Politics in Post-War
Georgia, 1876-1917
SS8H7- The student will evaluate key political,
social, and economic changes that occurred in
Georgia between 1877 and 1918.
A. Evaluate the impact the Bourbon Triumvirate, Henry
Grady, International Cotton Exposition, Tom Watson and the
Populists, Rebecca Latimer Felton, the 1906 Atlanta Riot,
the Leo Frank Case, and the county unit system had on
Georgia during this period.
Essential Questions
- What was the impact of the Bourbon Triumvirate on
Georgia politics and economy?
- What were the beliefs of the Populists, and how did
Populist Tom Watson change Georgia and the nation?
- What were the differences in political views and
philosophy among the following: Bourbon Triumvirate,
Henry Grady, Tom Watson, Rebecca Latimer Felton?
Redeemers
- After Reconstruction, Georgia Democrats
wanted to “redeem,” that is, to win back their
state from Republican influence and to oust
freedmen, scalawags, and carpetbaggers from
power.
- Known as Redeemers, the Democrats
worked to undo the changes imposed during
Reconstruction.
- This meant restoring Democrats to public
office and making it clear that control of
society should be in the hands of the white
race, an idea known as white supremacy.
- This time period immediately after
Reconstruction is sometime called
“Redemption.”
Constitution of 1877
- This replaces the Reconstruction Constitution of 1868…which was
considered a document written by the “enemy.”
- Robert Toombs, known as the
“unreconstructed rebel,” campaigned for a new
state constitution and quickly took charge of
the proceedings for the new replacement.
- Because of the abuses during the
Reconstruction period, the Constitution of 1877
became the most restrictive constitution in Georgia history…it made it
nearly impossible for the state to borrow money, tax money could only be
spent on purposes stated in the constitution, and it reduced the offices of
governor and state senator from four years to two years.
The Bourbon Redeemers
The Bourbon Redeemers
The Bourbon Redeemers
The Bourbon Redeemers
The Bourbon Redeemers
Independent Democrats
…BUT SOME RESISTED THE “NEW SOUTH”…
- The first challenger to the Bourbons
came from Independent Democrats.
- Their leaders were Dr. William H. Felton
And his wife Rebecca Latimer Felton.
- Dr. Felton was elected three times to
the U.S. Congress as an Independent Democrat
- Mrs. Felton wrote articles made speeches, wrote articles and sent
letters to newspapers about the injustices that farmers and “little
people” were suffering because of the favoritism shown towards
industrialism….the Independents also disagreed with the Bourbons
on the convict lease system.
- The Independent movement reached its peak in 1878 when Georgians elected three
Independents to Congress…the movement died out by 1882, forcing farmers to find another
way to challenge the Bourbons.
Farmer’s Alliance
Populists
Populists
…BUT SOME RESISTED THE “NEW SOUTH”…
-
In the election of 1892, Watson ran as a Populist.
- Although most Georgians were farmers, Watson felt that
political and economic power was in the hands of merchants,
bankers, and lawyers who lived in the big cities…he felt that
the Bourbon Democrats had allowed business and financial
interests in the North to get rich at the expense of the farmer.
- The Bourbons fought back fiercely…they charged that
voting for Watson, a Populist, would split the white vote thus
allowing blacks to hold political office once again.
- In an election filled with fraud, Watson was defeated. Watson ran again and again as a
Populist but never won. Watson wound up bitter and hateful (particularly towards blacks,
Catholics and Jews).
Progressive Democrats
Progressive Democrats
-
-
By this time the Bourbons were no longer a guiding force in state politics, an
informal group of Democrats known as the “progressives” had plans for
improving conditions in Georgia
The Progressive movement was a nationwide movement that wanted to
improve moral and social conditions in the South, especially in the areas of
child labor, prison reform, prohibition, and voting for women
Progressives wanted to break up large corporations and regulate business.
Progressives wanted voters to have more influence in government.
Progressive Democrats
ON THE FLIPSIDE…
- Progressive stressed white supremacy
and put in place the poll tax, white primary,
literacy test, and the grandfather clause.
Their intention was to keep Georgia a
one-party state.
- Progressive candidate Hoke Smith ran for
governor of Georgia in 1906 on a platform
that included black disfranchisement.