Georgia

Studies

Unit 8: Modern Georgia

and Civil Rights

Lesson 3: Georgia in

Recent History

Study Presentation

Lesson 3: Georgia in

Recent History

• ESSENTIAL QUESTION:

– How did the policies and actions of Jimmy Carter influence the state, nation and world politically and socially?

– How did the 1996 Olympic Games provide opportunities for economic development and contribute to Georgia’s international image?

– How do new immigrants change social structures and influence economic policies and practices?

Political Changes

• “One Person, One Vote”: The concept that

each citizen’s vote should equal every

other citizen’s vote

• County-unit system was declared

unconstitutional in 1962

• This change caused more representatives

to come from urban areas

• Reapportionment – General Assembly had

to reapportion (redraw) voting districts to

ensure districts of equal population size

Georgia in the 1970s

• Ted Turner: TBS television network expanded from one station to a national network

• MARTA: Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority – began rapid rail service in Atlanta

• James (“Jimmy”) Earl Carter: 1970 – elected governor of Georgia; 1977-1980 served as President of the United States – As president, negotiated peace between Israel and

Egypt

– Problems as president: high energy costs, high interest rates, high inflation, 52 American hostages held in Iran

• Georgia cities began to lose population to the suburbs; cities have began to work to attract residents

Jimmy Carter

• Born: October 1, 1924 in Plains, GA.

• Elected to the GA Senate in 1962 and 1964.

• Elected as governor of GA in 1970. Worked to

streamline Georgia’s government and improve

education in rural areas.

• Won the presidential election in 1976. Worked to

develop peaceful relations between numerous

countries. Due to the Iranian hostage crisis and

economic problems during his presidency,

President Carter lost the 1980 election to Ronald

Reagan.

The Women’s Rights

Movement

• Women’s Rights Movement: women gained confidence that they could do the same jobs as men and should have the same rights

• Women often could not get credit at banks

• NOW: National Organization for Women – promoted women’s rights issues

• ERA: Equal Rights Amendment – never became part of the Constitution

• 1972: Title IX – President Nixon signed law which prohibited discrimination in education (academics or athletics)

Vietnam Divides America

• North Vietnam: communist

• South Vietnam: democratic

• USA began support South Vietnam against the North

• 1968: Over 500,000 Americans involved in Vietnam War

• Protests against the war increased

• 1973: war ended with no clear victor – Vietnam is now united and communist

Watergate

• 1972: Group of men arrested for breaking

into the Watergate building in Washington,

DC to “bug” Democratic National Committee

offices

• Evidence supported that President Nixon

knew of the burglary and tried to cover it up

• Nixon resigned and Vice-President Gerald

Ford became president

The Energy Crisis

• 1973: US supports Israel in its war with

Egypt

• Arab nations stop selling oil to the US

• Price of gas went up and there were

shortages

• Georgians began to drive less and purchase

fuel-efficient cars

• Prudhoe Bay, Alaska: Alaskan Pipeline

brought oil to the “lower 48” states

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

Rise of the Two-Party System

• Political shift in Georgia (and other southern states) during the 1980’s and 1990’s.

• Increase in the amount of conservatives (mainly Republicans), especially in national elections. As more Republicans were elected to office Georgia began to have a real Two-Party (Democrats and Republicans) System for the first time in over 100 years.

• Notable Elections in the rise of the Two-Party System:

– 1980 – Mack Mattingly becomes first Republican elected to the U.S. Senate since Reconstruction.

– 1992 – Republicans win most Georgia’s congressional elections; however, Atlanta Democrat Cynthia McKinney became the first African American woman from GA to be elected to Congress.

– 1994 – Republicans gain a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time in 40 years; GA’s Newt Gingrich is elected Speaker of the House.

– 2002 – Sonny Perdue elected Governor of GA; first Republican Governor since Reconstruction.

1996 Olympic Summer

Games

• 1996 Olympic Summer Games held in Atlanta, Georgia. Events were also held in the cities of Savannah, Columbus, Athens, Gainesville, and Cleveland.

• Major economic impact on Georgia. Hotels added 7,500 new rooms and new sports venues and event sites were created (such as the Georgia Dome and Centennial Olympic Park)

• More than 72 million visitors came to Atlanta during the Olympics

• Helped to create large amounts of tax revenue for Atlanta, Georgia. Also, helped to increase the popularity and media exposure of Atlanta as a major southern city.

Immigrants Coming to GA

• Immigrants – People who move to an area from other countries.

• 1965 – Large numbers of immigrants began coming to the United States.

• By the 1970’s almost 4.5 million people legally entered the country.

• In the 1990’s almost 9 million people came to the United States. 80% of these came from Asia, the Caribbean, or Latin America.

• Many of the immigrants coming to the United States are illegal immigrants. In 1986, the Immigration Reform and Control Act created penalties and punishments for companies that hire illegal immigrants. However, these immigrants often times help fill jobs in farming and manufacturing.

“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

• The War on Terror began shortly after 9/11 as the

United States began to fight against countries that

harbored and funded terrorist groups.

Enduring Freedom and

Iraqi 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

• 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

• Weapons of mass destruction were not found

• Saddam Hussein captured and later executed on December 30, 2006.

Challenges for the Future

• 8 million people live in Georgia – large increase puts demands on environment; more traffic, pollution and less resources.

• Three main challenges: 1. water resources

2. differences between urban (city) and rural (country) GA

3. 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 as those areas do not generate enough tax revenue (mainly through property and sales taxes).