EQ: How have the end of the county unit system, reapportionment, and the two party system changed Georgia?

MODERN GEORGIA

EQ: How have the end of the county unit system, reapportionment, and the two party

system changed Georgia?

County Unit System

County unit system – established by the Neill-Primary Act (1917)

8 most populated counties got a total of 6 votes each, 30 medium counties got 4 total votes each, 121 small counties got 2 total votes each

THEREFORE, the rural areas had more power over elections (i.e. the person who got the most votes did not win the election)

End of the County Unit System

“One Person, One Vote”-- The concept that each citizen’s vote should equal every other citizen’s vote

County-unit system was declared unconstitutional in 1962 (It violated the 14th amendment of the U.S. Constitution.)

This change caused more representatives to come from urban areas

General Assembly had to reapportion (redraw) voting districts to ensure districts of equal population size

Rise of the two-party system

Voters elected Democrats and Republicans More African Americans were elected to state

office. In 1980, Mack Mattingly was first Republican US

Senator since Reconstruction – by 1992, most were Republicans

Cynthia McKinney: Democrat, first black woman elected from Georgia to Congress

John Lewis: Democrat, civil rights leader, senior member of Georgia’s congressional delegation

Georgia Elects Republican Governor

Sonny Purdue, Republican, elected in 2002 First Republican governor in Georgia in 130

years Georgia legislature had Democratic majority

until 2004 Georgians elected Republicans to the US

Senate and most of the US House of Representatives

Voters gave Georgia a two-party system

1. What change did NOT occur in Georgia as a result of the end of the county unit system?

A. More political power went to the more heavily populated areas

B. More women were elected to state office in the executive branch.

C. More African Americans were elected to office in the state legislature.

D. More members of the General Assembly were elected from the urban areas.

2. Which amendment did the county unit system violate?

A. Thirteenth C. Fifteenth Amendment

B. Fourteenth D. Sixteenth Amendment

3. How did the end of the county unit system change the focus of campaigning in Georgia?

A. Political rallies were held less often.

B. Candidates used television more often.

C. Candidates had to appeal to voters statewide.

D. Candidates concentrated on larger populated areas that had more voters.

MODERN GEORGIA

EQ: What role did Jimmy Carter play in Georgia and the United States?

Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter: 1962 – elected to the Georgia senate 1970 – elected governor of Georgia

Reorganized Georgia’s executive branch (300 agencies reduced to 25)

Appointed the first woman as a state judge

Jimmy Carter 1977-1980 served as President of the United

StatesNational energy policyCreated the Department of EducationAs president he focused on human rights:

○ negotiated the “1978 Camp David Peace Accords” (a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt)

○ Established full diplomatic relations with China○ Withdrew U.S. from the 1980 Olympics to protest

Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan

Problems as president: high energy costs, high interest rates, high inflation, 52 American hostages held in Iran

Jimmy Carter

Continued efforts after leaving officenegotiating peacedefeat diseasesensure fair electionsbuild affordable housing with Habitat for

Humanitywrites books

MODERN GEORGIA

EQ: How did the 1996 Olympic Games impact Georgia?

Georgia Hosts the Olympics Summer 1996: Atlanta hosted

XXVI Olympiad 10,000 athletes from 197 countries Georgia Tech and Georgia State University

gained new residence facilities. World-class competition facilities were built

Olympic StadiumGeorgia Horse ParkWolf Creek Shooting RangeStone Mountain tennis facilityLake Lanier Rowing Center

Click to return to Table of Contents.

More benefits for Georgia 90,000 volunteers in Atlanta and

other Georgia cities and locations Brought international attention to

the city and state – millions of visitors as well as millions of television viewers

Millions of dollars impacted Georgia’s economy

Problems July 29, 1996: Bomb in Olympic Park

killed one visitor and injured 117 (created a sense of fear for the athletes

and spectators) Severe traffic congestion brought

criticism from the press about Atlanta’s lack of infrastructure (i.e. roads, bridges)

MODERN GEORGIA

How have immigrant communities contributed to the growth and economy of Georgia?

Immigrants People from Latin American countries have

come to northwest Georgia to work.Carpet industry in DaltonPoultry industry around GainesvilleOnion crop in Vidalia (seasonal workers)Pecan industry around Albany

Economic impactMore churches Hispanic businessesRestaurants More students in schools

TRANSPORTATION

How do the four transportation systems influence Georgia’s economy?

Transportation Georgia has FOUR transportation systems

that work together to connect our state with world trade.

AirportsOver 260 airportsAtlanta-Hartsfield-Jackson International airport

○ Busiest in the world○ Largest employer in the state of Georgia○ Headquarters of Delta Airlines○ Passengers have 2 hour access (or less) to 80%

of the U.S.○ Multiplier effect on the economy ?????

Transportation

Georgia Ports Authority2 deepwater ports (Savannah and Brunswick)

○ Connected to the railroad system and interstate system

○ Provide worldwide access○ Can ship large amounts and large cargo including

liquids, automobiles, etc○ Economic impact: $2 billion income, 81,000 jobs,

almost $600 million in taxes to state and local government

○ Top exports: wood pulp, paper, food (poultry)○ Top imports: furniture, retail goods, machinery-

appliances-electronics

Highway system

Connects every city in the continental U.S.

Connects with ports, airports, and railroads

Over 1200 miles of interstates, 17.800 miles of state highways, 25,000 truckers

Railroads

Georgia has over 5,400 miles of railroad tracks

Connect every major city in Georgia Ability to haul large amounts and large

cargoLiquidsLivestockAutomobiles

Major Georgia businesses Coca-Cola (been there done that)

Georgia PacificStarted in Augusta as a wholesaler of hardwood

lumberToday one of the leading manufacturers of

markers of tissue, pulp paper, packaging, building products, and related chemical

50,000 employees, 300 worldwide locationsExamples

○ Brawny paper towels○ Dixie plates and cups○ Quilted Northern toilet paper

Delta Delta Airlines (started in crop dusting in

Macon)Headquarters in AtlantaMore destinations than any other

global airlineOver 80,000,000 domestic passengers

and over 10,000,000 international per year

Over 60,000 employees

Home Depot Created by Bernie Marcus (the guy who

helped build the GA Aquarium) and Arthur Blank (yes, the Falcon’s owner)

Home improvement stores set up as warehouse stores

Focused on customer service Offers over 40,000 products Started in Georgia and spread throughout

the United States, Canada, Mexico and China