1. Main Idea 1: Texas farmers faced serious economic challenges in the late 1800s as crop prices fell and farmers’ debts grew.
Boom-and-Bust Cycle
Boom in farm production led to overproduction
Overproduction caused crop prices to drop
Farmers also faced foreign competition, high interest rates, droughts, and rising prices of many goods and services

2. Main Idea 2: The Grange and the Southern Farmers’ Alliance worked for economic reforms to improve the lives of farmers.
Goals of the Grange
Schooling for rural families
Cooperative stores for members
Regulation of Railroads-to get goods to market
Cooperation and social activities among farmers
Goals of the Farmer’s Alliance
Cooperative stores for farmers
Railroad regulation
Marketing help for farmers
Increase in the supply of currency in circulation

3. Main Idea 3: Dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party led some farmers to help form the Populist Party in 1891.
People’s Party Was Formed
People’s Party commonly called Populist Party
Wanted to reduce the influence of big business on government
Called for government ownership of railroads, as well as telegraph and telephone systems
Demanded 8-hour workday and an increase in the money supply

4. Texas Government at the end of Reconstruction
Main Ideas
Texas finances were in trouble because of rising public debt.
To help the state get out of debt, Governor Roberts cut veterans’ pensions-wages paid after retirement.
3 Achievements at the end of Reconstruction
balanced the budget
restored law and order
built a new state capitol

5. Big businesses in Texas used trusts and monopolies to increase their power and wealth, and citizens demanded change.
Big Business and Free Enterprise
Decreased or eliminated competition
Resulted in higher prices for the goods Texans needed
Most important industry was lumber.
Trust-companies that join together to prevent other companies from selling the same product
Monopoly-exclusive or sole control over an industry
Free Enterprise-operating without government interference
Antitrust Law-prevented companies from joining together to fix prices

6. Power of Trusts
They had a monopoly, or exclusive control, of the business.
When there was no competition, trusts could fix prices.
Farmers and consumers could not protect themselves against such unfair practices.

7. Changes in Government
Many Democrats objected to the Constitution of 1869 because it was written by Radical Republicans.
In 1875, 90 delegates met for a constitutional convention in Austin.
The Texas constitution has been amended about 400 times, but the 1876 version is still used today.
After Reconstruction, most state officials were conservative-not wanting to make changes to the existing government

8. Main Idea 2: Texas political leaders such as Lawrence Ross, James Hogg, and James Ferguson worked to reform unfair business practices.
Reforms of James Stephen Hogg As Attorney General
Drove out corrupt insurance companies
Increased competition and decreased price-fixing
Reforms of James Stephen Hogg As Governor
Hogg Laws – a number of laws regulating business (1890)
Created the Texas Railroad Commission in 1891
Made reform pertaining to teacher training and prison system
Began laws for corporate landholdings

9. Main Idea 2: Progressive reforms focused on areas such as working conditions, health and safety, and education.
Category
Workplace – passed labor laws improving working conditions and the first child labor law in 1903
Society – passed pure food and drug acts
Education – more public schools, teacher training, compulsory school attendance

10. Section 4: Women and the Progressive Movement
Main Ideas
Progressives in Texas and other states worked to ban the sale of alcohol.
Suffrage, or the right to vote, was a major goal for women in the progressive movement. No women could vote in 1900.

11. Main Idea 1: Progressives in Texas and other states worked to ban the sale of alcohol.
Led to the temperance movement
temperance movement – a social reform effort that encouraged people to drink less alcohol

12. Main Idea 2: Suffrage, or the right to vote, was a major goal for women in the progressive movement.
Change in Life for Women and Minorities
Women played a vital role in social reforms