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The Era of the Redeemers: 1876-1900
State Politics in the late 1800sAs the era of the "Redeemers" opened, Governor Richard Coke and his Democratic supporters worked to reverse the changes made by former Governor Edmund J. Davis and the Radical Republicans. The Democrats removed state officials from office, cut government spending and made plans to replace the Constitution of 1869 with yet another new state constitution. Delegates to the constitutional convention met at Austin in the fall of 1875. Unlike the previous constitutional convention, the majority of the delegates were Democrats. There were also fifteen Republicans present, including six African Americans. Texas voters approved the new constitution in February of 1876. The main objective of the Constitution of 1876 was clear. Its creators wanted to limit the powers of the state government. To achieve their objective, the delegates reduced the governor�s term to two years, and the governor�s power to appoint state officials was reduced. The legislature was also scheduled to again meet once every two years instead of every year. In addition, the members of the constitutional convention established limits on government spending. The legislature was prohibited from going into debt more than $200,000, and many proposals for spending had to be approved by Texas voters in elections and referendums. Governor Coke resigned from office in December of 1976 to become a U.S. Senator. He was succeeded by his Lieutenant Governor, Richard Hubbard. His accomplishments as governor include reducing the public debt, fighting land fraud, promoting educational reforms and restoring public control of the state prison system. Most of the government officials elected to public office following the Reconstruction era were Democrats. In general, these officials were conservative and cautious. They worked to reduce public spending, lower taxes and restore law and order. They also supported the building and expansion of railroads. Some Republicans remained politically active. They were rarely elected to state office, but many were successful at the local level. Furthermore, Republicans were often appointed to federal jobs. During this era, African Americans maintained important roles in the Republican party. Norris Wright Cuney, an African American from Galveston, became the party�s leader in the 1880s after Edmund J. Davis�s death. William "Gooseneck Bill" MacDonald was another well-known Republican party leader at the end of the nineteenth century. Between 1868 and 1898, approximately 60 African Americans served in the Texas Legislature or participated in key political conventions. In some cases, black Texans were elected to local office, and they comprised a majority of the Republican voters in most Texas elections. Despite some gains, black Texans still did not enjoy the same political rights as white Texans. Influenced by the Democrats, the state legislature passed laws which prevented blacks and whites from using the same public accommodations. Keeping people separate in such a way is known as segregation, and the laws passed to achieve segregation in the state were called "Jim Crow" laws. Under the Jim Crow laws, black Texans could not eat in the same restaurants as whites. They could not stay in hotels designated for whites. They also could not ride in the same streetcars or railcars with whites. Public schools were also segregated. In 1879, an exodus of blacks occurred in north Texas, as many moved to Kansas in hopes of finding a better life. On a more positive note, the Texas government achieved three important goals during the era of the Redeemers. The state established greater law and order throughout the state, balanced the state budget and built a new capitol. Locally, sheriffs and other law officials worked hard to enforce the state�s laws. The Texas Rangers also became a more effective crime-fighting unit. Under Major John B. Jones� leadership, the Rangers were effective in dealing with notorious outlaws such as Sam Bass, John Wesley Hardin and Wild Bill Longley. Furthermore, under the leadership of Governor O. M. Roberts, the legislature was able to balance the state�s budget. Governor Coke and Governor Hubbard�s efforts to fight crime had increased the state�s debt considerably, but once Governor Roberts took office, he initiated steps to reduce the state debt. The Texas Legislature reduced the pensions of war veterans, cut support for publicly funded schools, reduced the size of the Texas Ranger units and cut state spending on the penitentiary system.
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