Post WWII Georgia

What do you think will change in Georgia immediately after the end of World War II? For each slide, take notes —use key words and phrases —no sentences

3 categories of communities • • • •

Urban (cities) Rural (country side areas) And a new phenomenon – SUBURBS -- groups of communities that are socially and economically integrated (connected) with an adjacent (near-by) urbanized area (city) -- Think Gwinnett! The urbanized area is defined as the central city, while the surrounding areas are defined as the suburbs.

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Predict: How and where do you think Georgians migrated during the Post-World War II era. 3

Migration patterns during the Post World War II era. •Many poor rural residents (especially blacks) migrated to the Northern cities for better job opportunities (Great Migration) •Many rural white residents, especially those with skills learned during the war, will move to southern cities for job opportunities 4

Migration patterns during the Post World War II era. •Eventually cities became more crowded, and urban-ites began to move outside of the city and created “suburbs” •More revenue (tax dollars) becomes available in cities. WHY? 5

Where did Georgians live before WWII?

Farms —is that urban or

Where did Georgians live after WWII?

Cities

For the 1 history mostly

st

time in its Georgia is a industrialized

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How did farming change in Georgia after the war?

• • •

28,000 Georgians left agriculture and total number of farms decreased Improvements in farming technology: seed hybridization, fertilizer, pesticides increased harvests Agricultural Extension Agents assisted farmers

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How did farming change in Georgia after the war? • • •

Soil conservation: rotating crops, protecting topsoil, etc. Motorized tractors and harvesters replaced mule or horse-drawn harvesters THEREFORE —fewer farms, but more productive. WHY?

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How did farming change in Georgia after the war? •

Georgian farmers became nationally known for their products —Agriculture is finally DIVERSIFIED with:

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Peanuts, pecans

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Peaches

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Chickens (egg production) and broilers

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Hogs, beef cattle and dairy cows

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Onions, apples, soybeans, watermelons, wheat

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How did farming change in Georgia after the war? • •

More and more farm products became available.

What happens to the price when there is a surplus of something?

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Where did most Georgians work before WWII?

Farms

Still an important business, especially in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain

Where did most Georgians work after WWII?

Factories

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More Georgians worked in industries than farming for the first time in the state’s history

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Summarize with a partner: How did agriculture change after WWII?

THEN —compare your notes with the next 3 slides 12

Changes in Agriculture

• Before the War… – Lots of farms – Most farming was done by manual labor – Soil was exhausted 13

Changes in Agriculture

• After the War… – Motorized equipment was available – Farmers had more $$ to buy tractors and motorized equipment for farming – New farming methods • Insecticide • Chemical fertilizers • Better plants (hybridization) 14

Changes in Agriculture

• After the War… – Better Soil Conservation • Maintained soil with added nutrients, mulch, etc, so soil was more productive.

• Crop rotation was used • Grew new varieties of crops – Fewer Farms were now able to produce more food – Which physiographic regions of GA will be the most important to agriculture?

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Georgia continues its role as a TRANSPORTATION center of the SE • • •

Atlanta grew rapidly as the transportation capital of Georgia and the SE part of the USA More RR’s Interstate highway system brought 3 major interstates to Atlanta: I-20, I-75, and I-85---So, more products moved in and out of Georgia

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Georgia continues its role as a TRANSPORTATION CENTER of Georgia • • •

Aviation technology developed during WWII used to develop passenger planes — large numbers of people are flying to their destinations for the first time in history More airlines flew in and out of Atlanta — Candler Field’s name changed to Hartsfield Airport.

Delta Airlines establishes its HQ in Atlanta

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Georgia continues its role as a TRANSPORTATION CENTER of Georgia •

Shipping technology advanced during WWII giving new opportunities to GA’s ports of Brunswick and Savannah

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More and more goods are imported and exported through GA

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More and more cargo ships constructed at the shipbuilding facilities in those cities

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How did industry change in Georgia after the war? • •

People wanted “consumer goods” that had been rationed during the War.

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Now, consumer products were available and rationing ended Factories that produced war materials began to produce tools, trucks & clothing

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How did industry change in Georgia after the war? • •

Georgia workers typically not “unionized” like in other states, so labor was cheap — appealing to businesses looking to find a good location for a factory Low state and local taxes made Georgia a profitable place for businesses, so more industries moved to Georgia

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How did industry change in Georgia after the war? • • • •

Large businesses included Coca-Cola, Eastern and Delta Airlines, General Motors, Ford, major railroads Many banking and service jobs came here to support the big businesses: law, real estate, health, hotels, restaurants, etc.

Service related jobs grew as industries and population grew Metro-Atlanta population more than doubled between 1940 - 1970

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Now, summarize how industry changed Georgia after the war. 22

Where did Georgians receive an education before WWII?

Many still did not graduate from high school, and colleges were expensive and often unattainable for sharecroppers and tenant farmers Where did Georgians receive education after WWII?

Fewer one-room school houses— increased opportunities for education—more schools built Fewer children required to financially support their families, so more children

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How else did education change in Georgia after the war? •

Georgia Legislature required a 9-month school year

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(But, schools remained segregated)

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3% state sales tax passed to support schools

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How else did education change in Georgia after the war? •

Rural schools began to consolidate (small schools merged to create a larger school — county-wide high schools began), so there were fewer but larger schools and more busses required for transportation

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GI Bill provided educational opportunities for veterans (soldiers who returned from military service), so many left the farms for industry

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Try and stump your neighbor. As questions about how Georgians lived, worked, were educated, and their migration patterns in the Post World War II era. You may use your notes to create questions, but not to answer  .

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