South Carolina, World War II, and the Late 20 th Century

J. Strom Thurmond  Governor of SC,  Long time national Senator  Key figure in bringing new industry to SC after WWII  Supported segregation

State Development Board  Created in 1954  Worked to recruit established industries to SC.  Support for the SDB came from Strom Thurmond.

Transportation Systems  After WWII, US transportation systems improved.  Roads, interstates, railways, airports, and ports allowed travel from one place to another across the country.  Commercial airlines formed for first time.  Helped create the tourism industry.  Increased overall efficiency of business.

Seaport Facilities  Helped increase SC’s tourism industry through building of resorts, hotels, restaurants, and tourist facilities.  Beautiful beaches (e.g. Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Hilton Head).  People had time and money to vacation after WWII.  International trade using ocean-going ships to carry large cargos.

Savannah River Site  Enormous facility built in 1950s near Aiken and Barnwell counties.  Produces basic material for the making of nuclear weapons which frightened residents.  Helped with thousands of jobs.  SC became important center for industrial technology.  Several towns had to be removed to make way for the SRS.

Labor Unions  An organization of workers to gain better wages or working conditions.  Right to Work law secures the right of employees to decide for themselves whether or not to join or financially support a union.  SC is a right-to-work state.

Emigration of African Americans  SC still lagged behind in racial relations.  Jim Crow laws limited their freedoms.  Segregation was supported by political leaders.  Many moved to more industrialized states as mechanized equipment replaced labor on farms.  Other states’ economies improved and provide new opportunities.

Racial Discrimination  Had to attend separate schools, use different bathrooms and water fountains and sit in the rear of the bus.  Briggs v. Elliott, from Clarendon County, started as a simple quest for equal access to education and was appealed to the US Supreme Court.  The case grew and ended in better educational opportunities for all American children.

Civil Rights Movement  1950s and 1960s national movement by African American leaders to end racial discrimination in our country.  The Supreme Court’s decision in  The Supreme Court’s decision in Brown vs. Board of Education ended segregation.   President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Bill in   SC would have another 10 years before racial tensions died down.

Agricultural Decline  Innovations required fewer farmers to yield more crops.  After WWII, SC only had 5% of residents living on farms.  Cotton farming declined; farmers could not make a living.

Opening and Closing of Military Bases  SC is the home of several military bases that were built to support WWI and II.  Army base at Ft. Jackson is largest training facility.  Marine Corps training center is at Parris Island near Beaufort, SC.  Bases provide hundreds of jobs to local residents and helps the economy of that area.  The closing of military bases hurts the economy by loss of civilian jobs and local businesses lose money. E.g. Charleston Naval Base and Myrtle Beach Air Force base.

Development of Industries  For SC to be an industrial center, foreign companies need to be attracted to our state.  These companies provide jobs residents, lead to construction of roads, airports, and other business facilities.  Major foreign companies with centers in SC are BMW (Germany), Michelin (France), Fuji Film (Japan), and GlaxoSmithKline (England)  Over 500 foreign companies are in SC and employ well over 100, 000 residents.

Influx of New Citizens  Why do people want to move to SC?  Climate – subtropical  Diverse land areas – mountains to the ocean  Slower pace of life – not hurried like larger cities  Property taxes are generally less than other places  General living expenses are less too

Increased Industrialization and Mechanization  At WWII’s end, the US was into the Industrial Age.  Number of farmers needed for agricultural demand had dropped.  Production of goods increased and were available to the average person.  Increased the overall standard of living.

Agricultural Improvements  Mechanized farming equipment  Better techniques (e.g. crop rotation, planting patterns)  Automatic irrigation systems  New fertilizers & pesticides  Improved weed control  Better preservation of crops after harvesting  More efficient transportation of crops to market

Reduction in Cotton production  In 1950, only 61.2% of SC’s land was being farmed. By 1959, the acreage dropped to 47.2%.  Cotton was one crop that declined from over a million acres (1945) to only 300,000 acres (1970).  Farmers had no labor or mules and turned to machines like the cotton picker.  Few cotton gins were built in SC.

Statewide Improvements Statewide Educational Improvements  1970s still had racially segregated schools.  Test scores were far below national average.  SC’s General Assembly passes the Education Improvement Act.  EIA raised attendance and graduation requirements.  Gave incentives for teachers.  Improvements are still continuing today.