Georgia and the American Experience

1. Georgia and the American Experience Chapter 13: Peace, Prosperity, and Peril Study Presentation ©2005 Clairmont Press

2. Georgia and the American Experience Section 1: The 1980s Section 2: The 1990s Section 3: Terrorism at Home and Abroad Section 4: Georgia in a New Century ©2005 Clairmont Press

3. Section 1: The 1980s • ESSENTIAL QUESTION: • How did Georgia change during the 1980s?

4. Section 1: The 1980s • What words do I needtoknow? • telecommute • email • Reaganomics • Quality Basic Education • Per capita income

5. 1980s • The age of the personal computer • email: sending messages by computer • telecommute: work at home while keeping in touch with the office by computer • Schools began to purchase computers • Other technology: ATMs, FAX machines, cellular phones, Internet, scanners • More television channels added with cable and satellite service

6. The End of the Cold War • Ronald Reagan: “Great Communicator” elected president – served 1981-1989 • Reaganomics: “supply-side” economics, tax cuts, heavy defense spending, limited government, limited regulation on business • Reagan tough with USSR • By end of 1980s, Cold War ending • Mikhail Gorbachev: leader of USSR • 1989: Berlin Wall came down • 1991: Communist USSR government collapsed

7. Georgia During the 1980s • Governors • George Busbee: 1975-1983 – foreign investment increased; expanded Department of Industry and Trade; expanded ports and highway system • Joe Frank Harris: 1983-1991 – brought over 850,000 jobs; Georgia Dome; World Congress Center expansion • Educational Improvements • Full-day kindergarten; increased teachers’ salaries; testing of teachers; QBE (Quality Basic Education) standard curriculum • Georgia Gets a New Constitution • Adopted 1982 after 5 years work to shorten it

8. The Two-Georgia Debate Continues • Population of Georgia grew in 1980s • People moved to Georgia for mild climate, low taxes, low fuel costs, land, and non-union workers • Georgia now one of the fastest growing states • Two Georgias: • Atlanta: fast growing and prosperous, generating most taxes, expanding business • Rural: declining population, more poverty, higher unemployment, young people moved to urban areas Click to return to Table of Contents.

9. Section 2: The 1990s • ESSENTIAL QUESTION: • How did Georgia change economically and politically in the 1990s?

10. Section 2: The 1990s • What words do I need to know? • downsizing • bankruptcy • HOPE scholarship program • infrastructure

11. The 1990s • recession: economic slowdown; decreased demand for products and services, increased unemployment, decreased wages • downsizing: companies’ reaction to recession – firing workers to cut costs • When workers don’t have jobs, they don’t spend money, causing greater recession • Many Georgians filed for bankruptcy protection because they had borrowed more money on credit than they could pay back

12. The Persian Gulf War • August 1990: Iraq (led by Saddam Hussein) invaded Kuwait • President George Herbert Walker Bush joined Operation Desert Shield and later Desert Storm to free Kuwait from Saddam Hussein • January 16, 1991: US and allies began bombing Iraq • March 3, 1991: Iraq accepts terms of cease fire and begins to leave Kuwait • Ecological disaster left behind: oil fires, 10 million gallons of oil dumped in Persian Gulf

13. Political Changes in a Conservative South • Conservative voters elected conservative Democrats and Republicans • In 1980, Mack Mattingly was first Republican US Senator since Reconstruction – by 1992, most were Republicans • Cynthia McKinney: Democrat, first black woman elected from Georgia to Congress • John Lewis: Democrat, civil rights leader, senior member of Georgia’s congressional delegation

14. Political Changes in a Conservative South • Newt Gingrich: Republican, became Speaker of the US House in 1994, “Contract with America” promised to reduce size of government, resigned in 1998 after poor election results for Republicans • Sam Nunn: Democrat, served as US Senator 1972-1996, expert on military affairs • Zell Miller: Democrat, Lt. Governor then Governor (1990-1999), known for educational improvements, “boot-camp” style prisons, state lottery for education – pre-Kindergarten, HOPE scholarships, promoted growth in North Georgia, became US Senator from Georgia

15. Georgia Hosts the Olympics • Summer 1996: Atlanta hosted XXVI Olympiad • 10,000 athletes from 197 countries • 90,000 volunteers in Atlanta and other Georgia cities and locations • Brought international attention to the city and state • July 29, 1996: Bomb in Olympic Park killed one visitor and injured 117 • Traffic problems brought much criticism • Too many street vendors and commercialism were other concerns • “Southern hospitality” and athletic competition were noteworthy Click to return to Table of Contents.

