The Redemption Years and the “New South”

The Redemption Yearsand the “New South” Front End Load

Warm Up • Why would the end Reconstruction seem like a “rebirth” for many of the Southern Democrats? Why? Explain.

The Bourbon Triumvirate Joseph E. Brown • 1857 GA Governor (reelected 2 more times) • 1880 appointed by Gov. Colquitt to fill US Senate seat • US Senator until 1891 • Trustee of UGA for 32 years and President of the Atlanta Board of Education

The Bourbon Triumvirate (cont.) Alfred E. Colquitt • Elected Gov. in 1876, and served until 1882 • During his administration: • Reduced state’s debt • 1877 a new constitution approved (not rewritten until 1945) • Elected to US Senate in 1883 and 1888

The Bourbon Triumvirate (cont.) John B. Gordon • 1872 elected US Senator • 1886 elected Gov., and reelected for two more terms • Elected to US Senate in 1891 and served until 1897 • As Gov. he accomplished the following: • Reduced the state’s debt • Brought new industry to state • Elected to US Senate in 1891 and served until 1897

International Cotton Exposition of 1881 • Henry Grady’s concept of the “New South” to bring in jobs, new technology and investments • Showed off the industries in the South • Held in Atlanta

Henry Grady • Editor of Rome Courier • Became southern correspondent for The New York Herald • In 1880, became managing editor of the Atlanta Constitution (rival to the Atlanta Journal) • Termed “New South” due to several articles/speeches advocating that the new South was decreasing agriculturally and becoming more industrialized

The Populists and Tom Watson • Populist Party – people’s party that supports the rights and powers of the common man • Reforms – eight-hour work day, graduated income tax, restrictions on immigration, government ownership of railroads, telephones and telegraph services • Tom Watson A) General Assembly, concerned with African American farmers B) While in the US House of Representatives he introduced the Rural Free Delivery service C) 1904 Populist Party candidate for President, lost the election D) Returned to Democratic Party in 1905

Warm Up (write below yesterday’s warm up) • Who were the opposition to the Bourbon’s? • What does the term “new” mean when we place it in front of another word? (i.e. New England, New Netherlands, new Mercedes Stadium)

1906 Atlanta Riot • Worst Race riots in Georgia • Newspapers and politicians were spreading (mostly) false information of black violence against whites • By 5:00 PM on Sept. 22, 5,000 whites and blacks gathered on Decatur St. • Martial law was declared • At least 18 blacks and 3 whites were killed; hundreds of people were injured • Value of property was extremely high

The Leo Frank Case • Superintendent of the National Pencil Company • April 26, 1913, he was charged with murder of Mary Phagan, a 14 year old employee • During trial very little evidence was offered, except testimony of Jim Conley a black janitor • Jim Crow laws prohibited a black from testifying against a white • Leo Frank was Jewish

The Leo Frank Case (cont.) • Found guilty of murder and sentenced to death • Governor Slaton was under pressure to pardon Frank, instead commuted sentence to life in prison • Slaton had death threats for next few months after he reduced Frank’s sentence • Two months after sentence reduction, 25 men stormed the penitentiary in Milledgeville and took Frank and brought him to Marietta (Phagan’s home town) and hung from a tree at the Marietta Square

Rebecca Latimer Felton • Writer for The Cartersville Courant and the Atlanta Journal to attack the Bourbons • Leader in the Suffrage and Temperance Movements • One particular issue Felton clashed with the Bourbons was over the convict lease system • Convict lease system – prisoners were leased out and provided with food and shelter in exchange for labor; corruption in this system • 1922 became first woman to be a US Senator

Quick Write Were the Bourbon Triumvirate members good for Georgia? Why or why not?

The Redemption Years and the “New South”