Bourbon Triumvirate Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Who lost control throughout the South after Reconstruction?

Republicans

What was the goal of the Democratic campaign in Georgia?

Redeem the state and reclaim the old Southern way of life that had been destroyed with the Civil War and Reconstruction.

What kind of economy did some Democrats desire to move Georgia towards?

Industrial

From which time frames did the Bourbon Triumvirate encourage growth in industry and business?

Late 1870's to 1890's Signup and view all the answers

Who were the three democratic leaders of the Bourbon Triumvirate?

Joseph E. Brown, Alfred H. Colquitt, and John B. Gordon Signup and view all the answers

What did the Bourbon Triumvirate focus on from the late 1870's to the 1890's?

Growth in industry and business Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the time period during which the Bourbon Triumvirate encouraged growth in industry?

Bourbon Democracy Signup and view all the answers

What does 'bourbon' refer to?

Powerful Ruling Class Signup and view all the answers

What did the Bourbon Triumvirate support?

Policies that replaced Georgia's former large agricultural class with a new middle and business class. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Bourbon Triumvirate aim for Georgia to become?

Self-sufficient Signup and view all the answers

How was Georgia going to become more self-sufficient?

By producing and manufacturing its own goods. Signup and view all the answers

Why could Georgia afford to make changes in the state?

Lacked the money. Signup and view all the answers

Who were Brown, Gordon, and Colquitt looking for?

Wealthy investors who wanted to make money. Signup and view all the answers

Where did the Bourbons look for investors after the Civil War?

The North Signup and view all the answers

What did the Bourbon Triumvirate encourage Northern investors to do?

Bring their businesses to Georgia Signup and view all the answers

What are investors?

A person or organization that puts money into financial schemes and property, expecting to achieve a profit. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Bourbon Triumvirate focus on to help Georgia's economy?

Building new industries. Signup and view all the answers

What other factors helped improve the lives of Georgia's poor workers?

New jobs and skills. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Bourbon Triumvirate control for nearly twenty years?

The state's politics. Signup and view all the answers

How long did the Bourbon Triumvirate control the state's politics?

Nearly 20 years Signup and view all the answers

What role did each man in the Bourbon Triumvirate serve in Georgia's politics?

A governor or a U.S. Senator. Signup and view all the answers

From what time frame did the Bourbon Triumvirate increase industrialization?

1872 to 1890. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Bourbon Triumvirate do from 1872 to 1890?

Expanded railroads, increased industrialization, and gained wealth from railroads, cities, and factories flourishing in Georgia. Signup and view all the answers

What were the Bourbon Triumvirate before they became known as such?

Former secessionists. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Bourbons support as former secessionists?

The old antebellum planter class. Signup and view all the answers

What were the three men of the Bourbon Triumvirate?

White supremacists. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Bourbon Triumvirate establish that led to fewer government services for Georgia's poor citizens?

Establish low taxes. Signup and view all the answers

What was the result of the Bourbons establishing low taxes?

Fewer government services for Georgia's poor citizens. Signup and view all the answers

When did the Bourbons begin losing power?

1890 Signup and view all the answers

Why did the Bourbons begin losing power in 1890?

The ideals of the Populist Party began dominating Georgia's politics. Signup and view all the answers

What was happening to farmers while businesses and banks flourished in Georgia?

Rural farmers were facing many hardships. Signup and view all the answers

What hardships did rural farmers face while businesses flourished?

It was difficult to find labor after slaves were freed and cotton prices had dropped drastically. Signup and view all the answers

What were most farmers suffering from during the 1880s?

Economic debt. Signup and view all the answers

What movement began to spread throughout the US for economically damaged farmers?

Farmers Alliance. Signup and view all the answers

How many Farmers Alliance supporters were there in Georgia?

Around 100 thousand. Signup and view all the answers

What political party did the farmers form together?

The Populist Party. Signup and view all the answers

Who did the Populist Party represent?

