2. to reform = to change

3. During the 1870s, citizens began to voice concerns about the effects of alcohol on society. The TEMPERANCE movement began. Most counties became “dry”. 1918 Texas ratified (accepted) the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, outlawing all alcohol. ***It was later nullified (canceled)

4.  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 1918.  In June, 1919, Texas ratified the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, giving all women the right to vote.

5.  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”.

6.  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.

7.  Many African American Texans found themselves powerless after Reconstruction.  Democratic leaders harassed and 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.

8.  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.  A bigger challenge for all Texans was forming elsewhere in the world… **Hector Garcia formed the American GI Forum to fight discrimination  He won the Presidential Medal of Honor

9.  Progressives pushed for reform to labor laws. Companies could no longer use blacklists.  Companies could no longer issue scrip instead of money for wages.  **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

10.  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.

11.  1866 James Hogg was elected state attorney general.  He led the fight to reform of large corporations.  Led the fight to make monopolies illegal by passing a state antitrust law.  Hogg was elected governor in 1890.  Formed the Texas Railroad Commission

12.  Hogg’s reform appealed to Populists.  Populist was a political movement created to work for the rights of common man  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.

13.  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.  He also made some very powerful enemies!

14.  Governor Ferguson was impeached after a dispute with the University of Texas Board of Regents. He withheld funding for personal reasons.  He was banned from ever again holding public office in Texas.