Chapter 18: Bourbons, Populists, and Progressives STUDY PRESENTATION © 2010 Clairmont Press

Section 1: Bourbon Democrats and Independents Bourbon Democrats and IndependentsBourbon Democrats and Independents Section 2: Farmer Discontent and Populism Farmer Discontent and PopulismFarmer Discontent and Populism Section 3: Progressivism in Georgia Progressivism in GeorgiaProgressivism in Georgia 2

Section 1: Bourbon Democrats and Independents  Essential Question How did the Bourbon Democrats control Georgia politics during this period? 3

Section 1: Bourbon Democrats and Independents  What terms do I need to know? Bourbon Triumvirate – GA’s 3 most powerful politicians from post- Reconstruction era – Democrats Populist Party – political party (late 1800s) mainly made up farmers and working poor county unit system- voting system that gave more power to rural areas 4

Georgia Time Line:

Bourbon Democrats and Independents  The Democrats controlled Georgia by the end of Reconstruction in  Politicians tried to control the African American vote with intimidation.  These politicians wanted whites to support the Democratic Party and remain united. They did not want southern whites to lose their political and economic power.  In the 1890s, the Populists called on white and black farmers to challenge the Democratic Party power structure. 6

New South Era  A South that would become much more like the industrialized North.

The Bourbon Triumvirate  Democrats controlled Georgia in the decades following Reconstruction. Their opponents called them “Bourbons,” a term that referred to a royal French family that never learned from the past, but also never forgot the past.  Three men controlled the governor’s office and Georgia’s two Senate seats from 1876 to 1890: Joseph E. Brown (former Confederate governor), Alfred B. Colquitt, and John B. Gordon. They became known as the Bourbon Triumvirate (a group of three in authority).  The Bourbon Triumvirate controlled Georgia. They supported “Lost Cause” ideas (maintaining white supremacy and pre-Civil War states’ rights), but also supported business, the railroads, and other “New South” issues.  Republicans joined with Independent voters in trying to defeat the Democrats. 8

Challenges to the Bourbons  The Independents elected three members to the U.S. Congress by the early 1880s, but could not unseat the Democrats from the governor’s office or the Senate.  By the 1890s, the power of the Bourbon Triumvirate began to fade.  The Bourbons were conservatives with money and believed in less government spending on public services.  Struggling middle class and poor farmers became more discontented with economic issues and eventually formed a political party to work for major reforms. 9

Section 2: Farmer Discontent and Populism  Essential Question How did populism affect the politics of Georgia in the late 19 th century? 10

Section 2: Farmer Discontent and Populism  What terms do I need to know? Farmers’ Alliance co-op graduated income tax Populist Party fraud county unit system 11

Farmer Discontent and Populism  In the late 1880s, cotton prices dropped as prices increased for the goods that Georgia’s middle- class and poor farmers needed to buy.  Railroad shipping costs paid to send farmers’ products to market also contributed to their financial struggles.  Many owners of small farms sold their land to pay debts. Some eventually became tenant farmers or sharecroppers.  As farmers became more discontented, they organized and eventually founded a political party to work for major reforms. 12

The Farmers’ Alliance  Farmers organizations formed in the late 1870s and early 1880s, including the Grange and other regional alliances.  Farmers could gather for friendship and discuss common problems and issues.  Farmers joined in cooperative buying stores, or co-ops to lower the price of goods.  The Farmers’ Alliance in Georgia began to get involved in politics and sought reforms, including working for a graduated income tax so that wealthier Georgians would pay their “fair share” of income taxes.  Alliance membership fell by the early 1890s, as farmers began to see the Alliance as politically ineffective. 13

Populism  political idea that supported the rights of the “common” people in their struggle with the wealthy people Poor farmers and low wage workers were followers of Populists

The People’s (Populist) Party  The Populist Party believed in “rights and powers of the common people in their struggle with the privileged elite.”  Tom Watson became Georgia’s best known Populist. a national Populist leader from Georgia, including being a Populist Party vice-presidential and presidential candidate. He supported public education and the end of the convict lease system.  Watson was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1890, but later lost reelection.  The Populists tried to pass reforms that benefitted both black and white farmers.  Democrats maintained most of the power during this time; in some places, voting fraud (dishonest voting) took place.  Democrats adopted some Populist reforms, including adopting silver coins (instead of only gold coins).  Georgia became a one-party state with the Democrats in control for decades. 15

Rural Free Delivery (RFD) Bill  Introduced by Tom Watson  Required the US Postmaster General to find a way to deliver mail to rural homes free of charge.

One-Party Rule  Populism had stirred up racial tensions in Georgia. White Populists initially had appealed to African American farmers to join them, but that changed.  A movement began to finds ways to keep African Americans completely out of the political process in Georgia.  As Populism ended, Georgia was basically a one-party state with the Democrats in firm control for decades. 17

The County Unit System  1917: Neill 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 – leads to “one person, one vote”

Bourbon Triumvirate Textbook pages

Georgia’s County Unit System 20 How might a state-wide election today have different results under this system?

