Post WWII and Modern Georgia DT #1 Remediation Lesson

Post WWII and Modern Georgia DT #1 Remediation Lesson

White Primary Elections

The white primary was used by Southern whites to keep Blacks from voting in the Democratic primary elections. Georgia was a one-party state at the time and the Democratic primary was essentially the only election - keeping African-Americans from voting.

White Primary System Ends

In 1945, the courts ruled that the use of the white primary was unconstitutional, thus finally allowing Black Georgians to vote in primary elections for the first time.

Multiple Choice

The _______________________________________was used by Southern whites to keep Blacks from voting in the Democratic primary elections. Since Georgia was a one-party state at the time, the Democratic primary was essentially the election -keeping African Americans from voting.

• Ku Klux Klan

• White Primary

• General Assembly

• Board of Education

1946 Governor's Race

One of the more embarrassing episodes in Georgia’s history was the 1946 governor’s race, also known as the "Three Governors Controversy," after the 1946 election when three men claimed the governor’s office. 

Eugene Talmadge

Eugene Talmadge was elected for his fourth term. However, he died before taking office. Many of his supporters believed that, due to his poor health, he may die before he could be sworn in as governor.

Herman Talmadge

Based on past Georgia law, they found out that the General Assembly would have the power to select the second or third leading vote-getter if the governor-elect died before taking office. Therefor, many secretly wrote in his son, Herman Talmadge, for governor.

Melvin Thompson

The new Georgia Constitution stated that the lieutenant governor would take office if the governor died. In the 1946 election, Melvin Thompson was elected lieutenant governor and claimed the office for himself upon Talmadge’s death. Nonetheless, in January of 1947, the General Assembly selected Herman Talmadge as governor.

Ellis Arnall

During the same time, the outgoing governor, Ellis Arnall, refused to leave the office until the issue was resolved as he believed that the General Assembly did not have the authority to elect a governor. Talmadge eventually had state troopers escort Arnall out of the State Capitol and changed the locks of the governor’s office. Arnall, in turn, refused to give up the governor’s seal and set up a second “governor’s office” in a different location of the State Capitol.

Arnall finally gave up his claim to the governorship and supported Thompson. In the end, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that Thompson was the rightful governor and Talmadge left the governor’s office within two hours of the ruling. But 2 years later, a “special election” was called in 1948 and Herman Talmadge closely defeated Thompson.

Multiple Select

Circle THREE facts that are true about the Three Governors Controversy in Georgia?

• Eugene Talmadge won the election but died before taking office

• Herman Talmadge worked to expand Atlanta’s airport

• Lt. Gov Melvin Thompson felt he should take over as Governor if the Governor died.

• Current governor Ellis Arnall was removed at gunpoint by Herman Talmadge

William Hartsfield

Hartsfield was progressive when it came to race relations within the city. He built a coalition of white businessmen and key African American leaders who worked to deal with racial issues and integration in peaceful ways. Hartsfield wanted Atlanta to avoid racial conflicts so that it could do well economically.

Atlanta’s population grew significantly while he was mayor.

William Hartsfield

William Hartsfield served 6 terms as mayor until retiring in 1961. In the 1920s, he saw the potential for Atlanta as an aviation hub and played a major role in transforming an old speedway into Candler Field, the city’s first airport. Eventually, the airport grew to be the busiest in the country and made Atlanta a major hub for US and international travel. Hartsfield was nicknamed, “the Father of Atlanta Aviation”, and the city renamed the airport after him in 1971.

Ivan Allen, Jr.

Ivan Allen, Jr. succeeded William Hartsfield as Atlanta’s major in 1961.On Allen’s first day in office he ordered city offices to desegregate and removed the “colored” and “white” signs from city hall. He also gave African American policemen the authority to arrest whites, not just other blacks. Allen’s Forward Atlanta program led the city through economic prosperity and development.

Ivan Allen, Jr.

Allen had great visions for the city and one of his plans was making Atlanta the South’s center for professional sports. He brought in three of Atlanta’s professional sports franchises: Braves baseball, Falcons football, and Hawks basketball. Allen led the way in securing a new stadium that eventually became Fulton County Stadium. Before it closed in 1996, four World Series were played there.

Multiple Choice

Which Atlanta Mayor brought professional sports teams to Atlanta and worked with Dr. King to help with Civil Rights in Atlanta?

• William Hartsfield

• Ivan Allen Jr.

• Maynard Jackson

• Andrew Young

Multiple Select

Name 2 things that Atlanta Mayor William Hartsfield is known for:

• Supported Civil Rights Mvmt

• Segregated Atlanta’s Police department

• Brought air transportation to the state

• Brought professional sports to Atlanta

Georgia Attracts Buisinesses

Businesses continued to move into the state and continued to be a transportation hub of the Southeast. GA offers a favorable climate and a cheaper labor than other parts of the country. In addition, Georgia’s low taxes attract both workers and businesses to the area.

Noteworthy Businesses

•Lockheed became largest employer in Georgia

•CDC: Centers for Disease Control – Atlanta headquarters established

Multiple Select

Select THREE reasons why businesses are attracted to Georgia today.

• Steel Manufacturing

• Favorable climate

• Georgia’s low taxes

• Transportation hub of the Southeast