The seeds of the Civil Rights Movement The New South The seeds of the Civil Rights Movement

Bourbon Triumvirate The term Bourbon Triumvirate refers to Georgia's three most powerful and prominent politicians of the post Reconstruction era They controlled the Democratic Party in GA from 1870s to 1890s (Bourbon - a line of French kings who were said to have “learned nothing and forgotten nothing”/ a triumvirate is a ruling class of 3 people) Joseph E. Brown Alfred H. Colquitt John B. Gordon

What were their goals? wanted stronger economic ties with the industrial North to expand Georgia’s economy/modernization/industrialization wanted to keep old south traditions including white supremacy – devoted to Lost Cause. supported New South movement (esp. when they could profit from it) a frugal state government that demanded little of taxpayers (did not want to raise taxes) Gordon and especially Brown made use of convict labor in their industrial enterprises.

Joseph Brown Lawyer from Canton Elected to state senate in 1849 Served in senate until 1855 Became a judge for Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit Elected governor 1857 Popular “states’ rights” governor Governor during Civil War

John Gordon Lieutenant general in Civil War U.S. Senator 1872 Two-term governor of Georgia Reduced the state’s debt and brought new industry to Georgia

Alfred Colquitt Governor/1876 Fought/Mexican War State senator Served in Congress before Civil War Major General in Civil War Governor/1876 Involved in scandal/government jobs/called for investigation/found innocent/re-elected as governor/served until 1882 Reduced state’s debt

Henry Grady The person credited with coming up with the term New South

Who was he? UGA graduate Managing editor of Atlanta Constitution “voice of the New South” Encouraged northern industry in Georgia and spoke of “New South”: Helped bring jobs, recognition, and investments to recovering Georgia economy Helped increase the amount of manufacturing Believed in white supremacy

Accomplishments Helped bring jobs, recognition, and investments into recovering Georgia economy Introduced new technology: ”interview process” in news stories Increased circulation to over 140,000-most widely read paper in the nation

Bourbon Triumvirate All three men had extensive interests in the railroad and coal-mining industries, among other commercial pursuits. They used the prisoner lease system to make a personal fortune. A practice many opposed.

Henry Grady “voice of the New South” UGA graduate Managing editor of Atlanta Constitution Encouraged northern industry in Georgia and spoke of “New South”: Helped bring jobs, recognition, and investments to recovering Georgia economy Helped increase the amount of manufacturing Believed in white supremacy

International Cotton States Exhibition Showcased the economic recovery of the South (in which cotton played a large role) Highlighted Georgia’s natural resources Lured northern investors/ to increase the industries in the New South

Thomas Watson Controversial national leader of Populist party/wealthy/lawyer/concerned about GA’s poor, struggling white and black farmers

Accomplishments Introduced the Rural Free Delivery (RFD) bill/required US postmaster general to find a way to deliver mail to rural homes free of charge= boom in building of roads, bridges & other improvements needed to deliver the mail rurally

Later years 1904-He endorsed the disenfranchisement of African American voters During his 1908 presidential bid, he ran as a white supremacist and launched attacks in his magazine and newspaper against blacks.

Rebecca Latimer Felton

Rebecca Latimer Felton Husband (William) leader of Independent Democrats Rebecca worked to support his political causes by their newspaper The Cartersville courant-attacked Bourbons Believed leaders of D party ignored poor/lower class

Rebecca Latimer Felton Leader: Suffrage (women’s right to vote) and temperance/prohibition (anti-alcohol) movements Prison system reform Particularly opposed the prisoner lease system Women’s rights Anti-lynching Antismoking

Promoted: Childcare, compulsory school attendance, admission of women to UGA, white supremacy *First woman in U.S. Senate (appointed as replacement after death of Thomas Watson) *Oldest Senator-87 years old *Shortest term-24 hours

Jim Crow laws

Atlanta Riots of 1906 Newspapers reported violence against whites (especially women), this set off riots. White mob gathered in African American neighborhoods and attacked people, destroyed homes and businesses.

