A New Life In The New South
By: Jada Hatcher & Kamrynn McElmurray
The New South
Henry W. Grady was the voice of the "New South". He urged Georgians to forget the past and create a New South built on industry. He promoted the vision for the New South at a meeting of The New England Society of New York. Grady shared a hopeful view of the New South's potential. He wanted the New South to be based on economic diversity and a healthy growth over time.
The Leo Frank Case
A Jewish man named Leo Frank, was accused of murdering a 13 year old girl, Mary Phagan. In 1913, Mary Phagan was murdered while at work in Atlanta. Despite all of the conflicts & testimony, Frank was convicted & sentenced to death. Two years later, Frank was kidnapped from his jail cell and hanged by a mob. There was never clear evidence that Frank was the killer of Mary Phagan, therefore, I believe Frank is innocent.
Coca Cola
In 1886, Coca Cola was invented by John Pemberton. He fought in the Civil War and at the end of the war, he decided he wanted to invent something that would bring him commercial success. Coke wasn't a success in its first year and Pemberton died 2 years later in August 1888. After Pemberton's death, a man named Asa Griggs Candler helped the business. Later in 1891, he became the owner of Coca Cola.
The Bourbon Redeemers
Georgia's economy was destroyed by the Civil War, but the state recovered in the 1800s because of these three men; Joseph E. Brown, Alfred H. Colquitt and John B. Gordon. These three men controlled Georgia politics from the 1870s to the 1890s. Each debated that Georgia's future was not in agricultural economy but in business & industry. They all used their wealth and popularity to recreate the strength of the Democratic Party. Together they were known as the "Bourbon Triumvirate".
Resisting the New South
Farmers' Alliance
Some people liked the idea of the New South, but others, such as farmers, disliked it. Farmers resented the new idea on business and industry. Life was difficult for farmers because of the dramatic drop in cotton prices. To protect the interests, a movement called the Farmers' Alliance was established. It created cooperative stores to buy agricultural goods at discounts. Also, encouraged politicians to fight for Rural Free Delivery (RFD). Thomas E. Watson was the leader of the Populist Party in Georgia and fought for Farmers' needs.