperatives Lobbied state legislatures to regulate railroad and elevator rates Illegal for RRs to fix prices through pools and to give rebates Munn v. Illinois (1877): SCOTUS upheld right of states to regulate businesses

Interstate Commerce Act (1886) State laws could really only regulate the short-hauls, not across state lines Wabash v. Illinois (1886): individual states could not regulate interstate commerce Established the Interstate Commerce Commission: power to investigate and prosecute pool and rebates RR rates had to be “reasonable and just”

The Grange Movement Grange: Groups of Southern sharecroppers, tenant farmers, and farmers with small plots of land Faced growing debts Could not feed/clothe their families Could not pay their debts to merchants/landowners 1872: Southern Granges become political (Along with others in the Midwest). Established Grange-owned stores and cotton gins to reduce costs for farmers Helped establish that farmers wanted to improve their lives The National Grange

Farmers’ Political Activism 1890: Farmers’ Southern Alliance had more than 1 million members Colored Farmer’s National Alliance: 250,000 members Both promoted political reforms to help solve the farmers’ economic problems If they could have united, they would have been even more powerful

Farmers’ alliances By 1890, about 1 million farmers had joined Both whites and blacks joined Had serious potential of turning into an independent political party

The Farmers’ Alliance Farmers’ Alliance: began as social organizations in the Northwest and the South. Formed co-ops: purchased goods and equipment directly from producers and sold to farmers at wholesale prices -cost of production (No taxes). Called for more U.S. production of paper money Higher credit limits to farmers

Ocala platform… National Alliance of the Southern Farmer’s Alliance, the Colored Farmer’s Alliance, and the Farmers’ Mutual Benefit Association that met in Ocala, Florida in December 1890. There, they: Attacked major parties as being subservient to Wall Street and big business Supported direct election of U.S. senators Lower tariff rates Graduated income tax New banking system regulated by the federal government Treasury notes and silver be used to increase the amount of money in circulation Wanted to create inflation and raise crop prices Many of these ideas would become part of the Populist movement in 1892 and 1896

The Populist Movement Rose from farmers and workers who were becoming tired, poor, and discouraged! The Grange: name used for the “Patrons of Husbandry”, a group organized to allow social gatherings where farmers could talk about common problems. Early 1870s prices began to drop Banks not lending as much money to farmers

The Populist Party The Farmers’ Alliance joined with labor organizations (unions) to form this new political party. Platform: 8 hour workday Gov’t ownership of railroad, telephone, and telegraph Graduated federal income tax Direct election of U.S. Senators Restriction of immigration Use of Australian Ballot: Ballot printed by gov’t, distributed at voting places, and collected in secret sealed boxes. 1892 Election: Democrat Grover Cleveland won…Populist candidate: James B. Weaver James B. Weaver White and black farmers

Tom Watson Georgia’s best known Populist. 1882: elected to Georgia General Assembly 1890: elected to Congress with backing of Farmers’ Alliance Introduced the Rural Free Delivery Bill (RFD): required the postmaster general to find a way to deliver mail to rural homes free of charge Created a boom in the building of roads, bridges, and other improvements needed for the delivery to rural areas. 1896: ran as vice-president under William Jennings Bryant (Lost) Tom Watson, Populist

Rebecca Felton A leader towards suffrage-votes, particularly for women. Pushed for temperance-anti-alcohol Popular writer for the “Atlanta Constitution” Used paper as a forum (Way to communicate ideas…TV, paper, radio, speech…) Began Georgia Training School for Girls in Atlanta With Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage First female U.S. Senator in nation’s history Replaced another Senator due to death (24 hours)

Rebecca and William Felton Roots of Populist Movement Led a group of independent Democrats against the Triumvirate From Cartersville William Felton: U.S. Congressman; served in GA General Assembly Worked to improve education, prison reform, and paved the way for controls and limits on alcohol. Rebecca Latimer Felton Picture of 1930 Prohibition

Industrial Revolution New inventions and leaps forward in technology The rise of the factory and industry Assembly Line Poor, difficult and dangerous working conditions (Laissez-faire) Rise of the City (Urban) Labor Organizations: Unions Worked for the improvement of safety and working conditions in the work place. Religious and Charitable (Philanthropic) organizations came to the aid of workers and child laborers.

The Progressive Movement Goal: Progress! Society Business Government fight poverty improve working conditions votes for women prison reform outlaw alcohol break up large corporations regulate businesses decrease corporate power in government greater voice of “the people” more voters did not seek to increase participation of blacks in elections