1. The New South
SS8H7: Student will evaluate key political, social, and economic changes that occurred in Georgia between
Evaluate the impact of the Bourbon Triumvirate, Henry Grady, International Cotton States Exposition, Tom Watson and the Populists, Rebecca Latimer Felton, the 1906 Atlanta Riot, the Leo Frank case, and the [effect that] the county unit system had on Georgia during this period.

2. Bourbon Triumvirate
John Gordon
Alfred Colquitt
Joseph Brown
Redemption Era : period after Reconstruction and before the “New South”
Redeem the state from the hardships of Reconstruction (i.e.…The Republican Party)
The Bourbon Triumvirate: Joseph Brown, Alfred Colquitt, and John Gordon
Democrats who wanted stronger economic ties with northern industry but maintain “old South traditions” (White Supremacy)
The three men dominated Georgia politics for a quarter century
Triumvirate: a group of 3 powerful individuals

3. The Bourbon Triumvirate
Democrats controlled Georgia’s government after Reconstruction.
Powerful Democratic leaders, known as the “Bourbon Triumvirate” were Joseph E. Brown, Alfred H. Colquitt, and John B. Gordon.
Their goals were:
expand Georgia’s economy and ties with industries in the North;
maintain the tradition of white supremacy.

4. Joseph Brown Opened law office in Canton, GA State senator Judge
N. Georgia farmer
1857: elected governor
State’s rights activist
Remained until June 1865—lost popularity by asking Georgians to go along with Rad. Repub. Policies, believing it would shorten Reconstruction
Governor Joseph Brown

5. Alfred Colquitt Princeton Law School State congressman
Served at Georgia’s secession convention
Maj. Gen. in Confederate Army
1876: elected Governor
State debt reduced
New state constitution (1877)
Alfred Colquitt

6. John B. Gordon Lt. Gen. John B. Gordon Lt. Gen. in Confederate Army
US Senator from GA:
Resigned 1880 (scandal)
Gov. Colquitt appointed Joseph E. Brown to fill his place
Revolters within his own party (Democrat) felt that a corrupt deal had been struck
Rebecca Latimer Felton was critical of his involvement
Contributed to the Compromise of 1877—gave Rutherford B. Hayes the presidency in exchange for the removal of Federal troops from the South
Manager of coal mine
Rumored Head of Georgia’s KKK during Reconstruction
1886: elected Governor
Brought new industry to Georgia
Lt. Gen. John B. Gordon

7. The Bourbon Triumvirate group of three (Brown, Colquitt, Gordon)— wanted to strengthen economic ties with the North, while keeping white supremacy * considered old Southern traditions
Successes
State taxes lowered
State war debts reduced
Business and industry expanded
Failures
Did not improve lives of poor
Education suffered
Did not reform prisons
Poor working conditions in factories

8. Decline of the Bourbon Triumvirate
“Independent Democrats” criticized the Bourbons for not attending to the needs of the poor or improve education and working conditions in factories.
Leaders William and Rebecca Felton worked to improve conditions for poor Georgians using newspapers to highlight problems in the state.
The convict lease system “rented” prisoners to companies to use as workers. It took many years for the poor conditions the prisoners endured to be brought to light and changed.

9. The New South Era
Challengers to the Bourbon Triumvirate wanted Georgia to be more industrialized.
Henry Grady was a speaker and newspaper editor.
Grady described Georgia as a place which could have competitive industry and more efficient farming.
Grady envisioned improved race relations in a “New South” which left its antebellum past behind.

