Montgomery in Montgomery County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Populism / 1901 Constitution
Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 26, 2021
1. Populism Marker
Inscription.
Populism, also, 1901 Constitution. .
Populism. Through the 1870s and 1880s, depressed cotton prices brought suffering and hardship for hundreds of thousands of farm families, black and white. In the 1890s, a coalition of small farmers and industrial laborers challenged the political dominance of Alabama's industrialists and planters, who had gained control of the state at the end of Reconstruction., The Populists called for increased school funding, the end of the convict-lease system, assistance to farmers, and the protection of African Americans' political rights. The combined votes of white and black Populists outnumbered those of conservative Democrats, but the Populists were defeated through election fraud and intimidation. , "We believe that every citizen, whether rich or poor, is entitled to the rewards of his labor." The People's Protest newspaper, Cullman County, 1893, “I have always deplored the existence of a condition in the South that seemed to make the control of the ballot by force and fraud a necessary measure. U.S. Senator John Tyler Morgan, 1900,
1901 Constitution. On the premise of promoting honest elections, Alabama elites called for a constitutional convention in 1901. The delegates preserved core features of the 1875 constitution, including low taxes, small government, and centralized control. The most significant changes in the 1901 document were a literacy test, a poll tax, and other barriers that disfranchised most blacks and many poor whites., The new constitution was ratified in a statewide vote that relied again on election fraud. White officials in the Black Belt reported that their majority-black populations had overwhelmingly voted to disfranchise themselves. More than 180,000 black Alabamians were eligible to vote in 1900; after ratification of the constitution, only 2,980 were able to become registered voters., Delegates to the constitutional convention in Montgomery rejected calls to accept the growing movement for women's suffrage. On June 10, 1901, Frances Griffin argued forcefully for the vote: "So long as laws affect both men and women, men and women together should make those laws.”
Populism
Through the 1870s and 1880s, depressed cotton prices
brought suffering and hardship for hundreds of thousands
of farm families, black and white. In the 1890s, a coalition
of small farmers and industrial laborers challenged the
political dominance of Alabama's industrialists and
planters, who had gained control of the state at the end
of Reconstruction.
The Populists called for increased school funding, the end
of the convict-lease system, assistance to farmers, and
the protection of African Americans' political rights. The
combined votes of white and black Populists outnumbered
those of conservative Democrats, but the Populists were
defeated through election fraud and intimidation.
"We believe that every citizen, whether rich or poor, is entitled
to the rewards of his labor."
The People's Protest newspaper, Cullman County, 1893
“I have always deplored the existence of a condition in the
South that seemed to make the control of the ballot by force
and fraud a necessary measure. U.S. Senator John Tyler Morgan, 1900
1901 Constitution
On the premise of promoting honest elections, Alabama elites
called for a constitutional convention in 1901. The delegates
preserved core features of the 1875 constitution,
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including
low taxes, small government, and centralized control. The
most significant changes in the 1901 document were a literacy
test, a poll tax, and other barriers that disfranchised most
blacks and many poor whites.
The new constitution was ratified in a statewide vote that
relied again on election fraud. White officials in the Black
Belt reported that their majority-black populations had
overwhelmingly voted to disfranchise themselves. More than
180,000 black Alabamians were eligible to vote in 1900; after
ratification of the constitution, only 2,980 were able to become
registered voters.
Delegates to the constitutional convention in Montgomery
rejected calls to accept the growing movement for women's
suffrage. On June 10, 1901, Frances Griffin argued forcefully
for the vote: "So long as laws affect both men and women,
men and women together should make those laws.”
Erected 2019 by the Alabama Bicentennial Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Government & Politics. A significant historical date for this entry is June 10, 1901.
Location. 32° 22.652′ N, 86° 18.117′ W. Marker is in Montgomery, Alabama, in Montgomery County. Marker is on Dexter Avenue east of South Decatur Street, on the right when traveling
Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 26, 2021
2. 1901 Constitution Marker
east. Located in Alabama Bicentennial Park in front of the Alabama Attorney General's Building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 500 Dexter Ave, Montgomery AL 36130, United States of America. Touch for directions.
3. Marker with the Alabama State Capitol building in background.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 26, 2021
4. Closeup of bronze relief sculpture.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 28, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 202 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 27, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
