The New South What people do I need to know? The Bourbon Triumvirate Joseph E. Brown Alfred H. Colquitt John B. Gordon Rebecca Latimer Felton Tom Watson Leo Frank Henry Grady

The Bourbon Triumvirate Democrats controlled Georgia’s government after Reconstruction. Powerful Democratic leaders, known as the “Bourbon Triumvirate” were Joseph E. Brown, Alfred H. Colquitt, and John B. Gordon. Their goals were: expand Georgia’s economy and ties with industries in the North; maintain the tradition of white supremacy.

Decline of the Bourbon Triumvirate “Independent Democrats” criticized the Bourbons for not attending to the needs of the poor or improve education and working conditions in factories. Leaders William and Rebecca Felton worked to improve conditions for poor Georgians 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 Bourbon Triumvirate wanted Georgia to be more industrialized. Henry Grady was a speaker and newspaper editor. 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.

Joseph E Brown (1821-1894) He was a member of the Bourbon Triumvirate Elected Governor of Georgia in 1857 and stayed during the Civil War. Was a strong “State’s Rights” Governor Supported the Reconstruction efforts Briefly joined the Republican party during Reconstruction U.S. Senator from 1880-1890 as a Democrat Was head of a company that leased land to the Western and Atlantic Railroad

Alfred H Colquitt (1824- 1894) Member of the Bourbon Triumvirate Member of the Georgia Secession Convention in 1861 Georgia’s governor 1876-1882 While governor reduced state’s war debts Helped Georgia approved new state constitution in 1877 U. S. Senator 1883- 1894

John B Gordon (1832- 1904) Member of the Bourbon Triumvirate Outspoken opponent of Reconstruction Leader of the Georgia KKK Head of the Western & Atlantic RR Elected governor in 1886 for 2 terms Reduced state’s war debt Brought in new industry to the state

Rebecca Latimer Felton (1835-1930) She was a write, political activist, and social reformer. Battled with the Bourbon Triumvirate over the convict lease system. Supported progressive causes: abolishing the convict lease system, prohibition, and Women’s Suffrage. With the death of Senator Tom Watson, Ga. Governor, Thomas Hardwick, appointed her as temporary U.S. Senator. The first woman U.S. Senator

Tom Watson and the Populist Early law and political career supporting poor tenant farmer and sharecropper of both races. 1882 Georgia General Assembly – supported the end of convict lease system and supported public education for all Georgians. 1890 – Farmers Alliance and then the Populist party – lower taxes for farmers Rural Free Delivery Act Presidential candidate in 1904 and 1908 Populist party 1904 progressive views change, become white supremacist Wrote the newspaper The Jeffersonian 1920 elected US Senate – Rebecca Latimer Fleton will replace him.

Leo Frank case: 1913/1915 Leo Frank – Accused of killing Mary Phagan. Very little evidence against him but Frank was found guilty and sentenced to death. Frank was convicted of the murder, but his death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment by Gov. Slaton Two months later, Frank was taken from the prison by an angry mob, brought back to Marietta, and lynched by a group calling themselves the Knights of Mary Phagan. Resulted in the rebirth of the KKK Nov. 1915: Atlanta preacher William Simmons and 34 others climbed to the top of Stone Mountain, lit torches, circled a burning cross, and rallied

Henry Grady (1850- 1889) Known as the voice of the “New South” Managing editor of the Atlanta Journal Spoke on his views of industrialization of the South, diversification of agriculture, and northern investors to help the south. International Cotton Expositions and Georgia Tech. Helped to bring jobs, recognition, and investment to Georgia. Portrayed race relations as changing in Georgia.

Atlanta Race Riot--1906 Sept. 22, 1906: over 5000 whites and African Americans had gathered on Decatur Street Lasted 2 days: martial law declared 18 African Americans killed 3 whites killed Hundreds injured Value of property destroyed very high How did propaganda contribute to the riot? Tom Watson: spread racial fears Hoke Smith: used racial fears to gain votes during the governor’s race that year Atlanta Newspapers: printed story after story of African American violence against whites

Jim Crow laws “Separate but equal” Laws passed to establish facilities for whites and blacks Resulted in separate bathrooms, water fountains, railroad cars, waiting rooms, schools 1889: Georgia General Assembly segregated public facilities Always separate—rarely equal African Americans protested the laws in public meetings Henry McNeal Turner: the civil rights laws and segregation that followed them was ‘barbarous’.

