Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. This region, colloquially known as the black patch, comprises approximately 35 counties in western kentucky and tennessee where the growth of darkfired tobacco served as the foundation for the agricultural economy since the region was settled. In response to the duke trust, the black patch farmers formed their own association the dark tobacco planters protective association and agreed to simply. He takes us deeply into the minds and emotions of several families who struggle to make a living on their tobacco farms. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Recently did some research on this crazy period in southwest kentucky from 19041910 and put together a little photo history of it. Jul 25, 2017 the black patch tobacco wars was a period of violence in the dark tobacco region of the u. Black patch tobacco wars is within the scope of wikiproject tennessee, an open collaborative effort to coordinate work for and sustain comprehensive coverage of tennessee and related subjects in the wikipedia.
On september 24, 1904, american tobacco planters formed a protectionist dark tobacco district planters protective association of kentucky and tennessee the association or ppa in order to oppose the corporate monopoly. The stretch was known as the black patch, relating to the dark fired tobacco farmed in that area. Confronted by the dual specter of prices below the cost of production and the monopolistic american tobacco company atc, growers in. Collectively, these acts of violence became known as the black patch war. Some communities reenact the black patch wars in annual events. Black patch tobacco wars bloodiest american uprising from the. He takes us deeply into the minds and emotions of several families who. Some kentucky tobacco farmers reacted with a violent campaign of sabotage and reprisals known as the black patch tobacco wars.
In their opening salvo, they torched two of americans tobacco. Mar 11, 2020 according to history, in 1908 the black patch war ended when the associations demands were honored by the american tobacco company. The black patch tobacco wars was a period of violence in the dark tobacco region of the u. The black patch region also includes counties in northwestern tennessee. The black patch war, like much human conflict, was rooted in economics, specifically the monopolistic practices of the american tobacco company. It seems like today we constantly sit on the edge of revolt, and stories like these show us some of the possibilities we could face yet again. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. They were getting tobacco at ridiculously low prices and the farmers were unable to make a living. May 1, 20 black patch tobacco wars bloodiest american uprising from the civil war to the civil rights movement as kentucky farmers violently protested. During this time the black patch tobacco wars paved the way to the first unofficial union of workers.
From black patch wars to government buyouts, this crop has been the center of political attention more than once. Its a fascinating piece of american history the tobacco farmer versus the american tobacco company, which is becoming a monopoly in the world of tobacco. Confronted by the dual specter of prices below the cost of production and the monopolistic american tobacco company atc. Apr 16, 2012 the black patch tobacco wars and the story of the night riders is fascinating, and quite relevant to our times. These later became known as the black patch tobacco wars.
The planters protective association of kentucky and tennessee had organized to gain more power as growers against the james b. Sep 23, 2014 the black patch tobacco war of western kentucky the good lord never got any thousand or so men together for any purpose without a liberal assortment of sons of bitches thrown in. That was two cents less per pound than it cost to grow. The black patch war, like much human conflict, was rooted in. History of kentucky the blue grass state legends of america.
The black patch name comes from a stretch of land between southwestern kentucky and northwestern tennessee during the early 1900s. At the turn of the 20th century, the american tobacco company, owned by james b. From black patch wars to government buyouts, this crop has. Andy bailey dark tobacco extension specialist 1205 hopkinsville st office. As the 20th century dawned, big business came to the dark tobacco growing region of kentucky and tennessee, eliminating competition.
For centuries robertson county farmers have had to comply with regulations set on tobacco growing. Duke tobacco conglomerate american tobacco company. Night riders during the period between 1900 and 1906 trouble began to brew among the tobacco men of the state, especially in the black patch area around hopkinsville. Captain newton jasper wilburn november 9, 1874 january 31, 1927 was a kentucky national guard officer who played a crucial part in ending the black patch tobacco wars, the most sustained and violent civil uprising in america since the civil war. On september 24, 1904, american tobacco planters formed a protectionist dark tobacco district planters protective association of kentucky and tennessee. This is a history of the night rider movement an outgrowth of the black patch tobacco wars in western kentucky from 1905 to 1912 ot so. As a result of the tobacco industry monopoly, tobacco farmers in the area were forced to sell their crops at prices that were too low. In 1907 and 1908, a vigilante group known as the night riders terrorized the black patch 30county region of western kentucky and tennessee, where dark fired tobacco was produced. The black patch tobacco wars was a period of violence in the dark tobacco region of western kentucky and tennessee at the turn of the 20th century circa 19041909 the black patch, as it is called, is made up of about 30 counties in southwestern kentucky and northwestern tennessee and the leading worldwide supplier of dark fired tobacco.
