One Stop Shop For Educators Arnall was born in Newnan, Georgia and received a law degree from the University of Georgia in 1931. Arnall’s career in politics began with his 1932 election to the Georgia General Assembly. Six years later he was appointed as the nation’s youngest attorney general at 31 years of age. In 1942, he defeated Eugene Talmadge, for governor. Arnall’s victory was largely due to the state’s university system losing its accreditation because of Talmadge’s interference (see Teacher Note SS8H9). As governor, Arnall is credited for restoring accreditation to the state’s institutions of higher learning, abolishing the poll tax, lowering the voting age, and establishing a teacher’s retirement system. However, Arnall lost support based on his support of liberal causes and leaders. One example was his acceptance of the Supreme Courts rulings against the white primary. He also lost popularity when he wrote two books that many southerners felt disparaged the South. Due to Georgia law, Arnall could not run for another term in 1947. He played a key role in the “three governor’s controversy” by refusing to give up the governor’s office until the issue was worked out (see Teacher Note SS8H11). Though a strong candidate for Governor in 1966, Arnall lost to segregationist Lester Maddox. He never ran for office again. After this election, Arnall was a successful business man and lawyer until his death. For more information about Ellis Arnall and his impact on the state see: The New Georgia Encyclopedia: “Ellis Arnall” http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-597&hl=y Sample Question for H10a (OAS Database) Sample Question for H10c After World War II in the United States, which of these trends Which Georgia governor receives credit for these accomplishments contributed to the growth of Georgia? • Restoring accreditation to Georgia’s university system A. a loss of confidence in exploring new scientific methods • Abolishing the poll tax B. a rapid increase in technological and industrial development* C. a renewed focus on the importance of farming and agriculture • Lowering the voting age D. a turning away from cooperation between business and government A. Zell Miller B. Ellis Arnall* C. Jimmy Carter D. Eugene Talmadge H10b: Explain how the development of Since World War II, Atlanta has become one of the most important cities in the Atlanta, including the roles of mayors United States for several reasons. In a persuasive paragraph, choose one William B. Hartsfield and Ivan Allen, Jr., factor that you think was the most important in Atlanta’s development. Be sure and major league sports, contributed to to include specific details about the person, thing, or event that you think was the growth of Georgia. the most important in the city’s development. SS8H11 The student will evaluate the role of Georgia in the modern Civil Rights Movement. After Reconstruction, Georgia, along with all of the southern states, created strict “Jim Crow” laws that took away many civil rights of African-Americans. In turn, these laws created a segregated society where blacks and whites could not sit next to one another on a bus, drink from the same water fountains, or even be buried in the same cemetery. Though African-Americans had been fighting for civil rights before the Civil War, the “modern” Civil Rights Movement of the 1940s-1970s finally achieved many of the goals that African-Americans had been working toward for centuries. These included achieving voting rights and the end to government sponsored segregation. In examining this standard, students should learn about the important people, places, and events of the Civil Rights Movement from 1940-1959. Students will also examine the key figures places, and events of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s and 1970s. In addition, students will learn about the impact that one major figure in the Civil Rights Movement, Ambassador Andrew Young, had on the state politically, socially, and economically. The Major Developments of the Civil Rights Movement (1940-1959) a. Describe major developments The 1940s and 50s saw a major push by African-Americans to fight segregation and reclaim the civil in civil rights and Georgia’s role rights that were taken from them during the Jim Crow era. While the Civil Rights Movement began from during the 1940s and 1950s; the moment the southern states passed the Jim Crow laws, the 1940s and 50s were a time of Georgia Department of Education Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent SOCIAL STUDIES GRADE EIGHT TEACHER NOTES REVISED 10/16/2012 Page 69 of 144 Copyright 2012 © All Rights Reserved One Stop Shop For Educators include the roles of Herman organized, and usually, peaceful resistance that helped to end these laws. African-Americans who were Talmadge, Benjamin Mays, the returning home from World War II began to push for civil rights. Based on their role in the war, 1946 governor’s race and the end President Harry Truman desegregated the armed forces. Nationally, organizations such as the NACCP went to court to combat unjust segregation laws and won many of the cases. In turn, leaders such as of the white primary, Brown v. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. focused on ending segregation with the use of economic boycotts such as Board of Education, Martin the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1954. Luther King, Jr., and the 1956 state flag. In Georgia, African-Americans successfully ended the white primary in 1944, and for a time, were successful in helping to elect moderate white politicians who were supportive of their cause. However, after the 1946 governor’s race and the election of Herman Talmadge, several segregationist politicians were elected by Georgia voters who worked to continue and strengthen Jim Crow laws in the state. In protest of pro-civil rights court rulings such as Brown v. Board of Education, Georgia’s legislators changed the state flag to incorporate the Confederate battle flag in 1956. Due to this “massive resistance” by many white Georgian’s, African-Americans in the state would not gain full civil rights for almost another decade. For a general overview of the Civil Rights Movement in Georgia during the 1940s and 1950’s see: The New Georgia Encyclopedia: “Civil Rights Movement” http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-2716&sug=y, Georgia Stories: “The Economic Aspects of the Civil Rights Movement” www.gpb.org/georgiastories/stories/economic_aspects_of_the_civil_rights_movement Herman Talmadge Herman Talmadge (1913-2002) was the son of governor Eugene Talmadge (see Teacher Note 8SSH9). Before entering politics, Herman earned a law degree from the University of Georgia and practiced law until World War II, when he joined the Navy. After returning from the war in 1946, he served as the campaign manager for his father’s last gubernatorial campaign. Though Eugene won the election, he died before taking office. Though not running for election himself, the General Assembly appointed Herman governor where he served for a short time before the Georgia Supreme Court ruled his appointment unconstitutional. However, in 1948, he easily won in a special election. As governor, Talmadge successfully lobbied for a state sales tax to support Georgia’s public education system. He is also credited for bringing more industry to the state. He was also an unyielding segregationist who fought against the U.S. Supreme Court’s civil rights decisions, primarily the desegregation of schools. In 1956, Talmadge was elected to the U.S. Senate where he served until 1981. As a senator, Talmadge supported agricultural programs and continued to oppose civil rights legislation. In 1979, he was charged with financial misconduct and was censured by the Senate. He lost the 1980 Senatorial election to Republican Mack Mattingly. After his defeat, Talmadge lived quietly in Henry county until his death at the age of 88. For more information about Herman Talmadge see: The New Georgia Encyclopedia: “Herman Talmadge ” http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-590&hl=y Benjamin Mays Though most famous for his role as a mentor for Martin Luther King, Jr., Benjamin Mays (ca.1894- 1984) was a leading advocate of civil rights before and after the modern Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s. Born to former slaves and share croppers in South Carolina, Mays focused on education throughout his life. Through overwhelming odds Mays earned a Bachelor’s degree from Bates College and a Master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Before completing his Ph.D., Mays served as a teacher and dean. In 1936, Mays traveled to India and met with Mahatma Gandhi where they discussed many of the passive resistance strategies that Gandhi was using against the British. Many of these strategies would be adopted by the civil rights leaders in America. In 1940, Mays became president of Morehouse College. Four years later Martin Luther King Jr. entered Morehouse and the two formed a mentor/mentee relationship that would last until King’s murder in Georgia Department of Education Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent SOCIAL STUDIES GRADE EIGHT TEACHER NOTES REVISED 10/16/2012 Page 70 of 144 Copyright 2012 © All Rights Reserved One Stop Shop For Educators 1968. In his time as president Mays strengthened the school’s academic rigor and was a successful fundraiser. Mays retired in 1967, though he continued to be involved with organizations such as the NAACP and the YMCA. Additionally, he was an active writer and speaker until his death in 1984. For more information about Benjamin Mays see: The New Georgia Encyclopedia: “Benjamin Mays ” http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-2627 The 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.” This episode made Georgia a nationwide laughing stocking and further lowered its already tarnished reputation.