The New South

Chapter 17

Need for a “New” South

  • Region devastated by the Civil War
  • Agrarian labor force unsettled
  • Twelve year occupation during Reconstruction
  • Farmers pile up debt
  • Some carpet-bagging
  • The South searches for a way to reinvent itself and compete with other regions

I. Economy 1877-1900

A. Between 1877 and 1900 Factories and railroads made modest changes to the South

–1. factories did not drastically alter South’s rural econ. (little urbanization)

–2. consumer products brought to South

–3. no electricity, telephones, public health services or schools brought to rural areas

B. Southern factories usually in rural areas

–1. lumber mills, textile mills- marginal success

–2. Tobacco industry-very successful

C. Industry brought some changes to Southern society

–1. Women and children worked, and failed farmers worked in mills

D. Southerners usually earned lower wages

–Problems

  • 1. workers could not afford to buy much- (consumers)
  • 2. tax collections low restricted funding to public schools

E. Railroad mileage double

–1. aids growth of interior towns (B’ham, Atlanta)

F. The South did not benefit from rapid expansion of the U.S. econ. Why not?

–1. Southern econ. Wiped out by Civil War

  • a. capital in slaves and land

–2. South had fewer banks- Northern banks imposed higher interest rates on south

–3. Northeastern investors though investment in South was too risky

G. Problems with Southern industry

–1. Unskilled, uneducated work force

–2. Poor access to capital and technology

–3. Weak consumer base

H.Despite problems some industry thrives

1. Birmingham, AL- steel industry develops

a. raw materials- iron ore, coal and limestone

b. mining develops to feed steel industry

2. Atlanta- Coca Cola emprie

3. Tobacco

a. By 1880, 126 farms producing 6.5 mil lbs. of plug, 4 mil of smoking tobacco in NC

b.James B. Duke incorporates American Tobacco Company and popularizes the cigarette

c.Creates tobacco “trust” with British who control world market

d.Uses profits for textile mills, power company, DukeUniv.

I. Some saw urban life as evil

–1. ministers- Second Yankee invasion

J. South returns to 1 crop econ. (Cotton)

–1. More dependent on cotton than Antebellum period

–2. Falling cotton prices

–3. rising costs to grow it (tools, seed, etc.)

a. tariffs drive up cost of imported farm equipment

II. Early Agricultural Movements

A. After Reconstruction- Democratic party rules the south- “Solid South”

–1. Usually rep the interests of large landowners

–2. Dem. Redeemers portrayed themselves as saviors of Reconstruction

–3. Lower class agric portrayed as insurgent traitors

B. The Grange-

–1. started in midwest

–2. rep. poor farmers but leadership from large landowning class (problem?)

–3. focused anger on railroads

  • a. gave deals to large shippers
  • b. charger more for shorter hauls

C. The Agricultural Wheel-

–1. wanted to buy farm equipt directly from manuf.

–2. called for federal programs to ease credit and cash burdens

D. Southern Farmers Alliance

–1. helped farmers w/ discounts on supplies and credit

–2. members market crops collectivel (benefit?)

–3. Like a religious denom.

  • a. strict religious and moral code
  • b. later formed Church of God

III. The Populist Movement

A. Began in Kansas in 1890s due to govt.’s failure to redress farmer’s grievences

B. Third Party- tired of Dems and Repub inaction

C. Platform

–1. Direct election of Senators

–2. federal income tax

–3. woman suffrage

–4. govt. ownership of railroads

–5. ease credit restrictions

D. mixed signals to blacks-

–1. Texas- equal rights and protection under law to all

–2. others fearful of Dems and white supremacists

–3. African Americans stay w/ Repub. Party- emancipation

IV. Women in the South

A. Civil War left many men scarred psychologically- poverty

B. Men viewed women paragons of virture who need to be protected

C. Any change in traditional gender roles would upset the balance

D. Women involved in reform movements

–1. Temperance

–2. Missionaries

–3. Clubs

  • a. sought education
  • b. child labor laws

V. Race Issues

A. 1877-1890 fairly fluid-

B. Collision course-

–1. Blacks pursuing equal rights-

–2. Whites worse off than Antebellum era

–3. white racial superiority

C. South sought to maintain white solidarity- threatened by poor econ.

–1. Segregation

  • a. North becoming less segregated (fewer blacks in North)
  • b. 95% of black population in South
  • c. segregation laws in schools, transportation, stores etc

–2. Disenfranchisement- Jim Crow Laws

  • a. Literacy tests
  • b. poll taxes
  • c. property requirements
  • d. Grandfather clauses- relative must have voted in 1860 election

–3. Convict Lease

  • a. blacks arrested for minor offense such as vagrancy
  • b. labor sold to plantations, mines, other construction
  • c. this system brought income to local and state govt

–1. cheap labor for plantations, mines, RRs

–2. controlled labor movement in South- why?

D. Federal govt did not intervene to help blacks

–1. citizen rights due to state citizenship

–2. Supreme Declared Civil Rights Act of 1875 unconstitutional

–3. courts ruled equal protection under law protected people from govt. infringement not private citizens (Railroad employees etc.)

E. Plessey v. Ferguson- Upheld Louisiana law requiring segregated railroad cars.

–1. Separate but equal was equal

–2. South segregated schools, retail and restaurants, transportation

–3. No such thing as separate and equal

F. Black Responses

–1. Booker T. Washington- organized state vocational institute- Tuskegee Univ

  • a. Washington advocated accommodation of racist society-
  • B. believed once black proved their economic value that racism would end

–2. W.E.B. Dubois- criticized accomodation

–3. Ida. B. Wells- Owned a Memphis newspaper- Investigated Lynchings-

G. Lynching- 1882-1902- 2000 lynchings

–1. Lynching due to alleged threat of black male sexuality to white female virtue

–2. Many accused of rape- usually a wink, whistle etc. if so

–3. Ida B. Wells finds only 25% of lynchings due to rape

Southern trees bear strange fruit,
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.
Pastoral scene of the gallant south,
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh,
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh.
Here is fruit for the crows to pluck,
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
Here is a strange and bitter crop.

–Strange Fruit by Billie Holliday