The results One of worst riots in the nation’s history Atlanta Journal/Atlanta Constitution promoted disenfranchisement At least 18 AA and 3 whites were killed Hundreds of people were injured Property was destroyed Atlanta's image as a thriving New South city was damaged

County Unit system: How it worked The 8 most populated counties had 6 county unit votes each (total-48) Next 30 counties had 4 county unit votes each (total-120) Remaining 121 counties had 2 county unit votes each (total-242) The 38 largest counties had 2/3 of Georgia’s voters, but the other 121 counties together could decide a state election

County Unit System The system used in GA (1877-1963) that gave rural counties an advantage over urban counties in elections to the state legislature Granted more representation per person (Democrats) Allowed rural counties to control elections (more power) allowed rural areas to have same political power as larger populated areas CUS violated the principle of "one man, one vote" 1963

Plessy vs. Ferguson What was this? A Supreme Court ruling upholding “separate but equal” facilities for blacks. Impact on blacks- It gave states the right to control social discrimination and to promote segregation. Throughout the South, many laws segregated parks, public transportation, and schools. It was not until 1954 with the Brown vs. Board of Ed. that segregated schools became unlawful.

Plessy vs. Ferguson In 1892, Homer Plessy (7/8 white & 1/8 black) bought a train ticket (New Orleans to Covington, LA) and sat in the white section to test the constitutionality of the “separate but equal” Jim Crow law. He was arrested because he would not leave the white section of the trains. (Jim Crow cars) (Judge Ferguson tried the case) $25 fine 20 days in jail

Disenfranchisement What? Depriving a person of the rights of citizenship, particularly the right to vote. Impact-All designed to keep blacks from voting. 1. Grandfather clause: stated that only those men whose fathers or grandfathers had been eligible to vote in 1867 were eligible to vote Impact- very few African Americans could vote at that time, thus preventing most of Georgia’s African Americans from voting. 47% of GA’s population were African Americans.

Disenfranchisement 2. poll tax- a tax to be able to vote 3. literacy test- questions could contain almost anything the voting clerk thought would stump the voter

Booker T. Washington One of the outstanding civil rights leader of his day President of Tuskegee Institute (AL) Believed that economic independence was the only road to social and political equality. Gave historic speech at the Cotton States and International Exposition: Atlanta Compromise speech because it proposed that blacks and whites should agree to benefit from each other economically he advocated vocational-industrial education for blacks as a means of improving southern race relations. Washington asked whites to trust blacks and provide them with opportunities so that both races could advance in industry and agriculture. This shared responsibility came to be known as the Atlanta Compromise.

W. E. B. Dubois Disagreed with Washington He thought that truth and knowledge would help different races understand and accept each other He wanted social/political integration He wanted higher education for 10% (Talented Tenth) for the African American population. Believed this group could become leaders for black Americans

W. E. B. Dubois He believed that African Americans deserved equal access to the political, social, and economic worlds of the South As lynching increased (2,500 reported), he decided that knowledge and truth alone were not enough, that there must be action if the races were to understand and accept each other

John Hope John Hope- first black president of Atlanta Baptist College/1906 (Morehouse) President of Atlanta University 1929 Attended protest meeting in NY/resulted in founding of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

John Hope President of the National Association of Teachers of Colored Schools Leader- Association for the Study of Negro Life and History International recognition for work with YMCA Under his leadership: Morehouse, Spelman, Morris Brown, and Clark colleges, Gannon Theological Seminary, and Atlanta University formed the Atlanta University Center

John Hope President of the National Association of Teachers of Colored Schools Leader- Association for the Study of Negro Life and History International recognition for work with YMCA Under his leadership: Morehouse, Spelman, Morris Brown, and Clark colleges, Gannon Theological Seminary, and Atlanta University formed the Atlanta University Center

Lugenia Burns Hope well-known civic leader Organized the Neighborhood Union provided vocational classes for children, a health center (medical and dental care), clubs for boys and girls, provided financial aid for needy families, pressured city leaders to improve roads, lighting, and sanitation in the African American neighborhoods of Atlanta

Alonzo Herndon Born a slave on a Walton County plantation After Civil War, worked for old master for $25 a year Learned to be a barber/moved to Jonesboro to open barber shop Crystal Palace Barber Shop

Alonzo Herndon Born a slave on a Walton County plantation After Civil War, worked for old master for $25 a year Learned to be a barber/moved to Jonesboro to open barber shop Crystal Palace Barber Shop Within 6 mts/owned half interest in the business/early 1900s opened 3 new shops for white customers