1. 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.

2. 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 as a Democrat
Was head of a company that leased land to the Western and Atlantic Railroad

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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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
Effects:
City becomes deeply segregated
More of an economic divide in African American social class
Booker T Washington’s theory of economic success = equality will be proven wrong.

10. 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

11. 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