Georgia New South Era (1800s) - Brain Wrinkles PDF

Georgia During the NEW SOUTH ERA (Part 1: AKS 37a) © Brain Wrinkles  Look at the bottom portion of the image. Describe the coloring, the objects, and/or the way it makes you feel. Analyze the female figure in...

Georgia During the NEW SOUTH ERA (Part 1: AKS 37a) © Brain Wrinkles  Look at the bottom portion of the image. Describe the coloring, the objects, and/or the way it makes you feel. Analyze the female figure in the image. What is she wearing? What is she holding? What is her posture like? What do you think she represents? Analyze the background of the image. Look for and identify clues about where and when the background represents.  BOURBON Triumvirate © Brain Wrinkles  Democrats Throughout the South, Republicans lost control after Reconstruction (and Republicans would not have much influence in GA for over 100 years) In Georgia, many Democrats began a campaign to “redeem” the state and reclaim the old Southern way of life that had been destroyed with the Civil War and Reconstruction. Some Democrats desired to move Georgia from a cotton-based economy to a more industrial one. © Brain Wrinkles  Bourbons From the late 1870s to the 1890s (over 20 years), three democratic leaders known as the “Bourbon Triumvirate” encouraged growth in industry and business. These three men were Joseph E. Brown, Alfred H. Colquitt, and John B. Gordon. This time period in Georgia is known as the Bourbon democracy (“bourbon” refers to a powerful ruling class). © Brain Wrinkles  Joseph E. Brown (1821-1894) Short Video -born in South Carolina, raised in Georgia mountains, Yale graduate, governor of Georgia during the CIvil War, was a Republican for time, switched back to Democrats after Reconstruction and Senator from 1880-1890 © Brain Wrinkles  Alfred H. Colquitt (1824-1894) born in Walton County, Princeton graduate, Congressmen, elected to General Assembly, Confederate officer in Civil War, governor from 1876-1882, Senator from 1883-1894 © Brain Wrinkles  John B. Gordon (1832-1904) Video born in Upson County, attended but did not graduate UGA, officer in the Confederate army, Senator 1872-1880 and 1891-1897, Governor 1886-1890, likely leader of KKK in GA © Brain Wrinkles  Change The Bourbon Triumvirate supported policies that replaced Georgia’s former large agricultural class with a new middle and business class. The Bourbons wanted more diverse agriculture (as opposed to only relying on cotton) They wanted Georgia to become more self-sufficient by producing and manufacturing its own goods. Unfortunately, Georgia lacked the money needed to make these changes in the state. © Brain Wrinkles  U.S. Wealth Distribution - 1800s Based on this map, Where is most of the wealth? (The Darker the gold, the more money.) © Brain Wrinkles  Investors Brown, Gordon, and Colquitt began looking for wealthy investors who wanted to make more money. Since the majority of the South was crushed after the Civil War and Reconstruction, the Bourbons looked to the North for their investors. They were eager to get Georgians working again and encouraged the Northern investors to bring their businesses to Georgia. © Brain Wrinkles  Economy The Bourbon Triumvirate focused on helping the state’s economy by building new industries that would allow Georgians to buy and sell goods within the state. In addition, the new jobs and skills helped to improve the lives of Georgia’s poor workers. © Brain Wrinkles  Power The Bourbon Triumvirate controlled the state’s politics for about twenty years, with each man as governor and U.S. senator. From 1872 to 1890, they expanded railroads, increased industrialization, and gained wealth as railroads, cities, and factories flourished in Georgia. © Brain Wrinkles  Falling Out As former secessionists, the Bourbons supported members of the old antebellum planter class (although they were often political rivals). All three men were white supremacists. They wanted to preserve traditional views of race which did not grant African Americans equal rights. Supported the “Convict Lease System” which leased convicted criminals to businesses for labor. They also established low taxes, which resulted in few government services for Georgia’s poor citizens. The Bourbons began losing power in 1890 when the ideals of the Populist Party began dominating Georgia’s politics (more on this later). © Brain Wrinkles  HENRY GRADY & the International Cotton Expositions © Brain Wrinkles  Henry Grady (1850-1889) Short Video* Slightly Longer Video* © Brain Wrinkles  Henry Grady From 1880 to 1889, Henry Grady was the editor of the Atlanta Constitution newspaper. Grady was a strong supporter of industrial growth in the South and coined the term “New South” to represent the rebuilding of the region. The time from 1877 to the mid-1890s is called the New South Era. Created the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) © Brain Wrinkles  Henry Grady Grady urged the South to stop relying on farming and become more like the North economically. He believed Georgians should move on from the economics of the past and create a new state based on industry. In order to get Northern businesses to invest in Georgia’s textile industry, Grady often told them that the South was ready to “forgive and forget” the Civil War (which was mostly untrue). © Brain Wrinkles  Industry Grady used his newspaper to promote the New South’s message of industry and progress, and he became known as the “Voice of the New South”. He agreed with the Bourbon Democrats stance on growth of business and used his position to convince voters to elect the Bourbons for nearly twenty years. © Brain Wrinkles  Backlash Even though many Georgians saw Grady