Modern Georgia 1945 - Present

Transformation of GA’s Agriculture GI Bill provided educational opportunities to veterans…men left the farm for school. Better technology and farming methods led to less people needed to work on the farms. Increase in synthetic materials led to a decrease in the demand for cotton,

Atlanta Develops “Forward Atlanta Commission” was an advertising campaign that spent millions around the country. Telling the nation about the location, transportation, climate, resources and workforce. In three years 800 new firms brought 17,000 new jobs to Atlanta. Developed by Mayor Ivan Allen Jr.

Hartsfield and Allen William B. Hartsfield was the first mayor to push for the development of a first class airport. Ivan Allen, JR Was the leader of the Forward Atlanta Commission which focused on bringing growth and sports venues to Atlanta.

Ellis Arnall – Governor 1943-1947 Ran for governor against Eugene Talmadge and promised reform. First he reduced the power held by the governor. Removed from controlling university and public education. Gov could no longer pardon criminals. Gov could no longer veto constitutional amendments

Ellis Arnall Reduced the voting age to 18, GA was 1st in nation to lower it. Rewrote the State Constitution to make it less confusing. Got rid of the poll tax and the white primary. Blacks were now allowed to vote in GA’s primaries.

Three Governors Controversy Eugene Talmadge was running unopposed for reelection in 1946, but he was in poor health. He died before being sworn in: 1. M.E. Thompson was the Lt. Gov. but not sworn in yet. 2. Carmichael had 669 votes and Herman Talmadge had 617.

Three Governors Controversy 58 votes that were not counted were found in Telfair County (Talmadge’s county). Three men claimed the right to be governor. M.E. Thompson was appointed acting gov for 2 years and Talmadge was elected in the next election.

Herman Talmadge Like his father he promised a return of the white primary. He fought hard to preserve the segregation of the races, but was unable to restore the white primary. Created the first state sales tax and increased funding for education by 74%

Benjamin Mays President of Morehouse College from 1940-1967. While he was president enrollment doubled and its endowment quadrupled. Became a mentor to MLK, suggested he study the teachings of Gandhi. Local civil rights leader

1956 State Flag Before 1956, the GA state flag did not have the Confederate Flag. After 1956, it had the Confederate Flag. Flag changed in protest of integration of schools and Federal laws.

Atlanta Develops In 1956 Congress decided to build a 41,000 miles of highways Atlanta was chosen as the southeastern hub I-285 was built to surround Atlanta, furthering growth

Atlanta Develops – Hartsfield Airport A new $20 million terminal helped make Atlanta’s airport on of the busiest in the nation. Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is now the busiest airport in the world. Brings business and people to GA

Atlanta Develops “Forward Atlanta Commission” was an advertising campaign that spent millions around the country. Telling the nation about the location, transportation, climate, resources and workforce. Wanted to bring Sports Team to GA Developed by Mayor Ivan Allen Jr.

Brown v Board of Education 1954 Supreme Court Ruling that ended segregation in all schools stating that “separate facilities were not equal” There was no date that school had to be desegregated, so many southern states delayed the equality. Court said that this violated the 14th amendment

Martin Luther King Jr. Created the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC): headquartered in Atlanta. Nonviolent protest. While in jail wrote “Letter from Birmingham Jail” Said civil rights movement could not slow down; blacks were being beaten and killed.

Martin Luther King Jr. Led the March on Washington were he gave the “I Have a Dream” speech. March showed support for the Civil Rights Bill of 1964. The bill passed.

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) Students began to protest Jim Crow Laws and segregation like MLK and SCLC. Headquarters in Atlanta, GA. Thought SCLC was too passive, SNCC was more militant. Strained relationship between both groups.

Sibley Commission GA General Assembly appointed a committee to “study” the effects of integration in schools. Opened the door for desegregation to start in Georgia.

The Albany Movement Created by SNCC in Albany, GA Goal was to end segregation through negotiation instead of protest and demonstration. Hundreds of blacks went to jail as they tested segregation laws. Movement began to split over involvement of outside people like MLK.

The Albany Movement Movement fails People lose enthusiasm and money for being arrested. Many of the lessons learned would lead to success with future demonstrations and civil disobedience.

Hamilton Holmes & Charlayne Hunter First two black students to attend the University of Georgia. Holmes became a physician and Hunter became a journalist.

March on Washington 250,000 people marched on Washington to show support for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Highlighted by MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech

Civil Rights Act 1964 Prohibited racial discrimination in employment and labor unions and in public facilities, such as swimming pools and playgrounds. Private businesses could not deny service to any race.

Maynard Jackson Elected Mayor of Atlanta, 1973. First black man elected mayor of a major southern city.

Andrew Young First black man in GA elected to congress since Reconstruction. US ambassador for the United Nations. Top Aide of MLK, Jr. Important in bringing the Olympics to Atlanta.

Lester Maddox Outspoken segregationist. GA’s governor in 1967. Told white parents to send kids to private schools instead of desegregated public schools. Claimed the civil rights movement was controlled by liberals and communists.

Jimmy Carter (Slide 1 of 2) Became governor in 1970. Ran on a platform of ending segregation, modernize state government, and better serve the people of the state. 1976 1st Georgian to become president of the USA. Stressed honesty and restoring confidence in government.

Jimmy Carter (Slide 2 of 2) Received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Recognized his decades of work for finding peaceful solutions to international conflicts. MLK, Jr. & Carter BOTH received the Nobel Peace Prize. Created Habitat for Humanity: build/fix houses in underprivileged areas.

1996 Summer Olympics (Slide 1 of 2) Atlanta prepared for the games for 5 years. Olympic Stadium was renamed Turner Field and is used by the Braves. Provided a huge boost for GA’s economy.

1996 Summer Olympics (Slide 2 of 2) Left Georgia with several legacies and sports venues. Turner Field: Olympic Stadium Olympic Torch Still Mounted at Turned Field Centennial Olympic Park

Professional sports Braves, Falcons, Hawks, and Thrashers. The teams give hundreds of people jobs and help generate business for the teams, cities, Marta, and downtown businesses.

New Immigrant Communities Provides a larger tax paying population. Each ethnic group assimilates into GA’s culture, but also contributes by sharing their own traditions. The largest growing sector of immigrant communities is Hispanic.

County Unit System A special formula for counting votes in primary elections of the democratic party. Applied for only state wide elections like governor or US Senator. Went to keep political power in the rural area and not the growing urban areas. Most votes in a county won that county. Whoever won the most counties won the election. Not the statewide vote winner

Reapportionment The redrawing of voting districts every 10 years. GA was forced to do it after the County Unit System in 1963 Ruled a violation of the 14th Amendment voters rights.