Plessy v. Ferguson Staged as a way to test the constitutionality of the Jim Crow laws (Jim Crow Car Act of 1890) Homer Plessy: 7/8 white, 1/8 black took a seat in the ‘whites only’ car of a train When he refused to move, he was arrested under the above act which required separate but equal accommodations on train cars Heard by the US Supreme Court in 1896 Upheld by a 7-1 vote (single dissenting vote: John Marshall Harlan, a Southerner) Plessy v. Ferguson gave states the right to control social discrimination and promote segregation

Plessy v. Ferguson 1899: Richmond County closed the only public high school in Georgia for descendents of enslaved Africans—purely for ‘economic reasons’ to create an elementary school Parents sued the school board based on the original Plessy v. Ferguson case that ensured separate-but-equal facilities Lower court agreed; overturned by GA Supreme Court December 1899: U.S. Supreme Court ruled: Africans had the right to be educated only to the 8th grade Closing the white high school did not relate to the equal rights granted by the 14th amendment The use of funds to open the elementary school by closing the high school was a state issue Ruling finally overturned in 1954 with Brown V. Board of Education which ended segregated schools Picture: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Disenfranchisement 1900: African-Americans make up 47% of Georgia’s population Despite 15th amendment, laws were passed with the sole purpose of keeping them from voting 1908: Grandfather clause—stated that only men whose fathers or grandfathers had been eligible to vote in 1867 were eligible to vote (b/c so few African Americans had been able to vote in 1867 it kept most of GA’s Af. Amer from voting) Poll tax: a tax to be able to vote Other requirements: own property, pass literacy tests Literacy tests were very subjective—could be asked anything (explain antidisestablishmentarianism) Gerrymander: a way of drawing up an election district to benefit a certain group (racial, political, special interest) White Primary- did not allow blacks to vote in all-important primary elections In 1812, the US portrait painter, Gilbert Stuart, known for his portraits of the great US presidents, noticed a map in a newspaper office. The map showed a voting district that had been created by the Democratically dominated Massachusetts Assembly when Elbridge Gerry (1744-1814) was governor. The district had a peculiar shape that assured that any election in that district would favor the Democrats. Stuart drew eyes, claws, and wings on the outline of the district because it looked like a salamander. Someone in the office watched him and blended Gerry with salamander on the spot to create the word, gerrymander which survived to this today.

Booker T. Washington Important civil rights leader President of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama Believed that economic independence was the only road to social and political equality African Americans should focus on learning skills and gaining economic strength Urged white Southerners to remember that the African American workforce had created the wealth of the South—feared that African Americans would be cast aside for immigrant labor Speech: Atlanta’s Cotton States and International Exposition in 1895--condoned social segregation of the races, provided that educational and economic opportunities were equal.

W.E.B. Dubois Disagreed with Washington Called for social and political integration Talented 10th: higher education for 10% of the African American population—this group could become leaders for the community Thought Washington was making decisions that affected all blacks negatively Disagreed that blacks who became economically successful and waited long enough would help improve race relations

Alonzo Herndon (1858- 1927) Born a slave to a white master and a slave mother. After the Civil War became a sharecropper Moved to the city to learn a trade – became a barber Opened three barber shops in Atlanta – on Peachtree Street – Crystal Chandelier Invested in real estate Founded Atlanta Mutual Life Insurance Co. Atlanta’s first black millionaire

John and Lugenia Burns Hope Educator, civil rights leader, social reformer Was the first black president of Atlanta Baptist College (Morehouse) Helped found the NAACP Community organizer, reformer and social activist Established the Neighborhood Union: vocational classes for children, a health center, clubs for boys and girls, provided financial aid for the needy, and helped improve city infrastructure in African American neighborhoods. 1932 – became Vice President of NAACP

International Cotton Exposition 1895 Used to promote Atlanta’s rebuilding and it’s industrial capabilities Lure northern investments into the region Booker T. Washington – The Atlanta Compromise speech – urged African Americans to focus on economic improvement as opposed to political and social rights. Displayed Atlanta as a “Phoenix” – rising from the ashes and established it as the leading city in the New South.

The County Unit System 1917: Neil Primary Act created “county unit system” Plan designed to give small counties more power in state government Smaller counties had more county unit “votes” even though they had fewer voters People could be elected to office without getting a majority of votes Declared unconstitutional in 1962

Reasons for World War I Nationalism, Imperialism, militarism, alliances President Wilson worked to keep the US out of the war 1915: German submarine sank passenger ship Lusitania killing 128 Americans 1917: sub attacks resumed sinking American ships Zimmerman telegram: Germany tried to get Mexico to attack the US Wilson finally joined the Allied powers

Georgia and World War I ±100,000 Georgians volunteered to join the US armed forces Training in Georgia at Camp Benning, Fort McPherson, and Camp Gordon helped Georgia economy Georgians contributed manufactured goods and farm produce 3,000 young Georgians killed in the war Ended November 11, 1918