The Night Riders facts for kids
The Night Riders were a group of tobacco farmers. They were called this by newspapers because they often acted at night. These farmers were upset with the American Tobacco Company (ATC), which was owned by James Buchanan Duke. The ATC was a huge company that controlled most of the tobacco market.
On September 24, 1904, tobacco farmers in western Kentucky and parts of Tennessee created the Planters' Protective Association (PPA). This group, also known as "the Association," wanted farmers to stop selling their tobacco to the ATC. The ATC was paying very low prices, making it hard for farmers to earn money.
Some farmers, led by Dr. David A. Amoss from Caldwell County, Kentucky, formed a more active group. They became known as the Night Riders. They destroyed tobacco warehouses owned by the ATC. One of their biggest actions was in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, in 1907, where they took over parts of the town.
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What Caused the Tobacco Wars?
The Black Patch Tobacco Wars happened in Kentucky and Tennessee from 1904 to 1909. This was a long and difficult time for farmers. The Night Riders were a group of farmers who opposed the American Tobacco Company. They felt the company was paying such low prices for tobacco that farmers could not make a living.
Dr. David Amoss, a doctor and farmer, was a leader of the Night Riders. He was later put on trial for his role in the 1907 events in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. His home in Caldwell County, Kentucky, became a museum. It helps people learn about Dr. Amoss and the Night Riders. Other museums in the area also show items and stories from this time.
Why Farmers Were Upset
The main reason for the Black Patch Tobacco Wars was the very low price the American Tobacco Company offered for tobacco. In the late 1800s, farmers could earn a good profit, enough for a comfortable life. But this changed around 1900. The American Tobacco Company became so big that it had almost complete control over the market.
With no real competition, the ATC paid very little for tobacco. From 1901 to 1903, they paid about four cents a pound. This was less than what it cost farmers to grow the tobacco! Farmers were losing money just by planting their crops. In some places, the price dropped to as low as one or two cents a pound.
To fight back, farmers created the Planters' Protective Association. Their leader, Felix G. Ewing, suggested that farmers grow tobacco but store it in the Association's warehouses. They would wait to sell until prices went up. Ewing said that all farmers needed to work together for this plan to succeed. Farmers were not supposed to sell their tobacco outside the Association.
The Planters' Protective Association and Its Challenges
The Association started in 1904. Its goal was to help farmers sell their tobacco for a fair price. They aimed for eight cents per pound, which was two cents more than it cost to grow. The Association would store the tobacco and pay farmers when it was sold.
At first, many farmers joined. In some areas, up to 95% of farmers agreed to sell only to the Association. However, some farmers, even members, did not follow the rules. They sold their tobacco directly to the American Tobacco Company. The ATC tried to break the Association by offering higher prices, sometimes ten to twelve cents a pound. This meant farmers in the Association received less money than those who sold to the ATC. For example, in 1906, Association members got seven cents a pound, while non-members got ten to twelve cents.
To fix this, farmers in the Association met. They decided that some members would become "Possum Hunters." These groups would visit non-members to encourage them to join. These night meetings eventually led to the actions of the Masked Silent Brigade, or the Night Riders.
The American Tobacco Company (ATC)
The American Tobacco Company, also known as the Tobacco Trust, was a very powerful and wealthy company in the late 1890s. When the ATC refused to buy the burley tobacco crop in 1906 and 1907, farmers took strong action. In 1908, more than 35,000 farmers in over 30 counties did not plant tobacco at all. This meant an entire year's crop was lost. Because of this, the ATC finally agreed to the farmers' demands in November 1908.
Actions of the Night Riders
The Night Riders began to target farms and crops if farmers did not support the Association. Large groups of armed Night Riders even took over some towns. They destroyed tobacco stored in ATC warehouses, along with buildings and machines. They also acted against people who supported the ATC. The Night Riders were known for being very organized.
By 1908, the Night Riders had a lot of power. They controlled almost all the Dark Leaf tobacco crop. They achieved this through their actions and by taking matters into their own hands. To protect themselves, some Night Riders even got elected to local government jobs in the affected areas. They gained control of court positions and county officers. However, lawyers for some victims started moving their cases to federal courts. This helped to reduce the Night Riders' power in local courts and brought them under the law.
See also
- Vigilantism in the United States of America
Images for kids
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Night Riders visiting a non-association farmer.
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