Georgia’s Vanishing Farms Industrial Growth After WWII

Define or describe what it is How did it impact Georgia’s Farms? Did it impact other areas of the state? Synthetic Fibers *new man-made materials, including rayon *New fashions, such as the flapper dress, which used less fabric and synthetic fibers, decreased demand for cotton. *This and other factors pushed many small family farmers off their land. Many either moved into cities or became sharecroppers G.I. Bill (414, 424) Industry and manufacturing after WWII (413) Aviation(429) Changes in Farms themselves “Serviceman’s Readjustment Act” *low-cost loans to veterans who wanted to buy homes or start businesses *gave returning soldiers opportunity for a college education *changed job availability and heralded a new middle working class. *soldiers not returning to farms, rather to cities *Enrollment in colleges and universities went up *suburbs sprang up *economy was strong *baby boom started *Farms and agriculture have continued to develop in terms of crops and machinery *Today Georgia is a leading producer of cotton, pecans, peaches, rye, tobacco, poultry and eggs. *Production of cotton and other products increased the need for textile mills and expanded population growth to urban areas *Migration to suburbs for jobs which increased population there and the economy. *Led to construction boom for houses and businesses *Georgians were leaving farms to seek industrial jobs to make a better living for their families and to serve their country in any capacity they could *Lockheed was the state’s largest employer *1943, Bell Aircraft Company assembled B- 29 bombers for the Air Force. Largest facility in the Deep South, over 4.2 million sq. ft. Over 28,158 employees finished 668 planes. *Georgia ended this decade as a major industrial state. *Some of Georgia’s most prosperous years. *For the first time in the state’s history, more Georgians were employed in manufacturing rather than agriculture *military installations *Brunswick and Savannah shipyards *climate attracted businesses *low business and ind. taxes

1. Which cause do you think had the greatest impact on the movement away from the farms? Why?

2. Which cause do you think had the least impact on the movement away from the farms? Why?

3. How did this decline in farming impact other areas of the state?

Business: List three events on the timeline that you believe had the greatest impact on the development of Georgia as a state. Justify your reasoning for each event. (Sample Answers) Due to Georgia’s mild climate, many corporation have developed or moved to the state. Some of these companies were established here in the early _____ like Rich’s/Macy, Coca-Cola, and Atlanta Mutual Life Insurance Other companies like Home Depot, Chick-fila, Georgia Pacific, and Delta have also developed in the state creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and boosting the state’s economy. The creation of professional sports teams has also contributed to economic growth in the state increasing tourism and job opportunities.

Transportation: List three developments in transportation that you believe had the greatest impact on the state. Explain how these events would impact population distribution (rural, urban), economy, and other areas of society. Justify your reasoning for each event. (Sample Answers) The development of the railroads in Georgia made Atlanta a railroad hub allowing for easier trade including the export of cotton. The development of the interstate highway system connected Atlanta to other major cities in the state like Marietta and Savannah to the rest of the nation. This contributed to urban sprawl and increased trade with trucking. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport has become the nation’s largest international airport providing jobs, increasing trade, and connecting the state with the world. Atlanta has become a transportation hub for the southeast.

Agriculture: Explain the variability of our state’s agriculture over time. Name specific events or developments in history that would have contributed to these changes. Agriculture has consistently been a mainstay in Georgia’s economy and still is today. However, the amount of agricultural production has fluctuated due to major events in history including: Climate and arable soil Invention of the cotton gin Influx and then abolishment of slavery Boll weevil Drought Increase and development of industry