Georgias Redemption Years Redemption can mean recovery deliverance

Georgia’s Redemption Years Redemption can mean recovery, deliverance, or rescue (1) For Georgia this era was a period for the state to redeem from the hardships of reconstruction.

A City Rises from the Ashes • Atlanta becomes capital in 1868 • Entrepreneurs, both black and white, developed new services and products. • “New South Era” was a time of terrible racism and injustice. • Segregation became the law of the land • Women played a big role in reform.

The Bourbon Triumvirate~ • (2) ruling body of three. Named after French Kings/castle which ruled for 200 years • During this time, a group of three politicians (triumvirate) dominated Georgia’s government for more than 20 years (1872 – 1890). They rotated the positions of Governor, State Senator and U. S. Senator. • The three were democrats and supported (3) white supremacy, the belief that the white race is superior to any other race. • Wanted stronger economic ties with industrial North

Political Career Role in the Civil War Controversy Joseph E. Brown • 1849 - 1855 State Senate • Judge • 1857 - Governor • Chief Justice Georgia Supreme • U. S. Senator • Georgia’s governor during the Civil War Lost popularity for supporting Radical Reconstruction policies Alfred Colquitt • 1849 State Senate • Military leader • 1876 Governor and became • 1883 and 1888 Major General U. S. Senator John B. Gordon • 1872 Ga’s U. S. Senator • 1888 Governor • 1891 U. S. Senate • Fought in many Civil War battles and became lieutenant general Illegal dealings with Northeastern Atlantic RR

Decline of the triumvirate Positive Contributions • Lowered taxes • Reduced war debt • Expanded business and industry Criticisms • Provided NO help for: – poor and lower middle class – education – factory working conditions – mental hospitals – convict lease system

Rebecca Latimer Felton • (4) William and Rebecca Latimer Felton: – William was a doctor, Methodist preacher, farmer, and public speaker. – Both were leaders of the Democratic Party – She was the first female U. S. Senator, but only 24 hours! • Their family owned The Cartersville Courant, a newspaper. (5) They used their paper as a platform to fight against the Bourbon Triumvirate and brought attention to: – Unfairness of the convict lease system – Issues of the poor and middle class (5) Rebecca was a leader in Women’s Suffrage, abolishing convict lease system and Temperance Movement (movement to ban alcohol) • In 1889, Hoke Smith asked her to be a columnist for the Atlanta Journal. • She remained with the Journal for 41 years.

The Convict Lease System • During the Civil War, prisons were destroyed • After the War, lack of jobs led to crime • What was the state to do with increase of prison population? (90% were black) • One solution was the Convict Lease System

(6)Convict Lease System Prisoners were leased out to people who would provide them with housing and food in exchange for labor. Positive Contributions • The state did not have to support the cost of prisoners • Initially, prisoners completed public works projects Criticisms • Companies profited and did not care for the convicts adequately • Some prisoners were worked to death • Paid laborers lost out on jobs • Increased the large number of poor and unemployed.

Martial Law