Planters' Protective Association facts for kids

The Planters' Protective Association (PPA) was a group of farmers in Kentucky and Tennessee. It was active from 1904 to 1908. These farmers grew a special kind of tobacco called "dark patch" tobacco. The PPA was formed to help farmers get fair prices for their crops and protect their money. This was important because a very big company, the American Tobacco Company, controlled most of the tobacco market.

In September 1904, tobacco prices dropped very low. Farmers were losing money, sometimes earning only 30 cents a day. This was much less than the usual $3.00. So, white farmers in the area created the Planters' Protective Association. They wanted the American Tobacco Company to pay fair prices. But the company refused to talk with the PPA leaders.

Because talking didn't work, some farmers formed secret groups called "nightriders." Between 1906 and 1908, these masked groups damaged factories and warehouses owned by the tobacco company. They destroyed a lot of property. This time is often called the "Great Tobacco Strike of the Century."

Why Farmers United

Fighting Big Companies

In the early 1900s, large companies from the Northeast started to grow bigger in the Southern states. Many farmers and small business owners were unhappy about this. They felt these big companies, like tobacco trusts, insurance companies, and railroads, had too much power.

People in the South wanted to "bust the trusts." This meant they wanted to break up these huge companies. They hoped to make laws that would control how these companies operated. This movement brought together farmers, middle-class workers, and small business owners. They all wanted to see changes and fairer rules.

In Kentucky, Governor William Goebel tried to fight against a big railroad company, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. He wanted new laws to help workers and tax the railroad's hidden money. Governor Goebel traveled around the state, asking farmers to join him. He wanted the railroad to serve Kentucky, not control it. Sadly, in January 1900, Governor Goebel was killed. His death left the movement in Kentucky and Tennessee without a strong leader. For several years after, big companies like the American Tobacco Company faced little opposition.

The Planters’ Protective Association (1904-1908)

How the PPA Started

The "Black Patch" is an area in Kentucky and Tennessee, between Paducah and Nashville. It's famous for growing a dark, heavy type of tobacco. In 1904, a rich farmer named Felix G. Ewing from Cedar Hill, Tennessee in Robertson County, Tennessee, traveled through the Black Patch. He encouraged struggling tobacco farmers to join him.

On September 24, 1904, about 6,000 farmers met in Guthrie, Kentucky, right on the Kentucky-Tennessee border. By the end of that day, the Planters' Protective Association was officially formed.

The American Tobacco Company's Control

Farmers had been struggling financially for a long time. In 1903, tobacco prices fell so low that farmers sometimes earned only 30 cents a day. Many farmers thought this was because too much tobacco was being grown. But most believed the real problem was the American Tobacco Company (ATC).

The main buyers of the dark tobacco were the ATC and companies funded by the Italian government's tobacco monopoly. The PPA leaders believed these two companies had an agreement not to bid against each other. This meant they wouldn't compete to buy tobacco, keeping prices low. PPA agents secretly checked this out between 1904 and 1905 and found it was true.

The American Tobacco Company, started in 1890 by George Washington Duke, grew very fast. By 1906, it was worth over $235 million. As this "Duke Trust" controlled the market, it made life hard for many farmers. The company bought tobacco directly from farmers, cutting out smaller buyers. This removed all competition and allowed the ATC to set very low prices.

Growing Stronger

Even before the PPA, farmers often talked about "tobacco pooling." This meant farmers would agree not to sell their crops. The idea was to force buyers to offer higher prices. In the early 1900s, a type of dark tobacco called Hopkinsville leaf sold for as little as four to six cents a pound.

Another group, the American Society of Equity, also started to organize farmers in Kentucky and Tennessee. They believed farmers weren't getting fair prices for their products. They wanted farmers to work together to set prices for all their crops. They thought organized farmers could have as much power as organized labor unions in cities.

The Planters' Protective Association became very popular. At its peak in 1905, it had about 30,000 members in western Kentucky and Tennessee.

Why the PPA Weakened

By 1908, the PPA started to lose its strength. Several things caused this. Some farmers owned their land, but many were tenant farmers, meaning they rented land. This made it harder for them to join the PPA. Also, some farmers were not interested or didn't have enough money to keep supporting the group.

One of the biggest problems was farmers who refused to join the PPA. These non-members, sometimes called "hillbillies," thought they could get better prices on their own. And often, they did! The American Tobacco Company would offer them higher prices because there wasn't much tobacco available. An ATC representative once said: "Why join the association? We will give you as good and better prices than they can get for you and there will be no commissions or expenses. Sell to us direct, here is the cash for you now!" This made many people lose faith in the PPA.

The Black Patch War (1906–1908)

Many farmers felt that the PPA's peaceful efforts weren't working. So, some more desperate farmers started to think about using force. They felt deeply wronged and hurt. They believed protests didn't work, and the courts offered no help. Organizing together was their last hope.

Angry at farmers who wouldn't join the PPA, secret groups of masked "night-riders" formed. They were also known as the "Silent Brigade." These groups first threatened non-members. Then, they would destroy their property. This period, from 1906 to 1908, became known as the Black Patch Tobacco Wars. During this time, night-riding and vigilante actions became a harsh reality in the Black Patch area of Kentucky and Tennessee.