Section 3: Progressivism in Georgia  Essential Question How did urban progressive reforms in Georgia develop after rural-centered populism faded? 21

Section 3: Progressivism in Georgia  What terms do I need to know? progressivism suffrage Nineteenth Amendment 22

Progressivism in Georgia  Progressivism originated in the cities and was founded on the belief that citizens could cure the ills (bad things) wrong with society. Urban, middle class, educated men and women called for reforms. They identified problems brought on by industrialization and urbanization.  The progressive movement in Georgia was more modest than in giant cities like New York.  Most of Georgia’s industry was small and owned by local companies.  Women’s voting was the progressive idea that affected the most Georgians. 23

Governor Hoke Smith and Progressivism Reform  Governor Hoke Smith was a reformer in the early 20 th century. He established the State Board of Education, increased school funding, and founded the juvenile court system.  In 1908, Georgia ended the practice of leasing out prisoners to private businesses. Prisoners could still be used by governments to work on roads.  Other progressive reforms established the state’s Department of Commerce and Labor. 24

 Rebecca Latimer Felton worked hard for women’s right to vote (suffrage).  She was concerned about poor girls being able to get an education. She also worked to make alcohol illegal. = Prohibition  In 1918, Congress passed the 19 th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. Georgia did not ratify it, but by 1920 it became national law.  In 1922, Rebecca Felton became the first female senator in U.S. history. Elected Senator Walter F. George replaced her after one day in office. 25 Women’s Suffrage Senator Rebecca Latimer Felton of Georgia was the first female to serve as a United States Senator. She was in office for 24-hours in Image: U.S. Senate Historical Office

Henry Grady  Grady wanted Georgia to be more industrialized.  Henry Grady was a speaker and newspaper editor – known as the “Voice of the South”.  Edited Atlanta Journal Constitution  Georgia as a place which could have competitive industry and more efficient farming – known as the South’s Best Salesman.  Grady envisioned improved race relations in a “New South” which left its antebellum past behind.

800,000 visitors to Atlanta Lasted 3 months (1895) Visitors saw new machinery and learned how cotton was made into marketable products. Showcased the economic recovery of the South (in which cotton played a large role) Highlighted the region’s natural resources Brought northern investors Henry Grady was one of the main planners Cotton States and International Exposition

 On the afternoon of Saturday, September 22, local newspaper headlines carried false reports of black assaults.  By 9 a.m., a crowd of over 5,000 whites and African Americans had gathered.  Some accounts reported that thousands of whites brought guns and began to roam through the downtown area.  Fears grew, and the attacks became real.  Riot lasted for 2 days (48 hours).  At least 18 African Americans & 3 Whites were killed and hundreds injured.

Race Riots in Atlanta

 Anti-Semitism (anti-Jewish sentiment) flared up in the late 1800s.  Leo Frank, a Jew who had moved to Georgia from the North, managed a Marietta pencil factory. A janitor, Jim Conley, reported in 1913 that he found a young woman dead in Frank’s factory.  Frank, the last person to admit he saw the victim alive, was quickly convicted and sentenced to death. Mainly because of the testimony of Jim Conley (factory’s African American janitor).  Outcries of protest against the verdict and the way the trial was conducted came from all over the country.  Governor John Marshall Slaton reviewed the case and commuted the sentence from death to life in prison. He believed Frank might be innocent.  In August 1915, a group from Marietta took Frank from prison in Milledgeville and lynched him in Marietta.  The Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole issued Leo Frank a pardon in 1984, based on the state’s failure to protect him while in custody. 31 Anti-Semitism and the Lynching of Leo Frank 13-year-old Mary Phagan was murdered in 1913 in Atlanta. Her murder sparked an international examination of anti- Semitism in Georgia. Image: Public Domain

Trial of Leo Frank  29 years old  Jewish  From Brooklyn and had moved to Atlanta to work as superintendent of the National Pencil Company factory.  Charged with the murder of Mary Phagan (14 year old employee)  With little evidence, Frank was convicted and sentenced to death.  Mainly because of the testimony of Jim Conley (factory’s African American janitor).

Trial of Leo Frank  Frank’s lawyer appealed the case to the state supreme court.  Georgia’s Governor John Slaton was under pressure to pardon Frank.  The day before his term ended, he changed his sentence from death to life imprisonment.

 Two months later, 25 armed men walked into the state penitentiary in Milledgeville and took Frank from his prison cell.  They drove to Marietta (the home of Mary Phagan) and hanged Frank from a tree. Trial of Leo Frank

Klan Reborn  In July 1915, amid the anti-Jewish feelings and continuing racial unrest of the Leo Frank case, the Ku Klux Klan received a charter from the Fulton County Superior Court.  The Knights of Mary Phagan gathered on top of Stone Mountain and lit torches as they circled a burning cross.

Return to Main Menu 37