Modern Georgia SS8H12

End of the County Unit System 1917- County Unit System- designed to maintain the power of the rural areas of the state even thought the greatest population growth was in urban areas. April 1962- Georgia federal court ruled that the county unit system violated the Fourteenth Amendment. Majority of representatives in the Georgia house now came from urban areas. Political power shifted from rural to urban. 1962 Election- Leroy Johnson became first African American state senator in Georgia since Reconstruction.

Reapportionment 1963- “One-Person-One-Vote”- every citizen’s vote should be equal to every other citizen’s vote no matter where the person lives. Wesberry v. Sanders- U.S. Supreme Court stated that legislative districts should depend solely on population rather than on county boundary lines. Reapportion- redraw The General Assembly had to reapportion its Congressional voting districts to ensure that the districts were of equal population sizes.

Jimmy Carter James Earl “Jimmy” Carter, Jr. Only U.S. President from Georgia Born in Plains, GA on October 1, 1924 Graduated from U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis Served in Navy for years 1954- Resigned from Navy commission to return to Plains and take over the family’s warehouse and Cotton Gin businesses and a peanut farm.

1962- Carter was elected to the Georgia senate 1970- Elected Governor of Georgia Accomplishments As Governor: He reorganized the state’s executive branch, cutting the number of government agencies from 300 to 25. He also influenced the court system, bringing a unified approach to the courts and changing the selection of judges to a merit process. Appointed first woman as a state judge. Created the Georgia Heritage Trust- protects state’s natural and cultural resources. Equalized funding for public schools across the state and expanded special education, vocational education, and pre-school education. Expanded state mental health services

Democratic nominee in the 1976 Presidential Election Defeated Gerald Ford Accomplishments as President: Established a national energy policy Completed major civil service reforms Expanded the national park system Deregulated the trucking and airline industries Created the Department of Education Domestic economic problems plagued his term, inflation and interest rates were extremely high, and his efforts to remedy this created a short-term recession. Negotiated the 1978 Camp David Peace Accords between Israel and Egypt. Obtained congressional ratification of the Panama Canal treaties Established full diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China

After Russia invaded Afghanistan in December 1979, he withdrew the U.S. from the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow and increased aid to neighboring Pakistan. November 1979- militants took control of the U.S. Embassy in Iran and seized 52 Americans, holding them captive for fourteen months. Iran did not release the hostages until 1981 on the day that Carter left office. This probably led to his defeat in 1980. After leaving office, the Carters returned to Plains, Georgia.

Rise of the Two-party system 1980’s and 1990’s- politics underwent a major shift in Georgia. Most citizens continue to elect Democrats in state elections, but Republicans in national elections. This established a real “Two-Party System” in Georgia. 1980- Mack Mattingly of St. Simons Island was the first Republican elected to the US Senate since Reconstruction. Cynthia McKinney- Atlanta Democrat- first African American woman from Georgia elected to Congress. 1994- Republicans gained majority of the U.S. House first the first time in 40 years and Georgia’s Newt Gingrich was elected Speaker of the House. 2002- Sonny Perdue- first Republican governor of Georgia since Reconstruction.

The 1996 Olympic games Held in Atlanta, GA Four Long-Term Benefits: Millions of dollars were spent to create the world-class competition facilities (Olympic Stadium, Georgia Horse Park, Shooting Range, Tennis Facility, and new residence halls at Georgia Tech and Georgia State) International Recognition (Tourists and Media Coverage) Volunteer Programs, Educational and Training Programs, and Employment Opportunities Brought Millions of Dollars into Georgia’s Economy

Problems: Centennial Olympic Park Bombing: July 29, 1996 Killed Alice Hawthorne (Albany, GA) Wounded 117 Severe Traffic Congestion Street Vendors and salespersons on every corner Overly Commercial Advertising (Coca-Cola)

immigrants Textiles (Carpet): Dalton, GA Immigrants from Mexico and other Latin American countries Poultry Industry: Gainesville, GA Georgia is a leading producer of broilers (young chickens) Immigrants from Mexico assist in the production and processing Vidalia Onion: Vidalia, GA Migrant workers are needed for this seasonal crop Immigrant populations impact Georgia’s economy in a major way.