Farmers and the 'Common Man' across the South. Signup and view all the answers

Who did the Farmers Alliance challenge in Georgia?

The Powerful Democratic Party. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Farmers Alliance do to challenge the Democratic Party?

Threatened to split the white votes and bring in Black Republicans. Signup and view all the answers

Which industrialists held most of the political and economical power?

Rich ones. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Populists believe regarding political power?

It should shift since most Georgians were farmers. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Populists fight to protect?

Farmers' interests. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Populist Party realize they needed to do?

Unite regardless of race. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Populists mainly support?

Lowering tax laws for farmers, government control of railroads, better roads, and labor laws limiting the workday to eight hours. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Tom Watson?

A Georgia lawyer who criticized the 'New South' because he claimed it hurt small farmers. Signup and view all the answers

What did Watson win in 1890 to begin his national political career?

A seat in Congress. Signup and view all the answers

What did Watson argue for in Washington?

Poor farmers' issues. Signup and view all the answers

What was Watson's early career focus?

Improving the lives of Georgia's black and white farmers alike. Signup and view all the answers

What did Watson eventually leave?

The Democratic Party. Signup and view all the answers

What did Watson become after leaving the Democratic Party?

The leader of the Populist Party in Georgia. Signup and view all the answers

What did Watson strongly disagree with?

The Northern industrialists getting rich off the work of the poor Southern farmers. Signup and view all the answers

What was Tom Watson's greatest accomplishment?

Rural Free Delivery Bill in 1896. Signup and view all the answers

What role did mail services play in the late 1800s?

Didn’t deliver to many rural areas of Georgia. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Rural Free Delivery system connect?

Rural farmers to what was happening through Georgia and the rest of the US. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Bourbon Triumvirate Overview

Emerged after Reconstruction as Democratic leaders in the South.
Sought to reclaim the old Southern way of life that had deteriorated post-Civil War and Reconstruction.

Economic Transition

Aimed to shift Georgia from a cotton-based economy to an industrial economy.
Operated from the late 1870s to the 1890s, promoting industrial growth and business development known as Bourbon Democracy.

Key Figures

Composed of Joseph E. Brown, Alfred H. Colquitt, and John B. Gordon.
Each member served as either a governor or a U.S. Senator during their political dominance.

Political Control and Influence

Controlled Georgia's politics for nearly 20 years, shaping state policies and governance.
Established low taxes resulting in fewer government services for poor citizens.

Economic Strategies

Encouraged investment from Northern financiers to help rebuild the economy and establish new industries.
Focused on producing and manufacturing goods locally for self-sufficiency.

Challenges and Decline

Faced opposition from the rising Populist Party, which began to dominate Georgia politics by 1890.
Rural farmers experienced hardships despite industrial flourishing, including labor shortages post-emancipation and declining cotton prices.

Farmers Alliance and Populism

The Farmers Alliance emerged as a movement uniting about 100,000 supporters in Georgia, advocating for farmers’ rights and representation.
The Populist Party formed to challenge the Democratic Party, representing the interests of farmers and advocating for political equality across racial lines.

Tom Watson’s Role

A significant figure in the Farmers Alliance; he criticized the “New South” and supported rural farmers.
Elected to Congress in 1890, emphasizing poor farmers' issues and advocating for both black and white farmers.
Eventually became the leader of the Populist Party in Georgia after leaving the Democratic Party.

Major Accomplishments

Watson’s Rural Free Delivery Bill in 1896 was his most notable achievement, connecting rural farmers to broader communications and resources.

Ideological Conflicts

Watson opposed Northern industrialists profiting from the struggles of Southern farmers, advocating instead for policies favoring lower taxes and better labor laws for farmers.

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Description

Test your knowledge about the Bourbon Triumvirate and the political landscape of the South after Reconstruction. This quiz offers key terms and definitions related to the Democratic campaign in Georgia and the economic shift desired by some Democrats. Ideal for students of history.