16. Section 3: Terrorism at Home and Abroad • ESSENTIAL QUESTION • How did the acts of terrorists change Georgia?

17. Section 3: Terrorism at Home and Abroad • What words do I need to know? • terrorism • al-Qaeda

18. Terrorism at Home and Abroad • terrorism: acts of violence aimed at demoralizing or intimidating others • 1993: bomb at World Trade Center garage in New York City • 1995: Oklahoma City Murrah Federal Building – car bomb kills 168 people • 1998: US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania bombed killing hundreds, injuring thousands – attacks linked to al-Qaeda • al-Qaeda: Islamic terrorist group led by Osama bin Laden – wealthy Saudi Arabian terrorist • 2000: USS Cole attacked • 2001: George W. Bush becomes president

19. “The Day That Changed America” • September 11, 2001: Islamic terrorists hijack US passenger planes and crash them into the World Trade Center and Pentagon • One additional plane (United flight 93) was re-taken by passengers but crashed in Pennsylvania • WTC towers collapse killing 2,774

20. Operation Enduring Freedom • al-Qaeda linked to the September 11 attacks – based in Afghanistan • October 2001: Operation Enduring Freedom – US and other nations’ troops invade Afghanistan to destroy al-Qaeda camps and destroy Taliban government • Osama bin Laden escaped • Department of Homeland Security created to work to protect Americans at home

21. Operation Iraqi Freedom • Saddam Hussein in Iraq continued to violate UN resolutions regarding weapons of mass destruction and inspections • March 19, 2003: US and coalition forces attack Iraq – combat phase over by May • US troops continued to work in Iraq for over two years • Saddam Hussein captured • Weapons of mass destruction were not found

22. A Touch of Home • Officers in Iraq told not to raise the US flag since the Iraqis were not defeated – only their dictator defeated • April 2003 – Georgia troops in Iraq make the news raising flag of the University of Georgia Bulldogs! Click to return to Table of Contents.

23. Section 4: Georgia in a New Century • ESSENTIAL QUESTION • What important issues face Georgians in the 21st century?

24. Section 4: Georgia in a New Century • What words do I need to know? • Georgia Regional Transportation Authority

25. Roy E. Barnes • 1999: Roy Barnes, Democrat, becomes governor • Served 24 years in legislature • Costliest campaign for governor in GA history • Worked to change the state flag, reform education, and build transportation projects such as the Northern Arc

26. The State Flag Issue • 1956: Georgia flag changed to incorporate the St. Andrew’s cross, a Confederate battle emblem • Some African Americans were offended as were some modern leaders – concerned the flag focused on slavery and the past • Governor Barnes led effort to have flag changed • New flag approved in 2001 but was unpopular • The flag controversy was one factor in Barnes losing his re-election bid for governor • 2003: Governor Sonny Purdue signed bill creating new Georgia flag

27. Highway Issues • Pollution and traffic congestion in Atlanta were problems • Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) created by Gov. Barnes to address traffic problems • Auto pollution (emissions) were reduced • Plans for 59-mile Northern Arc north of Atlanta were put on hold by Gov. Barnes and abandoned by Gov. Purdue

28. Education Reform • Barnes began reduction of class sizes in lower grades, a building and renovation program for schools, and addition of school nurses • Student achievement did not improve greatly • Barnes was not re-elected and many of his reforms did not continue

29. Georgia Elects Republican Governor • Sonny Purdue, Republican, elected in 2002 • First Republican governor in Georgia in 130 years • Georgia legislature had Democratic majority until 2004 • Georgians elected Republicans to the US Senate and most of US House of Representatives • Voters gave Georgia a two-party system

30. Challenges for the Future • Three main challenges: • water resources • differences between urban and rural Georgia • tremendous population growth • Alabama, Florida and US government have demanded Georgia reduce water use and pollution • Difficult to fund services such as schools in rural areas • 8 million people live in Georgia – large increase puts demands on environment Click to return to Table of Contents.

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