as the most influential leader in the New South, he was not without critics. Tom Watson and Georgia’s farmers argued against Grady’s focus on industrialization. Other major cities in Georgia, such as Athens, Augusta, & Macon, criticized Grady for his bias towards Atlanta. Civil Rights groups disapproved of Grady’s inaccurate portrayal of race relations in order to bring Northern investors to the South. © Brain Wrinkles  Henry Grady (summary) The editor of the Atlanta Constitution newspaper. A strong supporter of industrial growth in the South Coined the term “New South” Urged the South to stop relying on farming and become more like the North economically. Became known as the “voice of the New South”. He agreed with the Bourbon Democrats Died at the young age of 39  1881 International Cotton Exposition © Brain Wrinkles (Watch this short video)*  Cotton Expo In 1881, 1887, and 1895, the International Cotton Expositions took place in Atlanta. These were industrial fairs that showcased that Atlanta and Georgia had recovered from the Civil War and was a great place to invest in. The Expositions were huge “fair” type events that featured exhibits, entertainment, amusements, new technologies, famous people, and attractions. Henry Grady was a key organizer and promoter for the events and used his newspaper to attract a greater audience for Georgia’s industries. © Brain Wrinkles  Cotton Expo The 1881 exposition attracted 200,000 paid visitors and showed the country that Georgia was ready for more industry. News about the success of the event spread quickly, and the second fair in 1887 attracted 350,000 from 33 states and 7 different countries. The third fair in 1895 had more than 800,000 visitors, proving that Grady’s idea was a huge success. Booker T. Washington (more on him later) would give his famous “Atlanta Compromise” speech at this expo. © Brain Wrinkles  Macon Cotton Factory © Brain Wrinkles  International Cotton Expo (summary) Took place in Atlanta. Industrial fairs that showcased the state’s cotton textile industry and potential for investment. Henry Grady was a key organizer and promoter for the events and used his newspaper to attract a greater audience Grady’s idea was a huge success.  TOM WATSON & the POPULISTS © Brain Wrinkles  Farmers While many businesses and banks began to flourish in Georgia, rural farmers were facing hardships. It was difficult to find labor after slaves were freed, and cotton prices had dropped drastically. During the 1880s, most farmers were suffering economically and falling further and further into debt. © Brain Wrinkles  Alliance Soon, a movement called the Farmers’ Alliance began to spread throughout the U.S. There were around 100,000 Farmers’ Alliance supporters in Georgia. They joined together and formed an official political party called the Populist Party in 1891. © Brain Wrinkles  Populist Party Members 1892 © Brain Wrinkles  Populists The Populists represented farmers and the “common man” across the South. It was also known as the “People's’ Party”. They challenged the powerful Democratic Party in Georgia by threatening to split the white vote and to bring in black Republicans. Rich industrialists held most of the political and economic power, but Populists believed it should shift since most Georgians were farmers. © Brain Wrinkles © Brain Wrinkles  Beliefs The Populists fought to protect farmers’ interests and urged them to work together for their cause. They knew they needed to unite, regardless of race, and encouraged black and white political equality. The Populists supported lowering state tax laws for farmers, government control of railroads, better roads, and labor laws that would limit the workday to eight hours. © Brain Wrinkles  Thomas (Tom) Watson (1856-1922) Watch video here* © Brain Wrinkles  Tom Watson Tom Watson was a Georgia lawyer who criticized the “New South” because he claimed it hurt small farmers. In 1890, Watson began his national political career by winning a seat in Congress. In Washington, he argued for poor farmers’ issues. Watson’s early career focused on improving the lives of Georgia’s black and white farmers alike. Unfortunately, later in life became a fervent white supremacist and anti-semite. © Brain Wrinkles  Tom Watson Watson eventually left the Democratic Party and became the leader of the Populist Party in Georgia. He wanted to help farmers and the “little people” (non big-business). Watson strongly disagreed with Northern industrialists getting rich from the work of the poor Southern farmers. © Brain Wrinkles © Brain Wrinkles  Mail Delivery Tom Watson’s greatest reform occurred in 1896 when he helped pass the Rural Free Delivery Bill. In the late 1800s, mail services did not deliver to many rural areas of Georgia. This caused many rural farmers to go for long periods of time without any news. © Brain Wrinkles  Free Mail The Rural Free Delivery Bill provided free daily mail delivery of newspapers, letters, magazines, etc., to farmers across Georgia. The Rural Free Delivery system connected rural farmers to what was happening throughout Georgia and the rest of the United States. © Brain Wrinkles  Rural Free Delivery Service © Brain Wrinkles  Tom Watson (Summary) Criticized the “New South” because he claimed it hurt small farmers Argued for poor farmers’ issues. Wanted to help farmers and the “little people”. Strongly disagreed with Northern industrialists getting rich from the work of the poor Southern farmers. Focused on improving the lives of Georgia’s black and white farmers alike. Later became a white supremacist and anti-semite Pass the Rural Free Delivery Bill Leader of the Populist Party, Congressman and later a senator from 1920-1922