MODERN GA
SS8H12: The student will
explain the importance of
significant social, economic,
and political developments in
GA since 1970.
END OF THE COUNTY UNIT SYSTEM

In April 1962, GA federal court ruled that the county system
violated the 14th Amendment.

Once ruled unconstitutional, the majority of the representatives
came from the urban areas.

Black population areas had an equal opportunity to elect
representatives.

In 1962, Leroy Johnson was 1st African American state senator
since reconstruction.
 The
Federal Court in Gray v. Sanders was
appealed to the US Supreme Court.
 It was the case that the phrase “one
person, one vote” was first used.
 “One person, one vote” means all vote
should be equal no matter where they
live.
 In Wesberry v. Sanders, the US Supreme
Court stated that legislative districts
should depend solely on population
rather than county lines.
REAPPORTIONMENT

General Assembly had to reapportion (redraw)
congressional voting districts to equal
populations.

These decisions influenced campaign styles and
election of the state’s governor.
REAPPORTIONMENT CONTINUED
JIMMY CARTER

He was born in Plains, GA.

He was a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and served in
the Navy for 7 years.

In 1954, he resigned his commission and returned to the
family’s warehouse and cotton gin businesses and a peanut
farm.

In 1962 he was elected to the GA senate and elected
Governor in 1970.
JIMMY CARTER

As governor, he reduced the executive branch from 300 to 25
agencies.

He also unified the courts and changed selection of a judge to
a merit process.

He appointed the first woman state judge.

He created the GA Heritage Trust to protect our natural and
cultural resources.

He equalized funding for schools and expanded special
education, vocational, and pre-school education.
JIMMY CARTER
 Carter
defeated Ford for president in 1976 as
a democrat. He served one term.
 As
president, he established a national
energy policy, completed major civil service
reforms, expanded national park systems,
deregulated trucking and airline industries,
and created the Department of Education.
 inflation
and interest rates were extremely
high, his efforts to reduced them caused a
short-term recession.
JIMMY CARTER
 He
negotiated the 1978 Camp David Peace
Accords between Israel and Egypt.
 He
was able to ratify the Panama Canal
treaties and established full diplomatic
relations with China.
 He
withdrew the US from the 1980 Summer
Olympics in Moscow.
 In
1979, The U.S. Embassy in Iran was
overthrown with 52 Americans taken
hostage, 14 months. They were released the
day he left office.
 In
the 1980s, the state became
divided between the republicans and
democrats. This was a first since the
Bourbon Redeemers.
 In 1980, Mack Mattingly of St. Simons
Island was the first republican in the
U.S. senate since reconstruction.
 In 1992, the Republicans won most of
the congressional seats, except for
Democrat Cynthia McKinney, she
was the first African American woman
from GA elected to Congress.
RISE OF THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM

In 1994, GA’s Newt Gingrich was elected
Speaker of the House. 2002, Sonny Perdue, a
republican was elected governor, first since
Reconstruction.

The democrats controlled the General Assembly,
The republicans controlled the U.S. Senate and
the majority of representatives for the U.S. House.
RISE OF THE TWO-PARTY
SYSTEM CONTINUED
1996 OLYMPIC GAMES

There were four long-term benefits:

Millions of dollars to create world-class competition facilities such
as the $189 million Olympic Stadium, the 1,400-acre GA horse
Park, the $17 million Wolf Creek Shooting Range Complex, Stone
Mountain Tennis facility, and the $10 million Lake Lanier Rowing
Center. Georgia Tech and GA State University received new
dorms.

International recognition.

Volunteer programs, educational and training programs, and
employment opportunities.
1996 OLYMPIC GAMES CONTINUED

Millions of dollars into the economy.

bombing on July 29, 1996, killed Alice Hawthorne of Albany
and wounded 110 while another died from a heart attack.

severe traffic congestion very difficult.

planners criticized infrastructure (basic facilities such roads,
bridges, and ports).

http://www.gpb.org/georgiastories/stories/economic_aspects_of
_special_events
IMMIGRANTS

Dalton, Whitfield County- carpet mills and sales outlets

Gainesville, Hall County- Poultry, Chickens

South GA- Vidalia Onions

Albany, Dougherty County - Pecans

http://www.gpb.org/georgiastories/stories/land_of_opportunity