Georgia Governors
Richard B Russell 1931-1933
List the changes in State government that Russell implemented.
1. Consolidated state offices
2. Established the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia
While in the US Senate, Russell favored national military preparedness and state’s rights, and implemented a
school lunch program for all children.
He was the youngest governor in Georgia history.
Eugene Talmadge 1933-1937 and 1941-1943
What years was Governor of Georgia and how many terms did he serve?
1933-1937 and 1941- 1943, three terms as governor
During the Great Depression, what federal program did he disagree with and what actions did he take?
He disagreed with the New Deal. He used federal dollars to build highways, and reduce taxes, utility
rates, and some license fees.
What was his reaction to those who wanted to integrate Georgia’s schools?
Talmadge convinced the Board of Regents to fire the dean and the president of the Teachers College in
Statesboro, and he also got rid of several members of the board of regents who opposed his actions.
Ellis Arnall 1943 -1947
How did Arnall get the Southern association of Colleges and schools to restore accreditation to Georgia’s colleges
and universities?
1. passed an amendment that made the Board of Regents a separate entity that was not under the
influence of the governor’s office.
2. made the terms of the regents staggered so that were always experienced members serving on the
board.
List three changes made during Arnall’s term as governor.
1. Removed the prison system from the governor’s control
2. Abolished the poll tax
3. Granted 18 year olds the right to vote.
Herman Talmadge 1948-1955
What did Herman Talmadge promise the voters?
He promised to bring back the white primary
List accomplishments while governor.
1. Restructured the state highway department
2. Created the Georgia Forestry Commission
3. Improved soil conservation programs
4. Improved county health departments
5. Improved the state’s prison system
Explain the Minimum foundation Program for Education Act. – expanded school to include grades 9 – 12,
lengthened the school year to nine months, raised the standards for buildings, equipment, transportation,
and school curricula. Created a 3% sales tax to pay for the changes.
Marvin Griffin 1955 – 1959
Ernest Vandiver 1959 – 1963
Carl Sanders 1963 – 1967
Lester Maddox 1967 – 1971
List accomplishments while governor.
1. Appointed more African Americans to state boards and commissions than all prior governors
combined.
2. Named the first black member of the Board of Pardon and Paroles.
3. Integrated the Georgia State Patrol.
4. Increased spending on education
5. Established “People’s Day” – twice a month, any Georgian could visit the governor’s mansion to talk
about anything they wished.
How was he elected into office?
After a run-off the vote went to the Georgia Legislature and he was elected by the members of the
General Assembly.
Atlanta Mayors
William B. Hartsfield 1937-1941 and 1942-1961
He was Mayor of Atlanta.
How many terms did he serve as mayor?
Six terms
What major industry did Hartsfield establish in Georgia?
He made Atlanta an aviation hub of the Southeast. He helped create the Atlanta airport.
Describe how Hartsfield helped civil rights in Georgia.
1. Organized a biracial coalition that worked on voter registration drives.
2. Hired 8 African American police officers.
3. integrated the city’s golf courses
4. integrated the city’s transportation system
5. integrated the city’s public schools
Ivan Allen, Jr. 1962-1970
He was Mayor of Atlanta.
List three civil rights accomplishments for Allen.
1. integrated city government and departments
2. reduced restrictions on African American police officers
3. removed “Colored” and “White” signs in Atlanta city hall
List three economic improvements for Atlanta
1. oversaw construction on public facilities
2. Atlanta became home to sports teams and sports facilities
3. approved MARTA
Maynard Jackson 1974-1982 / 1990-1994
He was the first African American mayor of Atlanta.
List three programs that improved Atlanta.
1. increased programs for the arts
2. expanded the airport
3. led efforts to have the Olympics held in Atlanta
Andrew Young 1982- 1988
He was Mayor of Atlanta.
Describe Young’s political career.
1. 1972 U.S. House of Representatives – First African American elected from Georgia since Reconstruction.
2. 1977 U.S, Ambassador to the United Nations
3. Two terms as Mayor of Atlanta
4. Co-Chair of the 1996 Olympic committee
Andrew Young was an aide to what civil rights leader?
Martin Luther King Jr.
Other Notable Georgians
Carl Vinson
How many years did he serve in the House of Representatives?
25 years
Why was he known as the “father of the two-ocean navy?” Explain.
He helped pass the Vinson-Trammel Act which authorized the manufacture of 92 war ships. He
also expanded the naval aviation system and established 20 air bases, and eased labor
restrictions on shipbuilding to allow faster construction.
President From Georgia
Jimmy Carter
Describe Jimmy Carter’s political career.
1. 1962 Georgia Senate
2. 1970 Governor of Georgia
3. 1976 President of the USA
List accomplishments as governor of Georgia 1972- 1976
1. Reorganized the state’s executive branch by cutting the number of state agencies from 300 to 25
2. Influenced the court system by changing the selection of judges to a merit process.
3. Appointed the first woman judge to the Superior Court
4. Created the Georgia Heritage Trust – designed to protect Georgia’s natural and cultural resources.
5. Increased funding for public education and expanded special education, vocational education, and
preschool education
6. Expanded the states mental health services.
List accomplishments as President 1976- 1980
1. Established a national energy policy
2. Expanded national park system
3. Created the Department of Education
4. Negotiated the 1978 Camp David Peace Accords between Israel and Egypt
5. Obtained congressional ratification of the Panama Canal treaties and established diplomatic relations
with China
Causes of the Great Depression
Stock Market Speculation
Speculation is when you buy a stock and pay only a portion of the cost of the stock.