10. “The New South”
New South: A phrase used to describe southern progress in the late 1800s… Industry!
Henry W. Grady: first to use the phrase…editor for the Atlanta Constitution
Henry W. Grady
Example of Georgia Industry

11. Henry Grady: “Voice of the New South”
1880: became managing editor of the Atlanta Constitution
Known for his controversial editorials
Visited northern cities and spoke about the “New South”
Southern economy was growing as agriculture was replaced by industry (textile mills, coal mining, tobacco factories)
Pointed out that race relations had improved (had they?)
Ability to sell the New South brought jobs, recognition, and investments to GA economy
Principal planner for 1881 International Cotton Exposition
Increased circulation of Atlanta Constitution from 10,000 to 140,000 (used interview process)
Died in 1889 at 39

12. Georgia’s Granges
Grange: Groups of Southern sharecroppers, tenant farmers, and farmers with small plots of land
Faced growing debts
Could not feed/clothe their families
Could not pay their debts to merchants/landowners
1872: Georgia’s Granges become political (Along with others in the South and Midwest).
Applied political pressure (lobbying) to state legislature and forced the formation of a State Department of Agriculture (1st in the nation)
Established Grange-owned stores and cotton gins to reduce costs for farmers
Helped establish that farmers wanted to improve their lives
The National Grange

13. Henry Grady statue in 1951
Henry Grady statue in 1891
Henry Grady statue in 2008

14. The Farmers’ Alliance
Farmers’ Alliance: began as social organizations in the Northwest and the South.
Formed co-ops: purchased goods and equipment directly from producers and sold to farmers at wholesale prices -cost of production (No taxes).
Called for more U.S. production of paper money
Higher credit limits to farmers

15. The Populist Movement
Rose from farmers and workers who were becoming tired, poor, and discouraged!
The Grange: name used for the “Patrons of Husbandry”, a group organized to allow social gatherings where farmers could talk about common problems.
Early 1870s prices began to drop
Banks not lending as much money to farmers

16. The Populist Party Platform: 8 hour workday
The Farmers’ Alliance joined with labor organizations (unions) to form this new political party.
Platform:
8 hour workday
Gov’t ownership of railroad, telephone, and telegraph
Graduated federal income tax
Direct election of U.S. Senators
Restriction of immigration
Use of Australian Ballot:
Ballot printed by gov’t, distributed at voting places, and collected in secret sealed boxes.
1892 Election: Democrat Grover Cleveland won…Populist candidate: James B. Weaver
James B. Weaver
White and black farmers

17. Tom Watson Georgia’s best known Populist.
1882: elected to Georgia General Assembly
1890: elected to Congress with backing of Farmers’ Alliance
Introduced the Rural Free Delivery Bill (RFD): required the postmaster general to find a way to deliver mail to rural homes free of charge
Created a boom in the building of roads, bridges, and other improvements needed for the delivery to rural areas.
1896: ran as vice-president under William Jennings Bryant (Lost)
Tom Watson, Populist

18. Rebecca Felton
A leader towards suffrage-votes, particularly for women.
Pushed for temperance-anti-alcohol
Popular writer for the “Atlanta Constitution”
Used paper as a forum (Way to communicate ideas…TV, paper, radio, speech…)
Began Georgia Training School for Girls in Atlanta
With Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage
First female U.S. Senator in nation’s history
Replaced another Senator due to death (24 hours)

19. Rebecca and William Felton
Roots of Populist Movement
Led a group of independent Democrats against the Triumvirate
From Cartersville
William Felton:
U.S. Congressman; served in GA General Assembly
Worked to improve education, prison reform, and paved the way for controls and limits on alcohol.
Rebecca Latimer Felton
Picture of 1930 Prohibition

20. Industrial Revolution
New inventions and leaps forward in technology
The rise of the factory and industry
Assembly Line
Poor, difficult and dangerous working conditions (Laissez-faire)
Rise of the City (Urban)
Labor Organizations: Unions
Worked for the improvement of safety and working conditions in the work place.
Religious and Charitable (Philanthropic) organizations came to the aid of workers and child laborers.

21. The Progressive Movement
Goal: Progress!
Society
Business
Government
fight poverty
improve working conditions
votes for women
prison reform
outlaw alcohol
break up large corporations
regulate businesses
decrease corporate power in government
greater voice of “the people”
more voters
did not seek to increase participation of blacks in elections