Georgia After WWII
December 9, 2013
Transformation of Agriculture
• After WWII, when Georgia soldiers returned
from fighting, they found the state in the
middle of a rapid change
• Agriculture was no longer the main
economic activity
– People had left farming for factories during the
war, increasing the size of cities
– The demand for cotton fell
• Peanuts, soybeans, and corn were planted
in place of cotton
• Improved farm machinery allowed fewer
workers to farm larger areas
– This sent more people into the cities looking for
jobs
– By 1970, 60% of Georgia’s population lived in
cities
Ellis Arnall
• Ellis Arnall was elected as Georgia’s
governor in 1942, after Eugene Talmadge
• Arnall fixed the problems with Georgia’s
colleges created by Talmadge, and
created the board of corrections to oversee
the prison system
• He abolished (got rid of) the poll tax and
adopted a new state constitution in 1945
• When 18-years olds began to be drafted for
WWII, he argued that anyone old enough to
fight for their country should be able to vote
– He helped Georgia become the first state to
allow 18-year olds to vote
The Development of Atlanta
• Atlanta became the capital of the state in
1877
• After WWII, businesses moved into the state
• The population grew, as did the size of the
city
• Opportunities were improving for AfricanAmericans
• Transportation grew in the 1970s
• Several of Atlanta’s mayors contributed to
this growth
• Major league sports moved into Atlanta in
the 1960s
• Atlanta grew into the financial,
communication, and transportation center
of the Southeast
Business in Atlanta
• By 1954, around 800 new industries
had appeared in Atlanta
• Many northern companies moved
south because of the warmer climate
• The growth of aviation also
contributed to the growth of business
in Atlanta
– By the end of the 1950s, Lockheed Martin
(the former Bell Aircraft plant) was
Georgia’s largest employer
Population Growth
• More people moved into Georgia as the
invention of air conditioning made summers
more comfortable
• Georgia’s population grew to over 4.5
million by 1970
– Atlanta’s grew to over 1 million by 1970
• Atlanta went from being the 32nd largest city
in the U.S. to the 23rd
• African-Americans began moving back as
better opportunities were becoming
available
– Discrimination largely disappeared, schools were
integrated, and economic opportunities
improved
Transportation in Georgia
• Georgia had always benefited from
its seaports and railroads
• After WWII, however, aviation and
interstate highways grew
• In the early 1950s, a network of
freeways and highways linked Atlanta
with the rest of the Southeast and
other areas of the country
• In 1975, MARTA began building rail
lines, beginning operations in 1979
• Atlanta’s airport began offering
international flights in 1971
William B. Hartsfield
• He served as Atlanta mayor for 24
years, from 1937-1961
• He encouraged the growth of
aviation and helped make Atlanta
the Southeast’s air travel hub (this is
why the airport is named after him)
• He helped lead the city ahead in civil
rights by hiring African-American
police officers, integrating public
places, and eventually public schools
Ivan Allen, Jr.
• Allen served as Atlanta’s mayor after
Hartsfield, from 1962-1970
• He continued Hartsfield’s peaceful
approach to integration
• During his terms, Atlanta saw the
growth of skyscrapers and became
the home to a number of major
league sports teams
• He also pushed for MARTA to help
improve transportation in Atlanta
Major League Sports
• In the 1960s, Atlanta dreamed of being a
“big league city” but didn’t have the
facilities
• The chance came in 1964, when the
Milwaukee Braves promised to move to
Atlanta if a new stadium was built
• In 1966, the Atlanta Braves began playing at
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
• That same year, the Atlanta Falcons began
playing there as well
• The Atlanta Hawks soon followed in 1968
• These teams have helped raise the prestige
of the city as well as earned millions of
dollars in revenue for the city’s economy
Questions…
• 1) What was no longer the main economic
activity of Georgia after WWII?
• 2) Why did people leave farms during WWII?
• 3) How did this lead to the growth of cities?
• 4) Who became governor in 1942?
• 5) What did Arnall do with the poll tax while
he was governor?
• 6) During Arnall’s term, Georgia became
the first state to do what?
• 7) Why were northern companies moving to
Georgia?
• 8) Who was Georgia’s largest employer by
the end of the 1950s?
• 9) What invention led to population growth
in Georgia?
Questions…
• 10) Why did African-Americans begin
moving back after WWII?
• 11) What types of transportation systems
grew after WWII?
• 12) What industry did Hartsfield encourage
while he was mayor of Atlanta?
• 13) How did he lead the city in civil rights?
• 14) While Allen was mayor, what grew up
around Atlanta?
• 15) What mayor saw major league sports
teams move to Atlanta?
• 16) Which teams played at Atlanta-Fulton
County Stadium?
• 17) When did the Braves and Falcons begin
playing here?
• 18) How have sports teams helped the city?