Modern Georgia

The End of the County Unit System It was created in 1917 Involved only statewide races It kept political power in the hands of rural Georgia rather than shifting to growing urban areas April 1962 – it struck down by federal district court saying it violated the Fourteenth Amendment Appealed to U.S. Supreme Court and in 1963 upheld lower court’s decision Established “One person, one vote” rule – votes of some citizens cannot count more than the votes of other citizens.

County Unit System

County Unit System Why was the county unit system unfair to individual voters? Under the county unit system, each Georgian’s vote did not count equally. In elections for governor and other statewide races, the total statewide vote of the people was not counted. Rather, vote totals were counted county by county. A candidate winning in one county received all of that county’s unit vote. So it was possible for a candidate to win the majority of the popular vote but lose the election.

County Unit System Why was the county unit system not fair to urban areas? Urban areas were discriminated against under the county unit system. Two out of every three voters in Georgia lived in the 38 largest counties, but only controlled 40% of the total county unit vote in the state. Fulton County - 392,886 residents got 6 unit votes Six small rural counties - 23,996 got a total of 12 votes

Georgia’s President Jimmy Carter biography

Jimmy Carter State Senator 1962 2 terms Advocated for educational reforms -chair of Senate Education Committee Election reform – witnessed voter fraud and challenged it in court

Jimmy Becomes Governor Defeated in 1966 election Won in 1970 (campaign platform called for racial equality) "No poor, rural, weak, or black person should ever have to bear the additional burden of being deprived of the opportunity of an education, a job, or simple justice." “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over.” “We shall be able to stand up anywhere in the world – in New York, California, Florida and say ʽI’m a Georgianʹ-and proud of it.”

While Governor Reorganize state government (consolidated state boards and agencies) Decrease secrecy in state government - transparent Promoted civil rights – appointed women and minorities to government positions Reforms in judicial system -Use of merit system in appointment of judges -increased educational programs for prisoners mental health reforms-established community centers Preserve historical sites

While Governor "Adequate Program for Education in Georgia” -provided funds to support vocational education -reduce class size -equal funding for all districts -commitment to preschool -launched a campaign that eventually led to the adoption of a statewide kindergarten program

President of the United States PEANUT BRIGADE WATERGATE ECONOMY

President of United States Presidential Campaign Ad high moral standards, ethical behavior, and democratic principles Camp David Peace Accords between Egypt and Israel Strategic Arms Litigation Treaty (SALT II) Department of Energy Department of Education

While President…. Developed an energy policy Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act Appointed women and minorities

Problems During Presidency Inflation due to higher oil prices OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) cut production which drove fuel prices up and created shortages Unemployment Iranian Hostage Crisis Iranian Hostage

Life after the White House Habitat for Humanity

Life after the White House Human rights Peace Strengthening Democracy Election observations Fighting disease Preventing River Blindness Statue Observing polling center in Nepal in 2008

Nobel Peace Prize 2002

The Rise of the Two Party System Republican and Democrat

Political Change in a Conservative South During the 1980’s and the 1990’s, politics underwent a major shift in many southern states (went from Southern Democrats to Republicans) Conservative voters started electing conservative politicians….they tended to favor republicans in national elections Presidential Election Results

Political Change in the South Newt Gingrich- Georgia representative in US House of Representatives Republican Became Speaker of the US House in 1994 “Contract with America” promised to reduce size of government Sonny Perdue- First Republican governor since Reconstruction From Perry Georgia

Held in Atlanta, Georgia Opening of Olympic Ceremony The 1996 Olympics Held in Atlanta, Georgia Opening of Olympic Ceremony

Preparation and Planning ( Blue Ring) Billy Payne, a lawyer got the idea Atlanta mayor, Andrew Young supported Payne Convinced local leaders Made a bid to the International Olympic Committee Beat out Athens, Greece

Infrastructure ( Black Ring) Sidewalks Streets Hotels Restaurants (it was lacking—needed more roads, bridges, ports)

Venues ( Red Ring) Atlanta Savannah Columbus Athens Gainesville Cleveland

Benefits ( Yellow Ring) Increased tourism More business conventions in later years Expanded sports venues New housing and dormitories International recognition Employment opportunities Increased money

Negative Aspects ( Green Ring) The Olympic Bombing ( At Centennial Park) 2 People were killed, one from explosion and one from heart attack. 117 wounded Transportation between venues and events Traffic, Traffic, Traffic Too much commercialism

The search for Eric Rudolf Eric Rudolf: aka The Olympic Park bomber Occupation: carpenter/handyman Goal: To cause the 1996 Olympic games to come to an end. Reason: Anti-abortion Was on America’s most wanted list Rudolf was finally found/arrested in 2003 in North Carolina at a Save a lot store

Immigrants A person who moves to another country Come to Ga. from many different countries Looking for better jobs and a better life 1980s saw concerns over illegal immigration Laws passed by Congress to slow it down Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 – companies hiring illegal immigrants are penalized or punished 1990s – 80% of immigrants coming to U.S. are from Asia, the Caribbean, or Latin America

Georgia’s Immigrants Mid 1970s – most refugees coming from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. More recently from Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East Many from Mexico and other Latin American countries Take jobs in farming, manufacturing, poultry industry and carpet mills

Georgia’s Immigrants Greatest impact recently in northern Georgia Construction Poultry processing Carpet industry - 1980s and 1990s due to labor shortage. 25% - 50% of mill workers are Hispanic. Kept the carpet industry from moving somewhere else to survive

How Immigrants Help Georgia Increase amount of workers Fill jobs to get the work done Spend money in areas where employed – helps economy 1970s – international businesses moved to Atlanta More than 50 different countries have offices in Georgia to help run their business located in U.S. Georgia tries to encourages businesses to relocate here