Chapter 17: Southern Industrialization & Populism (1877-1914)

Southern Industrialization and Conflict (1877-1914)

• By 1900, the South embraced industrialization, with railroads, factories, and mines emerging.
• The "separate but equal" doctrine, established in Plessy v. Ferguson, legalized segregation.
• Voting restrictions, including poll taxes, grandfather clauses, literacy tests, and property qualifications, disenfranchised African Americans.
• Lynching was prevalent.
• Booker T. Washington advocated for economic independence for Black people.
• W.E.B. Du Bois championed equality and founded the NAACP.

The Populist Movement and Party

• Farmers struggled to adapt to industrialization.
• Organizations like The Grange, Agricultural Wheel, and Farmers' Alliance united farmers, negotiating prices and promoting rights.
• Black farmers were often segregated into their own unions.
• Farmers desired loose monetary policies (easy access to money), advocating for the gold and silver standard and greenbacks.
• Wealthy interests opposed these policies, fearing inflation.
• The Populist Party emerged from farmers' frustrations, advocating for reforms.
• Key Populist demands included currency reforms (adding silver-backed dollars), increased circulation of money, regulation of railroads, a graduated income tax, the 8-hour workday, and restrictions on immigration.
• The Populist Party garnered significant support (1 million votes) and won numerous local and state offices.
• The 1892 presidential election saw James B. Weaver (Populist) as a serious candidate.
• In the 1896 election, populists supported William Jennings Bryan's pro-silver platform.
• William McKinley, on a gold standard platform, won the election.
• Populist ideals lived on and influenced the Progressive movement.

Worker Protest and Organized Labor

• Workers faced challenges organizing unions due to strong property rights protections by political leaders and a view of labor as a commodity with low prices.
• Linguistic and ethnic differences among immigrant workers complicated union formation.
• Strikes occurred in response to wage cuts and other grievances; the Great Railroad Strike served as a pivotal moment.
• The Great Railroad Strike of 1877, the first major interstate strike, involved widespread violence and property damage, eventually being suppressed by federal troops.
• The Knights of Labor, a diverse union, championed agricultural subsidies, equal pay for women, and an eight-hour work day.
• The Haymarket Affair (1886), involving a bomb at a labor rally, resulted in the conviction of several labor activists.
• The American Federation of Labor (AFL), led by Samuel Gompers, focused on immediate labor goals, like the eight-hour workday, safety, and collective bargaining. The AFL grew to 3 million members by 1924.
• The Homestead Strike (1892) in a Carnegie plant resulted in violent confrontations and the defeat of the union.
• The Pullman Strike (1894) led to government intervention and the rise of the Socialist Party, as led by Eugene Debs.
• Mining emerged as a significant industry, fostering the formation of the United Mine Workers of America.
• The Industrial Workers of the World attempted to improve conditions for all industrial workers.
• The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire (1911) in NYC exposed dangerous working conditions, leading to safety regulations.

Explore the transformative period of Southern industrialization and the rise of the Populist Movement from 1877 to 1914. This quiz covers key developments such as economic changes, racial segregation, and the struggles of farmers during this era. Test your knowledge on influential figures and movements that shaped the South's response to industrial growth.