1. Economic, Political, and Social Changes in Georgia:
The New South
Economic, Political, and Social Changes in Georgia:
1870 to 1918

2. SS8H7 The student will evaluate key political, social, and economic changes that occurred ion Georgia between 1877 and 1918.
SS8E3 the student will evaluate the influence of Georgia’s economic growth and development

3. GPS SS8H7a
Evaluate the impact the Bourbon Triumvirate, Henry Grady, International Cotton Exposition, Tom Watson and the Populists, Rebecca Latimer Felton. . . had on Georgia during this period.
EQ: What were the differences in political views and philosophy among: Bourbon Truimvirate, Henry Grady, Tom Watson, Rebecca Felton?

4. The Big Plan Main Question:
What will be the focus of the South’s economy in the post-Civil War era?
Should it stay mainly agricultural?
Should it be diversified?

5. Answer: Diversify the Economy
The Big Plan
Answer: Diversify the Economy
Keep the traditional agricultural base of cotton.
Add industry to provide new and different jobs for the states’ citizens.
This is called the “New South” policy.

6. The Big Plan
Politics
The three main leaders were Joseph Brown, Alfred Colquitt, and John B. Gordon. They were called the Bourbon Triumvirate.
They said that they wanted to return to the glory of the “Old South”, but really pushed for the New South policies. (Pushed for industrialization of the south.)
Brown
Colquitt
Gordon

7. The Bourbon Triumvirate
#1 Joseph E. Brown
(1821 to 1894)
1857 to 1865 Governor of Georgia
1866 to 1868 Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice
1868 to 1880 Head of Western and Atlantic Railroad
1880 to 1891 U.S. Senator
Trustee for UGA and President of Atlanta Board of Education

8. #2 Alfred H. Colquitt (1824 to 1894)
Worked with Joseph E. Brown in Georgia Assembly in 1849 to 1851
Served in State and Federal governments before Civil War
Voted for Georgia to succeed from Union in 1861
Civil War General for Confederacy
1876 to 1882 Governor of Georgia
Served as U. S. Senator from 1883 until his death

9. #3 John B. Gordon
(1832 to 1904)
Only one of three officers who reached rank of Lt. General for Confederate Army
1872 to 1880, and 1891 to 1897 Served as U.S. Senator
1880 to 1886 Head of railroad in GA
1886 to 1890 served as Georgia Governor
Gordon College (Barnesville) named after him

10. Bourbon Triumvirate Accomplishments— Political Views— Lowered taxes
1. Redemption Years (restore Democratic rule in GA and prosperity to its economy)
2. Wanted stronger ties to Northern industries
3. Keep taxes and wages low to attract Northern investors
4. Keep the Democratic Party in control of all aspects of Georgia’s politics
5. Belief in White Supremacy and maintain many Southern traditions
Accomplishments—
Lowered taxes
Reduced war debt
Expanded business and industry
(YET did little to help poor whites and blacks, no improvements in education, factories and hospitals)

11. The Big Plan: Industrial Answers
Georgia political leaders wanted to bring industry to Georgia.
The most logical industry was the textile industry (dealing with woven cloth) due to the state’s cotton production.
They also wanted to rebuild the railways to keep Georgia in the forefront of transportation in the South. 11

12. The Big Plan: Promoting Industry
Leaders needed to attract Northern business owners and Northern investors because of the lack of money in the South.
Henry W. Grady, editor of the Atlanta Constitution, gave speeches and wrote articles encouraging Northerners to invest in the South. 12

13. Henry Grady
(1850 to 1889)
“Spokesman for the New South,” traveled to many northern cities
Graduate of UGA in 1868
Southern correspondent for New York Herald
1880 to 1886 managing editor of Atlanta Journal

14. Henry Grady Political Views— Accomplishments—
Leader of Atlanta Ring who were Democrat political leaders who believed in a “New South” program:
a. Northern investment
b. Southern industrial growth
c. Diversified farming
d. White supremacy
2. Superiority of Atlanta
3. Creating trust and unity between North and South
Accomplishments—
Convinced northerners to invest in Atlanta industries
Established Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)
Key player in Atlanta’s three Cotton Expositions in 1881, 1887, and 1895 (industrial fairs which attracted northern investments and created new jobs in Atlanta)
Atlanta becomes symbol of New South

15. Georgia’s Cotton Expositions
Georgia held 3 cotton Expo’s during the Redemption Period
Goal was to foster trade and show off the region to the rest of the nation and to Europe.
Showcased the latest technology in transportation, mining, manufacturing and agriculture.
1895: Cotton States and International Exposition
800,000 visitors in three months
designed to show economic recovery in the South
encouraged investments in southern businesses

16. Recessions The Big Plan: Problems
Throughout the period from the 1870s to the early 1900s recessions occurred.
When this happened many small farmers lost their farms and had to become sharecroppers.
By 1930, half of all Georgians were sharecroppers. 16

