1. Georgia’s Redemption Years
Redemption can mean recovery, deliverance, or rescue
(1) For Georgia this era was a period for the state to redeem from the hardships of reconstruction.

2. A City Rises from the Ashes
Atlanta becomes capital in 1868
Entrepreneurs, both black and white, developed new services and products.
“New South Era” was a time of terrible racism and injustice.
Segregation became the law of the land
Women played a big role in reform.

3. The Bourbon Triumvirate~
(2) ruling body of three. Named after French Kings/castle which ruled for 200 years
During this time, a group of three politicians (triumvirate) dominated Georgia’s government for more than 20 years (1872 – 1890). They rotated the positions of Governor, State Senator and U.S. Senator.
The three were democrats and supported (3) white supremacy, the belief that the white race is superior to any other race.
Wanted stronger economic ties with industrial North

4. Political Career
Role in the Civil War
Controversy
Joseph E. Brown
State Senate
Judge
1857- Governor
Chief Justice Georgia Supreme
U.S. Senator
Georgia’s governor during the Civil War
Lost popularity for supporting Radical Reconstruction policies
Alfred Colquitt
1849 State Senate
1876 Governor
1883 and U.S. Senator
Military leader and became Major General
Illegal dealings with Northeastern Atlantic RR
John B. Gordon
1872 Ga’s U.S. Senator
1888 Governor
1891 U.S. Senate
Fought in many Civil War battles and became lieutenant general

5. Decline of the triumvirate
Positive Contributions
Criticisms
Lowered taxes
Reduced war debt
Expanded business and industry
Provided NO help for:
poor and lower middle class
education
factory working conditions
mental hospitals
convict lease system

6. Rebecca Latimer Felton
(4) William and Rebecca Latimer Felton:
William was a doctor, Methodist preacher, farmer, and public speaker.
Both were leaders of the Democratic Party
She was the first female U.S. Senator, but only 24 hours!
Their family owned The Cartersville Courant, a newspaper.
(5) They used their paper as a platform to fight against the Bourbon Triumvirate and brought attention to:
Unfairness of the convict lease system
Issues of the poor and middle class
Rebecca was a leader in Women’s Suffrage, abolishing convict lease system and Temperance Movement (movement to ban alcohol)
In 1889, Hoke Smith asked her to be a columnist for the Atlanta Journal.
She remained with the Journal for 41 years.

7. The Convict Lease System
During the Civil War, prisons were destroyed
After the War, lack of jobs led to crime
What was the state to do with increase of prison population? (90% were black)
One solution was the Convict Lease System

8. (6)Convict Lease System
Prisoners were leased out to people who would provide them with housing and food in exchange for labor.
Positive Contributions
Criticisms
The state did not have to support the cost of prisoners
Initially, prisoners completed public works projects
Companies profited and did not care for the convicts adequately
Some prisoners were worked to death
Paid laborers lost out on jobs
Increased the large number of poor and unemployed.

9. Martial Law