During Georgia's Reconstruction period after the Civil War, the Democratic "Redeemers" took back control of the state government from the Republicans. Led by the Bourbon Triumvirate of Joseph E. Brown, Alfred H. Colquitt, and John B. Gordon, the Democrats focused on economic development but did little to help the poor, improve education, or reform prisons. Reformers Rebecca and William Felton attacked the Bourbons' neglect of these issues through their newspaper.

1. *
Unit 4 Section 3

2. * GA’s redemption period followed its
Reconstruction period.
* During this time many people struggled to
overcome the hardships that Reconstruction
brought.
* The “Redeemers” also wanted to take back the
control of the state government from the
Republicans
*

3. * Joseph E. Brown/ Alfred H. Colquitt and John
B. Gordon = Democrats.
* All of these men wanted stronger economic ($)
ties with the industrial North in order to make
GA’s economy stronger ($$)
* Believed in white supremacy (belief that white
race is superior (better than) any other race)
* 3 men were called “The Bourbon Triumvirate”

4. * These leaders helped carry GA through
economic reconstruction as they lowered
taxes, reduced the war debts, and expanded
business and industry.
* They were criticized for doing little to help the
poor, improve education, improve mental
hospitals and jails.
* After Reconstruction was over the Democrats
took over state politics.
*

5. * Rebecca Felton and her husband William H.
Felton were reformers who helped to end the
influence of the Bourbon Trimuvirate (pg315)
* Used “Cartersville Courant” to attack the
Bourbons
* The Bourbons and the Feltons clashed over the
issue of the convict lease system
*

6. * A serious problem was the way that prisoners
were treated
* Lack of jobs led to an increase in crime.
* Almost 90% of prisoners were black
* Convict lease system: prisoners were hired out
(leased) to people who provided them with
housing and food in exchange for labor. Also
allowed them to rest on Sunday’s and provide
medical care.
*

7. * A lot of the “rules” were ignored
* Most prisoners did not have clothes, medical
care or food.
* 1880 legislation agreed to look at this type of
“care”
* 1897 Convict lease law was changed
* Separated male and female prisoners/ old &
sick inmates were separated as well.
*

8. * 1874 Dr. Felton was elected to Congress and
served there until 1880
* He pushed for improvements in education,
prison reform, and limits on alcohol traffic in
the state.
* Helped inspire the “Populist Movement”
*