During the period between 1900 and 1906 trouble began to brew among the tobacco men of the state, especially in the black patch area around hopkinsville. Prices for tobacco had been down since the late 1890s. Our group is putting together a fullfledged documentary on the night riders, a violent group in tennessees history. As part of it, we interviewed historian and public speaker rick gregory, and. The socalled black patch consists of about 30 counties in southwestern kentucky and northwestern tennessee. The initial idea was that tobacco farmers from kentucky and tennessee were to pool and withhold their tobacco until the american tobacco. This area was known as the black patch because it produced so much darkfired tobacco, which was used primarily in the production of snuff and chewing tobacco. The term black patch referred to the region of the two states noted for the growth of darkfired tobacco. The black patch where the leaf is smoked but the tobacco is chewed is known for its smoking barns. The black patch war began in 1904 in the western regions of kentucky and tennessee. The night riders, robert penn warren november 30, 1906.
The black patch tobacco war of western kentucky the good lord never got any thousand or so men together for any purpose without a liberal assortment of sons of bitches thrown in. Some of these skirmishes happened in the small town where i was raised in southwestern kentuckyi painted this for a book on the history of todd county kentu. Tobacco farmers, desperate to preserve their rights and improve their condition midst the monopolies of the tobacco companies, resorted to night riding, or. The remarkable story of the black patch tobacco wars 6 photos. Anytown, usa is a podcast where each episode we choose a. In the early 20th century, another era of violence occurred in kentucky and adjoining districts in tennessee referred to as the black patch tobacco wars. During the first decade of the twentieth century, violence erupted in the tobacco belt of western kentucky and northern middle tennessee as farmers tried to. Peppered throughout the decade were other violent events, such as the tobacco wars or black patch wars which began in the first decade of the 20th century in western kentucky. Some of these skirmishes happened in the small town where i was raised in southwestern kentuckyi painted this for a. Black patch tobacco wars wikipedia republished wiki 2. The black patch tobacco wars and the story of the night riders is fascinating, and quite relevant to our times. The black patch war constituted one of the most serious domestic threats to civil government in twentiethcentury america. Jun 2, 2017 the remarkable story of the black patch tobacco wars 6 photos archive project stay safe and healthy. Feb 17, 2014 our group is putting together a fullfledged documentary on the night riders, a violent group in tennessees history.
James duke smoked em out to dominate tobacco arena. Within death in the black patch, wilson, now a professor of history in new mexico, gives us a brutally frank look at agrarian life in the south shortly after the end of the 19th century. Unlike central and eastern kentucky, where burley tobacco is grown for cigarettes. See more ideas about lawrence county, kentucky and my old kentucky home. Founded in 1890 by james buchanan duke, younger son of tobacco farmer washington duke, the north carolina family corporation had established itself as an international consortium that could dictate its. Submitted on november 25, 2014, by cosmos mariner of cape canaveral, florida. Since this region was known for growing darkfired tobacco, it was called the black patch war. Anytown, usa is a podcast where each episode we choose a random place in the usa and find the best stories we can about it. The black patch tobacco wars, a vigilante action, occurred in western kentucky in the early 20th century. The collective buying power of the trust forced darkleaf tobacco known as black patch tobacco prices to drop from an average of eight cents per pound to less than four cents.
The black patch tobacco wars wikipedia the black patch or dark fired tobacco area included counties in southwestern kentucky and adjoining districts in tennessee. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Black patch wars, night riders topics at trigg bicentennial. The black patch tobacco wars were a period of violence in the dark tobacco region of the u. The remarkable story of the black patch tobacco wars 6 photos from 19041909, a period of great violence broke out in the dark tobacco region of kentucky and tennessee. A faction of farmers in western kentucky violently opposed tobacco monopolies and persecuted those farmers who sympathized with the monopolies. The black patch tobacco wars were a period of civil unrest and violence in the western counties of the u. Many local farmers and activists united in a refusal to sell their crops to the major tobacco companies. According to history, in 1908 the black patch war ended when the associations demands were honored by the american tobacco company. Wikipedia the black patch or dark fired tobacco area included counties in southwestern kentucky and adjoining districts in tennessee. If you would like to participate, you can edit the article attached to this page, and even become a member. During the first part of the 1900s, problems over the price of tobacco turned to violence in the northern part of tennessee. The remarkable story of the black patch tobacco wars 6. Understanding the black patch tobacco war of west kentucky and.
In 1904, when tobacco farmers of kentucky and tennessee formed an. The black patch war of the early 20th century was instigated by extremely depressed prices for tobacco crops, most notably the dark tobacco area of western kentucky and western tennessee, and was directed by one of the historically largest industrial u. In 1904 tobacco planters formed a protectionist group called the dark tobacco district planters protective association of kentucky and tennessee to oppose the corporate monopoly of the. There is much more to this story, and way more than i could ever put into this thread. The black patch tobacco wars the briar patch pipe forum. Project articles project page project talk template usage. By 1909 to 1910, the tides turned for tobacco farmers. History of kentucky the blue grass state legends of.
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