A New South and A New Georgia Ch. 14

Standards SS8H7 – Evaluate key political, social and economic changes that occurred in Georgia between 1877 and SS8E3 – Evaluate the influence of Georgia’s economic growth and development

Section 1: American Modernization In the 1870’s and 1880’s industry grew rapidly in America. Large businesses grew Monopoly – a business that has complete control of their market. Workers organized into Labor Unions – tried to help workers settle disputes, negotiate wages, working hours and conditions

Problems of Industrialization Workers were often mistreated. Few men became wealthy while many remained poor. Laissez-faire – government attitude of non-intervention Congress passed the Sherman Antitrust Act – outlawed attempts to create a monopoly

Modernization Many new inventions improved life. Thomas Edison found a way to provide electricity. Light city streets and business signs. Electricity changed transportation: streetcars allowed people to travel around town faster and farther.

Urbanization Towns and cities grew rapidly, mainly in the Northeast and Midwest. Immigrants came to the U.S. mainly in the big cities: that is where the jobs were. Very few settled in the south Suburbs grew. People wanted to leave the overcrowding cities and move outside the city limits

Section 2: The New South In order to create a “New South”, leaders believed that these changes had to take place: 1) expand its industries 2.) rely less on a few cash crops 3.) grow more food crops Northern banks had money to invest in the south and its resources.

Advocates and Critics Henry W. Grady was an editor for the Atlanta Constitution. He was a supporter of the “New South.” Favored Industrialization Grady believed in using local resources to create industry and promote a New South He was able to promote this idea through the newspaper, which reached many people John B. Gordon, Joseph Brown and Alfred Colquitt were politicians who supported the new south

Advocates and Critics Many people did not want to change. They wanted to keep Georgia rural and dependant on agriculture. Lost Cause – belief that the old south would return. Many people did not want help from the north. Control was the big issue. Would the north control south’s economy?

Southern Business Cotton mills opened across the south. Lintheads – people who worked in the mills, lint stuck to their heads and clothes. Big mills controlled entire towns. Providing a place to live, stores, churches, etc… Tobacco became big in North Carolina and steel industries grew in Alabama

Southern Business People hoped that small self-sufficient farms would replace the large plantations. Wanted more food crops. This would allow the south to become less dependant on the north.

Things Needed for Growth If the South’s economy was to grow, a steady supply of labor and better transportation was needed. Railroads were damaged or destroyed during the Civil War. By ,000 miles of railroad had been built. By ,000 miles were built. This connected the south with national markets after the Civil War

Things Needed for Growth Labor Unions were not successful in the South, despite low wages and poor working conditions. Prisoners were often used for labor. Chain Gangs. Most of these prisoners were African Americans. Chain Gangs No different from slavery.

Section 3: Urban & Rural Worlds About 70% of farmers in Georgia grew mostly cotton. Cotton and tobacco could be sold easily and would bring the most money. Peanuts, pecans, watermelons and peaches became very popular food crops in Georgia and began to replace cotton

Georgia Business and Industry By 1900, Georgia had 15 large industrial companies. Textile Mills were the biggest industry. Charles Herty invented a new process for extracting resin from trees, and for using trees to make paper. Created pulpwood industry in Georgia. Later, Georgia Pacific became a worldwide supplier of forest products.

Georgia Business and Industry Dr. John Pemberton invented Coca Cola in This was an Atlanta based company which sells one of the most recognizable products in the world today.