Populism Unit

Terms	Definitions
disfranchise	To take away the right to vote
grandfather clause	A voting law that stated a citizen could vote only if his grandfather had been able to vote prior to 1860. Of course, black males could not vote prior to that date, so this was just another method for disfranchising blacks.
eight-box law	According to this law, a vote would not be counted if the ballot was placed in the incorrect box
Jim Crow	These laws established segregation in public places, restricted who could vote, and limited the civil rights of blacks
poll tax	According to SC's 1895 Constitution, this had to be paid six months prior to voting
literacy test	Required a potential voter to read and interpret a portion of the U.S. Constitution
segregation	This "separation" of the races was supported by SC's 1895 Constitution
Redeemers	Those who wanted to "reclaim" South Carolina from the control of the Republicans
Bourbons	A derisive name given to Conservative Democrats who looked out for the elite of SC
Wade Hampton III	Leader of the Conservative Democrats
Benjamin Tillman	Leader of the Populism Movement
Populists	Called for changes in government that would help farmers and the common people
gerrymandering	A tactic used by Conservatives to limit the political participation of African Americans by redrawing district lines
Dispensary	Established by Ben Tillman with the purpose of controlling the sale and distribution of alcohol in SC
Grange	A social (non-political) organization formed for small farmers; eventually led to the establishment of regional Farmers' Alliances and the Populist Party
Clemson	Founded by Benjamin Tillman in order to provide agricultural education to small farmers in SC
land-grant colleges	These institutions (such as Clemson) received funds from federal lands sold through the Morrill Act in order to make agricultural improvements in the state
cotton	This continued to be the main crop grown in SC in the late nineteenth century despite its decline in value
silver	Populists assumed that adding this precious metal to the monetary system would increase their chances of getting out of debt
Plessy v. Ferguson	Supreme Court case that determined segregation was legal and established the "separate, but equal" clause
segregation	separation of the races
suffrage	the right to vote; this right was guaranteed by the 15th Amendment
earthquake	this natural disaster shook Charleston in 1886
hurricane	this natural disaster hit Charleston in 1893; it destroyed the state's Carolina Gold industry
rivers	mill owners used this natural resource to power their textile mills
textiles	this was SC's most important industry in the late 19th century