1. Age of Reform in Texas

2. Vocabulary reform poll tax prohibition temperance suffrage primary
trust
monopoly
antitrust
populism
graduated income tax
progressivism
blacklist
scrip
impeach
segregate

3. Reform-changes made to improve something
Poll tax-A tax that each person must pay in order to vote
Prohibition-a national movement to ban all alcohol
Temperance-avoidance of alcohol
Suffrage-the right to vote
Primary-election to determine a political party’s candidate
Trust-a group of similar companies who set prices and reduce competition
Monopoly-one company’s complete control over a type of product or service
Antitrust-opposition to a trust

4. Populism-a political movement created to look out for the interests of the average rural citizen
Graduated income tax-a tax set according to how much each person earns
Progressivism-social reform movement to improve society through government
Blacklist-a list of persons to be boycotted or punished
Impeach-bring charges against a public official to remove her/him from office
Scrip-form of payment to workers that had to be spent in a company store
Segregate-to separate people according to their race

5. Early Reforms in Texas

6. A Time of Changes
Industry and technology caused rapid growth in Texas in the late 1800s.
Texans felt that the state government needed to change to keep pace.
The citizens began to demand REFORMS.
The most important issue to Texans was to limit state government.
Other issues: education, alcohol, suffrage.

7. Improving Education
During the Republic Era, land was set aside for public schools.
1854 Permanent School Fund
Poll Tax- Collected to fund schools.
1884- Counties allowed to form school districts.
1870s-1880s-Several state universities established. (University of Texas and Texas A&M)

8. Prohibition
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.

9. Women’s Suffrage 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.

10. That’s All For Today!

11. Today’s Activity
Use a multi-flow map like the one below to analyze the results of early Texas reforms.
REFORMS
RESULTS
EARLY
REFORMS
IN TEXAS
Using the map you created, write a 1-2 paragraph summary of how reforms improved life for Texas citizens. If you do not finish it today, it is homework, and due tomorrow.

12. James Hogg and
the Populists

13. The Call for Reform
During the late 1800s to early 1900s, business and industry controlled Texas politics.
Texas citizens demanded political reform.

14. Railroad Abuses
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.

15. Hogg’s Fight for Reform
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.

16. Hogg and the Populists Hogg’s reform appealed to Populists.
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.

17. Populism After Hogg
The new governor, Charles Culberson, took over and continued Hogg’s Populist agenda.
He improved educational opportunities for African Americans and Mexican Americans.
When his term ended, the Populist movement died.

18. Done For Today! More Tomorrow!

19. Today’s Activity
Using construction paper, markers, etc., create a poster which attempts to convince people to join the Populist Party. You may work in groups of two or three to accomplish this.

20. Progressivism and James Ferguson

21. Reform Spreads to the Cities
The thoughts, beliefs and desires about social, economic, and political reform came to be known as Progressivism.
Those who supported the movement were called Progressives.

22. Disaster Leads to Change
The Galveston Hurricane of 1900 created a basic ideal of Progressivism.
After the city’s destruction, the surviving citizens decided that they needed a new form of local government to help with the seemingly impossible task of rebuilding.
They created the city commission.
This new commission became a model for many U.S. cities.

23. Progressives Push for Change
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 12 could work in industrial plants. Children under 16 could no longer work in breweries, mines, or distilleries.

24. Progressives Push for Change, cont.
Progressives improved prison conditions.
Created a fairer way to tax property.
Passed new laws to safely inspect food and drugs before they could be sold to the public.

25. “Farmer Jim” Takes Office
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!

26. Farmer Jim, cont.
Governor Ferguson was impeached after a dispute with the University of Texas Board of Regents.
He was banned from ever again holding public office in Texas.

27. Jim Crow Laws
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.

28. African Americans Seek Reform
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.

29. Hispanic Texans
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…

30. The End…For Now

31. Today’s Activity
On an index card, write down three current issues which you feel need to be reformed. Give at least one good reason why you think each issue should be reformed. Give the card to me as you leave the class.