17. The Big Plan: Problems Problems with Industry (ills of society)
Low paying jobs
Unsafe working conditions
Long work weeks
Exploitation child and female labor
Convict leasing: worked the convicts to death and kept wages artificially low.
Mill villages/company stores: worked just as the lien. Workers stayed in debt and couldn’t leave. 17

18. Political Responses to problems
1. “Independent Democrats” criticized the Bourbons for not attending to the needs of the farmers.
2. The Independent movement was led by William and Rebecca Felton.
3. Dr. Felton was elected to Congress 3 times using a campaign to help the average farmer.
4. Mrs. Felton frequently made speeches, wrote articles, and sent letters about the injustices that farmers were experiencing. 18

19. Rebecca Latimer Felton
Valedictorian at Madison Female College in 1852
Ran newspaper with her husband Dr. William Felton
Campaign Manager and advisor to her husband while he served in both state and U.S. Congress
Reformer in temperance and women’s suffrage movement
First woman to serve in U.S. Senate in 1922 19

20. Rebecca Latimer Felton
Political Views—
Independent Democrat and opposed Bourbon Triumvirate views and their influence
Believed in social reform for poor and lower middle class
Accomplishments
1. Ended convict lease system and improved prison conditions
Regulate alcohol traffic in Georgia
Established female vocational education
One of the leaders in achieving the 19th Amendment 20

21. Political Responses to problems
By the 1890s, many poor farmers wanted a change & directed their efforts to creating a new political party, the Populist Party.
They demanded more education, loans, and laws protecting crop prices.
They also supported political equality and called on farmers of both races to unite. 21

22. Democratic Responses to challenges
Tom Watson left the Democratic Party and became the leader of the Populists in Georgia.
Served in Georgia General Assembly from 1882 to 1890.
The Democrats joined forces to defeat the Populists after Tom Watson won a seat in Congress in 1890.
Watson ran for re-election to Congress in 1892 and He was defeated both times through dirty tricks of the Democrats.
Watson eventually abandoned his support of political equality and became increasingly racist, turning on African-Americans, Jews, and Catholics. He also rejoined the Democratic Party. 22

23. Tom Watson Political Views— Accomplishments—
Democrat turned Populist (fought for rights of common men-- farmers and factory workers)
First southern politician to speak for the interest of blacks in Georgia
Believed that farming reform can be made if whites and black united politically
Accomplishments—
Introduced the Rural Free Delivery (RFD) bill which provide country resident free mail
Because of RFD, states built new roads and bridges in rural areas.
Use his weekly and monthly news magazines to influence Georgia politics and elections for GA governor

24. Democratic Responses to challenges
The Democrats felt comfortable in their power, even with the challenges of the Feltons through the 1880s.
However, when the new Populist Party formed, they knew they needed to make changes to maintain one party rule.
Their new policies were based on two ideas:
splitting the poor white and black vote through a policy of promoting racism
helping the poor whites (both farmers and industrial workers). 24

25. Democratic Responses to challenges
The Democrats pushed new policies which resulted in several changes, both positive and negative.
An acceptance of the Progressive Movement ideas which helped many average southerners (positive)
A return to extensive Black Codes and Jim Crow laws with a deterioration of race relations and more racial violence (negative).
An expansion of policies of hate to include Jews, Catholics, and immigrants (negative). 25

26. Democratic Responses to challenges
The Democrats pushed new policies which resulted in several changes, both positive and negative.
An acceptance of the Progressive Movement ideas which helped many average southerners (positive)
A return to extensive Black Codes and Jim Crow laws with a deterioration of race relations and more racial violence (negative).
An expansion of policies of hate to include Jews, Catholics, and immigrants (negative). 26

27. County Unit System

28. 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 (outlawed) in 1962

29. How it worked…
8 most populated counties got 6 unit votes each (8X6=48 total votes)
The next 30 counties (based on population size) got 4 unit votes each (30X4=120 total votes)
The remaining 121 counties had 2 unit votes each (121X2=242)

30. What that means… The most populated areas had 2/3’s of GA’s voters.
Yet, the other 121 counties together could decided the state election.
= 168< 242 (rural=least populated)
So the people in the rural areas with less education and political knowledge could change the whole election.

31. GPS SS8H7 b. Analyze how the denial of rights to African-Americans through the Jim Crow laws, Plessy v. Ferguson, disenfranchisement, and racial violence. c. Explain the roles of Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, John and Lugenia Burns Hope, and Alonzo Herndon

32. Booker T. Washington (1856 to 1915) Born as slave in Virginia (mixed)
Learned to read and write while as a free houseboy
Studied to be a teacher in Hampton, VA
1881 appointed president of Tuskegee Institute in AL

33. Booker T. Washington’s Views on Civil Rights
September 18, Atlanta “Compromise” opening day ceremonies at Cotton Sates and International Exposition
Washington accepted the races being separated for now, and that believed that social equality
“must be the result of severe and constant struggle rather than of artificial forcing.
Black must become economically independence before they can achieve political and social equality!!!
Believed that African Americans should get an education, work hard, save money first and then equality would happen.