Over borrowing
Many farmers had to borrow money from the banks to pay for farm equipment. When their farms failed, what
happened to the banks?
The banks lost money on the loans and then the banks failed and the people lost their investments.
Personal Debt
One cause of the great depression is that people of the United States borrowed more money than they
could afford to repay.
Bank Practices
When people couldn’t pay back their loans, who lost money?
The banks
Laissez Faire
Describe a laissez-faire attitude of government and business leaders.
That the economy itself, not the government, would work out any problems
Industrial Overproduction
What happens to the price of products when factories and farmers overproduce?
Too much product causes the price of product drops
High Tariffs
How did high tariffs discourage trade with other countries after World War I?
High tariffs made it difficult for other countries to sell their goods in the United States to get money with
which to repay wartime loans and to buy American products
Boll Weevil/ Drought
Which crop did the boll weevil destroy?
Cotton
In addition to the boll weevil, Georgia farmers in the 1920’s were also hurt by what?
The drought of 1924
The New Deal
Franklin D. Roosevelt
What is NIRA?
Helped workers by setting minimum wages, permitting unions, and allowing factories to cut back on
production
What is TVA?
Tennessee Valley Authority – it created lakes and water resources.
Why did Roosevelt spend so much time in Georgia?
He was visiting Warm Springs for treatment for his Polio. He built a house there and called it the Little
White House. He died there on April 24, 1945.
Civilian Conservation Corp
What type of projects did the civil conservation corps complete?
They built forest trails and roads, planted trees to reforest land, and built parks.
Agriculture Adjustment Act
Why did the Agricultural Adjustment Act fail to benefit African Americans in Georgia?
The grant money went to land owners and not African American tenant farmers
Rural Electrification
Rural Electrification was a plan to bring inexpensive electricity to the south
Which President signed into law the act creating rural electrification?
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Social Security
What was the purpose of social security?
To provide retirement and unemployment insurance to American workers
Lend-Lease
Why did the United States start a lend-lease system of war equipment?
Great Britain and the Soviet Union ran out of money to build war equipment. Also, because of the
Neutrality Act, the US could not sell weapons and supplies to countries in a war; however we could lend
or lease them the supplies.
Georgia Contributions to WWII
Bell Aircraft
What type of aircraft was built at Bell Aircraft Marietta plant?
B- 29 bomber
Military Bases
What happened to the Bell Aircraft plant in Marietta GA.?
It closed 1945 and then was re-opened as Lockheed
Savannah and Brunswick Shipyards
What were Liberty ships?
Cargo ships
Where in Georgia were the Liberty ships built?
Savannah and Brunswick
Civil Rights Movement & Integration
Sibley Commission
What was the goal of the Sibley commission?
A committee held to see how the public felt about integrating public school. By a three-to-two margin
people would rather close the schools than integrate them.
Who were the first African-Americans admitted to the University of Georgia?
Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes
Albany Movement
What was the goal of the Albany movement?
It was to end segregation of public schools in Albany
Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 did not integrate what facilities?
The legislation made segregation of public facilities illegal. This included restaurants, theaters, hotels,
public recreational areas, schools, and libraries. It gave the federal government the power to withhold
federal funds from schools that refused to integrate.
State Flag Issue
In what year did the Georgia state flag become an issue in the race for the Governor?
In the year 2000, because of its association with racism
March on 1963
Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech was associated with what event?
The March on Washington, DC in 1963
Student Nonviolent Coordination Committee
SNCC helped blacks register to vote. They organized sit-ins, led protests, and led boycotts of business
that would not serve blacks.
What organization was founded after the sit in at Shaw University?
Student Non-Violent Coordination committee, or “SNIC”
Brown v. Board of Education
What was the name of the student that tried to enroll in a white school?
Linda Brown, 7 years old
What was the ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court?
The separate but equal policy was unconstitutional.
What court ruling did it overturn?
Plessy v. Ferguson
Martin Luther King Jr.
What approach did he favor to bring about social change?
1. Direct non-violent actions
2. legal remedies
3. ballots
4. economic boycotts
Where did Dr. King give his “I Have a Dream” speech?
1963 March on Washington
When and where was Dr. King assassinated?
April 4, 1968 Lorraine Hotel, Memphis, Tennessee
Hamilton Holmes/ Charlayne Hunter
What happened on January 6, 1961?
University of Georgia allowed its first two African American students in school.
Who was governor of Georgia during this time?
Ernest Vandiver
Benjamin Mays
Dr. Mays was president of what university?
Morehouse College
How was he active in the Atlanta community?
He served on the Atlanta school board and was the first African American president of the board.
Who was Dr. Mays a mentor for?
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.