When John B. Rayner came to Texas, he did not know about the changes that were going to soon be taking place and the role in politics he would play. Rayner did not get into politics when they first came to Texas, because he felt like no one wanted to listen to an outsider. However, the political environment in Texas began to change in the Reconstruction. It is my opinion the at the prohibition movement and the rise, height, and fall of the Populist Party were the greatest events in Rayner’s life and their stories can not be told without how Rayner made his mark on Texas History. Rayner’s involvement with the the prohibition movement lead him into politics and help him start at the ground level of the Populist movement. He was also a key member during the height of the Populist movement and make sure to reach black voters. Then the collapse of the party leads him to continue to support the black community.
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As Texas began to switch from farming to a thriving industrial state, many in Texas began to began to resent the change. Many whites and blacks were tenant farmers or crop shares at the time when the price of cotton bottom out. With the struggle of brought on by lower per points of cotton tenant farmers began to resent the politicians currently in power. Both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party needed the black votes, but did nothing to win them. Harrison Ashby said, “the democrats have never given those [black] people representation; they have said they would buy enough of their votes with liquor and money” (Cantrell 35). While the Republicans were the party of change for blacks during the Civil War they did not have enough power in Texas to affect change after the war. Because of hard times and Democratic rule, Rayner joined with the Populist Party in hopes of giving blacks a better life and defeating the Democratic
As Texas began to switch from farming to a thriving industrial state, many in Texas began to began to resent the change. Many whites and blacks were tenant farmers or crop shares at the time when the price of cotton bottom out. With the struggle of brought on by lower per points of cotton tenant farmers began to resent the politicians currently in power. Both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party needed the black votes, but did nothing to win them. Harrison Ashby said, “the democrats have never given those [black] people representation; they have said they would buy enough of their votes with liquor and money” (Cantrell 35). While the Republicans were the party of change for blacks during the Civil War they did not have enough power in Texas to affect change after the war. Because of hard times and Democratic rule, Rayner joined with the Populist Party in hopes of giving blacks a better life and defeating the Democratic