1. A New Deal, A War that Changed Everything, and a Political Swap!

2. FDR and the New Deal President Franklin D. Roosevelt started the New Deal to get the U.S. out of the Great Depression. The New Deal was a series of laws and programs designed to improve the economy and ease the suffering of the unemployed.

3. The New Deal in MS The Works Progress Administration (WPA), the Public Works Administration (PWA) and the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) hired the unemployed to build useful public projects and manage the state’s natural resources. The Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA) provided support to farmers and introduced new technology in the state.

4. Black Mississippians during the Great Depression Only young white men served in the CCC. Black Mississippians were only hired as laborers. Payments made to farmers by the AAA were not shared with black sharecroppers. The new technology introduced by the state eventually helped phase out sharecropping.

5. Balance Agriculture With Industry In 1934, Hugh White was elected governor of MS. He established a program known as BAWI. Its goal was to draw more industry into the state in an effort to diversify MS’s economy. White advertised the state and offered incentives like tax breaks but only drew some light industries that paid low wages.

6. World War II The New Deal eased the effects of the Great Depression but didn’t end it. The Great Depression came to an end when the U.S. entered World War II. On December 7, 1941, Japan bombed the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Military bases opened up in MS and Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, MS, began producing naval ships.

7. Camp Shelby and Keesler Army Airfield Our mild climate was idea for good military training camps and airfields Two of our nations largest military bases could be found in Mississippi – Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg – Keesler Army Airfield in Biloxi Smaller bases were established at Columbus, Greenville, Clarksdale, Meridian, Laurel, and Grenada

8. The Effects of World War II Over a quarter million Mississippians, white and black, served in World War II. Many of these men left the state for the first time and experienced new cultures. Many of these men are going to return to the state looking for change, especially black Mississippians who served in the military and now want equality in the south.

9. Women and African Americans fight for their rights Women went to work when the men went to war After the war, they wanted the right to keep a job not have to be forced back into the house – Many women went “back home” but many women went to work as secretaries, operators, etc… African Americans served in the war in segregated forces but proved their loyalty to the United States – Tuskegee Airmen: all black unit that made numerous strikes against Germany and became a distinguished unit When they return they are expecting to be treated with respect (not the case for most) – This starts a push towards the Civil Rights Movement

10. Urbanization The new industrial jobs of Ingalls shipbuilding and other factories that were built to produce wartime items drew in more people into the cities and off the farm When soldiers returned from the war, they moved into towns and cities and did not return to the farm This help to urbanize Mississippi

11. President Truman and Social Change Harry Truman was a Democratic President. Truman supported a Fair Employment Practices law – Prohibited racial discrimination in hiring practices 1948- Truman desegregated the military Urged Congress to pass a civil rights law Beginning of Civil Rights Movement

12. After WWII Black veterans came home determined to end segregation White veterans came home with doubts about continuing segregation but most wanted to preserve it 1946: Bilbo ran for re-election to the U.S. Senate, he told white Mississippians to visit blacks the night before the election to “persuade” them not to vote – He won the election but the Senate denied him his seat for openly inciting violence

13. 1947: voters elected 78 new members to the state house of representatives – Many of the new members were veterans who wanted to reorganize the government, improve education, and help working people – Passed worker’s compensation law 1946: Fielding Wright becomes governor, he focused the legislature’s attention to preserving segregation

14. Democrat to Dixiecrat Wright vowed to attend the 1948 Democratic National Convention – Would withdraw from it if the party had a platform that contained a civil rights article Civil Rights: basic rights of citizens, such as free speech, the right to vote, privacy, and property ownership The convention ignored Mississippi’s request to preserve segregation and adopted a civil rights article Southern Democrats left the party and created the States’ Rights party, known as the Dixiecrats Wanted to preserve segregation

15. The Dixiecrats Walk out of the Democratic National Nominating Convention

16. Rebirth of the Republican Party Many people left the Democratic Party to support the Republican party – In the 1952 presidential election, the national Democratic Party was in favor of integration. – Integration was combining the separate facilities of the south. – A group calling themselves Democrats for Eisenhower chose to support the Republican Party in the election. – This, along with the Dixiecrats, showed that the Solid South was breaking up. Whites started to take control of the Republican Party because the Democratic party started to supporting integration

17. Pre Civil War- Democrats rule the south, believe in slavery Republican party is formed to oppose slavery Whites in MS fight Civil War to fight to keep their slaves: Democrats South loses war. Republicans take over Mississippi, blacks have political power Democrats regain power in Mississippi after Hayes is elected (1876). Enact strict segregation to control blacks 1948- Democratic party adopt a Civil Rights Article. Southern Democrats are outraged! Southern Democrats create Dixiecrat Party… supports segregation! White Democrats leave Democrats and join Republican Party, Blacks now support Democrats