Georgia in the 20 th Century

1. Georgia in the 20th Century

2. World War I • 1914: Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary assassinated • Serbia blamed • Alliances lead to war • Lusitania and Zimmerman Telegram bring U.S. into war in 1917 • Selective Service Act: many Georgians opposed because it took men away from farms.

3. Georgia in the war • Fort McPherson • Fort Gordon • Fort Benning • Bases trained many soldiers • Provided cotton for uniforms • Farms began growing crops that soldiers needed.

4. War ends • Allies (U.S. France, Great Britain, Italy) win against Central Powers • Germany is blamed for the war and is punished by Allies

5. Georgia between Wars • Boll Weevil • Diversify crops • Droughts

6. Depression • Consumerism: people started focusing more on buying things than on saving money • Ads tried to convince consumers to buy new products were seen in all magazines and on the radio • People began to use credit more and more. • As more and more people bought stocks, many of them bought stocks on the margin which means they paid for part of the stocks on credit.

7. Depression • Overproduction: farmers and producers continued producing more and more products and crops causing prices of goods to fall • stock prices began to drop • Oct. 29, 1929: Black Tuesday Stocks bottomed out causing the Stock Market Crash • Banks failed and many families found themselves jobless, and homeless in a matter of days. • Hoovervilles: villages made of shacks

8. Depression in GA • Most people were farmers • Fewer than 5% of farms had indoor plumbing and electricity. • Schools saw a drop in attendance as children were needed to work on farms.

9. FDR and the New Deal • New Deal: series of government programs aimed at “fixing the economy” • Agricultural Adjustment Act: paid farmers not to produce certain crops in an effort to raise farm prices. • Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC): hired unmarried men ages 17-23 and war veterans to plant trees, build trails, and work on environmental conservation projects. • Social Security: provided retirement pay to elderly.

10. New Deal • Rural Electrification Act: Provided electricity to people in rural areas.

11. Eugene Talmadge • Opposed much of the New Deal • Preached white supremacy • Claimed to be for the poor farmers.

12. WWII • Totalitarian dictator: leader who holds all the power and does not allow any political opposition. • Mussolini: dictator of Italy that became an ally to Hitler and Germany • War began in 1939 when Hitler invaded Poland • Isolationism : staying “isolated” from the wars. • Hideki Tojo: Japan’s military leader

13. WWII • Winston Churchill: Prime Minister of Great Britain • Lend-Lease: U.S. agreed to send supplies and aid to any nation whose defense was important to the national security of the U.S. • Pearl Harbor: Japan attacked this naval base in Hawaii on Sunday December 7, 1941

14. GA in the War • Military bases: • Benning • Gordon • McPherson • Stewart • Gillem • Hunter Army Airfield Bell Aircraft: military factory that created war planes in Marietta…..today it’s Lockheed-Martin

15. GA in the War • Shipyards: places where ships are built • Savannah • Richard Russell: worked hard to get New Deal passed in GA. Pushed for military bases in foreign countries. • Carl Vinson: pushed for the U.S. to strengthen navy before WWII and it was said that his work for the stronger navy is what pushed us to win against Japan

16. Effects of the Holocaust in GA • Atlanta had a large Jewish population • Jewish community began to fear anti-Semitism: prejudice against Jews. • Were thrilled that U.S. recognized the nation of Israel in 1948

17. Postwar GA • Economic changes: • Lockheed: by the 1950’s was GA’s largest employer building aircraft. • By the 1940’s for the first time, more people worked in factory and office jobs than farming. • GI Bill: allowed veterans to get loans for homes and education. • Farming became diversified as peanuts, and pecans became a big crop. New technology helped with production.

18. Highway System • In response to the Cold War President Eisenhower supported the National Highway Act in 1956. • Roads necessary for quick movement of military personnel and evacuation in the event of a nuclear attack

19. William Hartsfield • Mayor of Atlanta beginning in 1937 • Created Candler Field, the city’s first airport • Called the “Father of Atlanta Aviation” • Airport renamed Hartsfield in 1980. • Created a coalition of white and black businessmen to help with race relations

20. Ivan Allen Jr. • Ended segregation in Atlanta city offices. • Also allowed black police officers to arrest whites. • Created the Forward Atlanta movement which encouraged more business in the city.

21. Professional Sports • Fulton County Stadium: Allen ordered this built. • Braves: Atlanta’s first professional sports team. • Hank Aaron: 1974 hit 715th home run breaking Babe Ruth’s record. • Atlanta Falcons: 1966 • Hawks: 1968 • Flames: first Hockey team 1972

22. Ellis Arnall • Governor of GA beginning in 1942. • Ended the poll tax for African Americans • Improved prison system • Gave 18 year olds right to vote.

23. Herman Talmadge • Won governorships after a controversial election. • 1946: Ellis Arnall ran against Eugene Talmadge and E. Talmadge won but died before taking office. • Talmadge’s son Herman had the most write in votes and many thought he should take over. • Arnall refused to leave office. • Finally Talmadge took office and ran as a white supremacist.

24. 1956 State Flag • 10 years after Talmadge won the governorship, the state assembly approved the 1956 state flag which upset many African Americans

25. White Primary and county-unit system • White Primary: only allowed whites to vote in statewide primaries. • County-unit system: