NEXT

Atlanta’s “Five Points” area, circa 1950.

Changes in Georgia and America 1945–1963

The U.S. and Georgia prosper and change in the years following World War II, but the nation faces several international crises.

NEXT

Changes in Georgia and America 1945–1963

SECTION 1

SECTION 2

SECTION 3

Postwar America

Cold War America

Georgia’s Growing Economy

SECTION 4 Political Changes in Georgia

NEXT

Section 1

Postwar America The years after World War II are a time of rapidchange in American society.

NEXT

The Baby Boom Generation

Postwar America

The G.I. Bill• U.S. population 140,000,000 in 1945 • 12 million in military in June 1945, including

320,000 Georgians- most reentering civilian life soon; need help

finding jobs, homes• G.I. Bill—Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944

- provides mortgage, business assistance; free education to veterans

• About eight million veterans attend school on G.I. Bill

SECTION

1

Continued . . .

NEXT

SECTION

1

Educating the Baby Boom Generation• Military personnel return as civilians; cause U.S.

birthrate to rise- Americans born between 1946 and 1964 called

baby boomers• Jump in birthrate creates need for more schools

and teachers• Government worried Soviet Union has

educational advantage over U.S.• Congress offers loans to students wanting to

become teachers- funds science, math programs in schools

continued The Baby Boom Generation

Continued . . .

NEXT

SECTION

1

Housing the Baby Boomers• G.I. Bill provides low-cost home loans• Many new homes located in suburbs— areas

outside city centers- suburban population rises 46% in 1950s

• Suburbs represent prosperity, but also segregation in society- many African Americans can’t afford suburban

homes- people in suburbs often will not sell to

minorities

continued The Baby Boom Generation

NEXT

SECTION

1

Music• Teens embrace rock ‘n’ roll; jazz, crooners also

popular

Popular Culture in the 1950s

Continued . . .

Georgia Musicians• Many Georgians contribute to music scene in

1950s and 1960s• Ray Charles, Gladys Knight, Little Richard, James

Brown, others

The Role of Women• Many Americans feel woman’s role is in home;

role starts to change- more women attend college, work outside home- idea of a woman having a long-term career still

rare

NEXT

SECTION

1

Literature• American postwar writers see problems in

American society• Ernest Hemingway, J.D. Salinger, John

Steinbeck well-known authors

continued Popular Culture in the 1950s

Georgia Writers• Flannery O’Connor perhaps best-known

Georgia writer- born in Savannah; writes two novels, 31 short

stories• Carson McCullers writes The Heart is a Lonely

Hunter at 23- style called “Southern Gothic”—set in South,

full of tragedy, danger

NEXT

Americans believe that new enemies, especially the Soviet Union, threaten their existence.

Section 2

Cold War America

NEXT

The Atomic Bomb

Cold War America

The Nuclear Arms Race• Many Americans believe communism is a threat

after World War II• Cold War—hostile relations between U.S. and

communist countries• Soviet Union detonates atomic bomb, 1949;

nuclear arms race begins- nuclear arms race—U.S., Soviet Union’s

competition for atomic weapons

SECTION

2

Civil Defense• Americans prepare to defend against nuclear attack• Schools practice nuclear attack drills; people build

fallout shelters

NEXT

Fighting a Hot and Cold War

Postwar Japan• U.S. occupies, rebuilds Japan; country becomes

democracy• Japan learns American industrial methods; some

industries take off

SECTION

2

Continued . . .

The Iron Curtain• Allied Powers—U.S., France, England, Soviet

Union—occupy Germany• Josef Stalin wants to concentrate on building

Soviet power, 1946 - cuts communication with allies; tries to control

nearby countries • Stalin’s iron curtain cuts Soviet Union off from

rest of world

NEXT

Marshall Plan• U.S. believes Great Depression was one cause

of World War II- believes Europe’s economy must be rebuilt to

prevent another war• Marshall Plan includes 17 western European

countries, Soviet Union• Soviets against rebuilding Germany, refuse to

participate• Soviets block access to western half of Berlin;

U.S. cannot send aid

SECTION

2

continued Fighting a Hot and Cold War

Continued . . .

NEXT

Containment• U.S. creates North Atlantic Treaty Organization

(NATO), 1949• U.S., 11 European nations ally in case of Soviet

invasion• Containment becomes U.S. foreign policy for next

40 years- containment—stopping spread of communism

• Soviet Union, Europe’s communist countries sign Warsaw Pact in 1955- pact to defend each other if attacked; counters

NATO; dissolves, 1991

SECTION

2

continued Fighting a Hot and Cold War

Map

NEXT

Threats from Within

Joseph R. McCarthy• Government concerned about communism in

U.S. as early as 1940• House Un-American Activities Committee

(HUAC) established- investigates charges of communists influencing

society• Joseph R. McCarthy tries to expose communists

in government, 1950s• McCarthy lacks evidence for accusations; ruins

many careers, lives- public opinion turns against McCarthy in 1954,

ends political career

SECTION

2

NEXT

The Korean Conflict

Communism in Asia• Communist Mao Tse Tung takes over China,

1947; U.S. views as threat• Communist-controlled North Korea invades South

Korea, June 24, 1950• U.S. sends troops to stop invasion; China assists

North Korea• Neither side wins after three years; ceasefire

signed July 27, 1953

SECTION

2

Map

NEXT

The Kennedy Years

The “New Frontier”• Democrat John F. Kennedy wins presidency,

1960 • Campaign promises “New Frontier,” and to attack

U.S. social problems• Cold War, containment issues keeps Kennedy

from social issues

SECTION

2

Continued . . .

Bay of Pigs• Fidel Castro takes over Cuba; nearby communist

rule worries U.S. • Kennedy supports group of Cubans trying to

remove Castro, April 1961• Cuba captures Anti-Castro forces at Bay of Pigs,

invasion fails

NEXT

The Berlin Wall• Soviet Union concerned about people leaving

communist East Berlin• Soviets build wall separating West, East Berlin;

1961

SECTION

2

continued The Kennedy Years

Continued . . .

Cuban Missile Crisis• Cuban Missile Crisis, fall 1962—Kennedy’s worst

diplomacy problem• U.S. spy planes detect Soviet missiles in Cuba• Kennedy blocks Soviet access to Cuba, demands

weapon removal • U.S., Soviets at brink of nuclear war; Soviets

remove weapons

Image

NEXT

Vietnam• U.S. considers North Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh a

threat to South Vietnam- U.S. supplies money, weapons, military

advisors to South Vietnam

SECTION

2

continued The Kennedy Years

Civil Rights• Supreme Court rules segregation illegal (1954);

much of South resists• Some Georgia politicians fight integration, take

states’ rights position• Over time, many Georgians try to make integration

go smoothly

President Kennedy is Assassinated• Kennedy shot and killed November 22, 1963 in

Dallas; nation mourns

Section 3

Georgia’s GrowingEconomy Georgia’s farms and cities go through significant changes from the 1940s through the 1960s.

NEXT

NEXT

Population Trends in Georgia

Georgia’s Growing Economy

Shifting Populations• Many African American, white farmers move to cities

from 1930s to 1960s• Rural population falls, from 1.3 million in 1940 to

228,000 by 1970

SECTION

3

Urban Growth• Many people move to Georgia, offsetting population

loss- defense industry, other businesses attract skilled

workers• City growth strains public services; many people

move to suburbs

Map

NEXT

Changes in Business and Industry

SECTION

3

Increased Prosperity• Georgia’s post-war economy grows; people earn

more than ever before- factory workers, farmers still make less than

national average• Service industry makes up 33% of state’s

workforce by 1960

Continued . . .

Urban Centers• One-third of new factory jobs in 1940s, 1950s in metro

Atlanta area• After war, Savannah grows; becomes one of largest U.S.

port cities• Georgia’s 12 military bases provide jobs, contribute to

economy

NEXT

Industry• Auto assembly, textiles remain important

industries• Banking, transportation, utilities, other industries

grow important

continued Changes in Business and Industry

SECTION

3

Labor Unions• Unions renew efforts to organize in Georgia after

World War II• Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) launches

Operation Dixie• Operation Dixie—attempt to set up unions in South

- attempts to unionize textile workers meet violence, intimidation

NEXT

Changes in Agriculture

SECTION

3

Mechanization• Wartime prosperity ends for most Georgia

farmers, sharecroppers• Farmers begin to rely more on tractors to till soil,

harvest crops• Mechanization lowers demand for sharecroppers,

forces many off land

Continued . . .

Dairy and Livestock• Improved transportation, new markets make dairy

profitable in South• Poultry farming grows after war; now state’s largest farm

industry

NEXT

Improved Farming Methods• New crop strains, pesticides, better organization

improve farm production• Operation costs also rise; small farmers,

sharecroppers can’t keep up• Small farms sell; land bought to create larger

farming operations

continued Changes in Agriculture

SECTION

3

Crop Diversity• Agriculture becomes less important to Georgia economy• Crops diversify; by 1960 only 10 percent of farmland used

for cotton• Poultry, livestock, peanuts, tobacco, soybeans are

dominant by 1980

Continued . . .

NEXT

Changes in Urban Georgia

SECTION

3

Transportation• Atlanta becomes rail, highway, and airline hub• MARTA rapid transit created to cut Atlanta’s

traffic congestion- traffic problems still exist

Lake Sidney Lanier• Atlanta’s growth creates need for more water • Dams on Chattahoochee River create lake for water

source- Lake Sidney Lanier completed 1956

Section 4

Political Changesin Georgia The political scene in Georgia undergoes many changes.

NEXT

NEXT

Politics in World War II Georgia

Political Changes in Georgia

The Board of Regents Controversy• Eugene Talmadge elected governor in 1941

opposing New Deal programs- wants non-Georgians, political opponents out of

Georgia colleges- tries to get two college teachers fired for promoting

integration- forces two Board of Regents members to quit, new

board fires teachers• Talmadge’s actions become known as the Board of

Regents Controversy• Georgia public schools lose recognition; Talmadge

loses 1942 election

SECTION

4

Continued . . .

NEXT

Governor Ellis Arnall• Ellis Arnall defeats Talmadge in 1942 election,

promises reform- disagrees with Talmadge’s use of power,

reduces power of office• Arnall’s prison reform abolishes chain gangs,

selling pardons• Lowers voting age from 21 to 18; first state to do

so• Begins process of revising state constitution;

approved in 1945

continued Politics in World War II Georgia

SECTION

4

NEXT

William Berry Hartsfield• William B. Hartsfield becomes Atlanta’s mayor,

1937–40, 1942–62- convinces whites, African-Americans to work

together for progress• Atlanta grows in population, size; is known for

“doing business”• While councilman in 1920s, Hartsfield starts

Atlanta’s airport- supports Atlanta’s zoo; reforms police, fire

departments

Atlanta’s Political Leadership

SECTION

4

NEXT

Gaining Political Power through the Vote• African-American leaders work to register

Atlanta’s black voters, 1946• Helen Douglas Mankin becomes first Georgia

woman in Congress, 1947• Multiracial coalition elects Mankin—major change

in Georgia politics

Georgia Politics

SECTION

4

1946 Governor’s Race• Eugene Talmadge runs again in 1946 on white

supremacy platform• Talmadge wins election but dies before taking office

- resulting confusion known as three governors controversy

Continued . . .

NEXT

Three Governors Controversy• Eugene Talmadge’s son Herman claims to be

governor• M.E. Thompson elected Lieutenant Governor,

says he should take over• Ellis Arnall refuses to leave office until court

settles matter• All three set up governor’s offices• Georgia Supreme Court names Thompson

governor until special election• Herman Talmadge wins 1948 special election,

serves two terms

continued Georgia Politics

SECTION

4

Continued . . .

NEXT

County Unit System Struck Down• County unit system gives rural counties control of

state politics- rural more conservative; their control keeps

segregation in place• Federal courts rule county unit system

unconstitutional, 1962- change to “one man, one vote” system

• Carl Sanders from Augusta elected 1962- vows to improve state’s image

continued Georgia Politics

SECTION

4

NEXT

Richard B. Russell, Jr.• Richard B. Russell, Jr. serves in U.S. Senate,

1933–1971• Initially supports New Deal, but support drops as

Depression goes on• Supports segregation, strong defense; opposes

Vietnam involvement

Georgia Politicians on the National Scene

SECTION

4

Carl Vinson• Carl Vinson elected to Congress at age 30,

youngest member at time• Serves 50 years in Congress, supports military

expansion• Develops “two-ocean” navy, aircraft carrier named in

his honor

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