34. Booker T. Washington’s Accomplishments
Foremost Black leader (both educationally and politically) in the late 1800s
Raised funds to establish and operate hundreds of small schools and black colleges
Wrote his famous book Up from Slavery

35. W.E.B. DuBois (1868 to 1963) Born in Massachusetts
First African American to earn Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1895
Became professor at Atlanta University in 1897
Studied social conditions of blacks in 1800s

36. W.E.B. DuBois’ Views on Civil Rights
Renounced Washington’s “Atlanta Compromise Speech” (It was too accommodating to the present injustices of the day, and only action will bring change!!)
He wanted the immediate right to vote, equality and education for African Americans.
Believed in “action” if African Americans and whites were to understand and accept each other.
Founder of Niagara Movement in 1905 with 29 other Black leaders in Niagara Falls, Canada

37. Du Bois, said in the Niagara Movement’s Manifesto,
“We want full manhood suffrage and we want it now…. We are men! We want to be treated as men. And we shall win.”

38. W.E.B. Du Bois’ Accomplishments
One of the founders of Niagara Movement, which eventually became the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Leader among Black authors and educator throughout first half of 20th century.
Contributed most influence on the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
Died one day before the March on Washington in 1963

39. Alonzo Herndon Born the son of a slave owner and a slave mother.
Worked as a sharecropper for many years after the Civil War.
Learned the trade of barbering. 39

40. Alonzo Herndon Accomplishments
Moved to Atlanta and established his own barber shop with all white clientele.
By the early 1900’s he owned 3 shops, a block of office buildings, and 100 rental houses
He bought an insurance company in 1905 for $140; today it is Atlanta Life Insurance Company and is worth over $200 million and one of the largest African American businesses in the U.S. He was Atlanta’s riches black man at the time of his death.
Founding member of the National Negro Business League.

41. John Hope
(1868 to 1936)
Born to a Scottish father and Black mother who were married in Augusta, GA
Treated well until father died when John was 8.
Instead of passing off as just white, he became proud of his Black heritage
Educated in New England, and graduated from Brown University (RI)
Became professor at Atlanta Baptist College in 1899

42. John Hope’s Views on Civil Rights
Shared same views as Du Bois that social action and protest will create change
He believed that all Blacks must stand up for and “demand social equality.”
Committed to public education, equal housing and equal job opportunities for blacks.
Co-founder of Niagara Movement in 1905

43. John Hope’s Accomplishments
First Black president of Atlanta Baptist College (Morehouse) in 1906, and Atlanta University in 1929.
One of the community leaders which helped restore calm after Atlanta Riots in 1906.
President of National Association of Teachers and Colored Schools
Worked with YMCA and National Studies of Negro Life and History
Lead in creating the Atlanta University Center (consolidating six black schools)
Also advocated for job opportunities, better housing, recreational facilities, and health care throughout nation

44. Lugenia Burns Hope (1871 to 1947)
Born in Missouri the youngest of 7 children.
A change in her family situation forced her quit school and work full time.
Married John Hope in 44

45. Lugenia Burns Hope Accomplishments
Social Activist and Community Leader
Founded the Neighborhood Union –provided African Americans with medical, educational, employment and recreational services. The neighborhood union also pressured city leader to improve roads, lighting and sanitation in African American neighborhoods in Atlanta.
Founder of Atlanta’s Chapter of the NAACP
Did not agree with Washington Accomadation strategy. 45

46. Continued Struggle for Civil Rights: 1877 to 1918
1865 to **13th, 14th , and 15th Amendments passed
**Civil Rights Acts denied discrimination in hotels and trains
**1870s Democrat and white Supremacists gain control of all southern state governments

47. Jim Crow Laws **Georgia General Assembly passed Jim Crows–
Laws passed to establish “separate but equal” facilities for whites and blacks
Separate restrooms, water fountains railroad cars, waiting rooms, lodging, dining areas, theatres, prison camps, and schools
They were separate but NOT equal

48. Plessy v. Ferguson
Homer Plessy sat in an all white section of a train car. He was arrested for violating segregation laws. He sued saying the fourteenth amendment protected him from discrimination based on race.
This U.S. Supreme Court decision made segregation in the United States legal. “Separate but equal”
States were given the right to control discrimination and segregation.

49. 1906 Atlanta Race Riot
Caused by politicians spreading racial fears, Atlanta newspapers printing many stories about African American violence against white women.
Huge crowds gathered (5000) with some being armed; 26 people were killed over 100 were injured.
The Georgia Milita had to be called in to stop the rioting.
The riot lasted 3 days.

50. Leo Frank
Jewish man charged with the murder of Mary Phagan (a 13 year old factory worker) based on the testimony of a black janitor named Jim Conley
He was convicted and sentenced to death with almost no evidence.
Governor Slaton changed his sentence to life imprisonment.
25 armed men went into the prison, took Frank from his cell and hanged him from a tree in Mary Phagan’s yard.
This lead to the second rising of the KKK in Georgia.