20th Century Study Guide
During the Early 20th Century Agriculture in Virginia Began to
Change.
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Old systems of farming were no longer effective.
Crop prices were low.
So...many people moved from rural areas (and from other states and nations to urban
areas.
*Roads, railroads, and streetcars helped cities grow.
*Coal mining helped towns and cities grow.
*Northern Virginia grew because of federal jobs.
Virginia changed from a rural, agricultural society to a more
urban, industrial society.
Woodrow Wilson was a 20th Century US president from Virginia who
wrote a plan for world peace.
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George C. Marshall was a military leader who created an economic
plan for world peace.
Desegregation and Massive Resistance in
Virginia
After World War II, African Americans demanded equal treatment. The United States Supreme Court ruled
in 1954 (Brown vs. Board of Education) that “separate but equal” public schools were unconstitutional. All
public schools were ordered to desegregate.
Harry F. Byrd, Sr. led a Massive Resistance Movement against the desegregation of public schools and
strongly opposed integrating Virginia’s public schools. Virginia approved a policy for Massive Resistance,
which fought to resist the integration of schools . Some schools closed to avoid integration. Massive
Resistance failed, public schools were reopened, and the process of integrating Virginia’s public schools
began.
As a result of the Civil Rights Movement, laws were passed that made racial
discrimination illegal.
Harry Flood Byrd led Massive Resistance in Virginia. He also reorganized and
modernized Virginia’s government. He was known for a Pay-As-You-Go policy for
road improvements.
20th and 21st Century Virginians
Maggie Walker- First African-American woman to establish a bank and
the first African-American woman to become a bank president in the United
States.
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Oliver Hill lawyer and civil rights leader who worked for equal rights of
African Americans. He played a key role in Brown vs. Board of Education.
Arthur Ashe, first African-American winner of a major men’s tennis singles
championship. He was also an author, a spokesperson for social change.
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A. Linwood Holton, Jr governor of Virginia, who promoted race equality.
He appointed many African Americans and women to positions in state government.
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Douglas Wilder
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first African American to be elected a state governor in the United
States.
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Modern Virginia
During the 20th and 21st centuries, advances in transportation, technology, and communication have led
people to move to Virginia and led to economic development.
*Virginia’s transportation system of highways, railroads, and air transportation moves raw materials to
factories and finished products to markets.
*Virginia exports agricultural and manufactured products, including tobacco, poultry, coal, and large ships.
*Virginia has a large number of communications and other technology industries.
*Tourism is a major part of Virginia’s economy.
*Many federal workers live and/or work in Virginia.
*Industries in Virginia produce goods and services used throughout the United States.
Virginia Government
Legislative Branch -The General Assembly
-Makes state laws
-Divided into the Senate and the House of Delegates
Executive Branch -Headed by the governor
-Makes sure laws are carried out
Judicial Branch
-State court system
-Decides if laws have been broken
-Decides if laws are constitutional