Georgia in the 1920s & 1930s Georgia Studies

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 2 Drought & the Great Depression Two events led to hard economic times for Georgians, & caused farmers to leave their farms: –The Boll Weevil destroyed nearly half the cotton crop (1922) Small beetle which punctures cotton buds & lay eggs inside, so they are hard to kill –Drought/Overuse of Land During WWI farmers were encouraged produce as much as possible Soil became exhausted and would not yield crops in Georgia Drought caused rest of nation’s crops to suffer

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 3 The Great Depression The economy normally goes through highs and lows An extreme economic drop is known as a “depression” –Unemployment is high –People cannot afford many good and services –Businesses suffer greatly or fail altogether

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 4 The Great Depression The worst depression in the U.S. occurred in the 1930’s This was caused by a chain of events beginning after WWI Although the U.S. originally prospered after the war, other countries involved in the war suffered greatly

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 5 The Great Depression Era before the depression known as the “Roaring Twenties” –Many people made many purchases of the new products available to them –When they couldn’t afford items, they put them on credit –Businesses made large profits –Consumers invested in business stocks –Economy grew very quickly (too quickly)

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 6 The Stock Market Crash Consumer confidence led to investment Many people borrowed money to buy stocks On October 24, 1929, the value of stocks dropped dramatically – Black Tuesday Many people tried to sell their stock at the same time Soon banks could not collect on the loans people had taken The banks ran out of money and many lost their savings from their accounts

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 7 Stock Market Crash, cont. People who lost their savings could no longer make payments on their possessions bought on credit Many were forced to sell everything they had just to buy necessities People lost their homes and farms or had to sell them for the best price they could get People could no longer buy luxury items & unemployment increased Businesses who survived cut production as fewer people bought goods This period was called the great depression and lasted over ten years

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 8 Eugene Talmadge One of Georgia’s most charismatic and controversial politicians 20 years of his life were spent in service to Georgia’s government Some saw him as a political hero Others saw him as a racist bully

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 9 Eugene Talmadge: Early career Began as Commissioner of Agriculture Farmers & people who lived in rural communities loved him because his policies supported farmers Although he was accused of several illegal acts during his time as commissioner, he served three terms before he was elected governor

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 10 Eugene Talmadge: Governor He proved to be a strong governor He used “executive order” to fulfill a campaign promise to lower the cost of car tags –Executive order is an act by governor that does not have legislative approval When the Public Service Commission (elected officials) refused to lower utility prices, he fired them –He appointed replacements who would lower the prices

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 11 Eugene Talmadge: Governor He had the state treasurer and comptroller general physically removed from their offices in the state capitol He was an outspoken critic of Franklin D. Roosevelt –Did not like Roosevelt’s New Deal Programs –Did what he could to keep the programs out of Georgia

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 12 The Third Term After his second term as governor, Talmadge ran for the U.S. Senate in 1936 and 1938, but lost both elections He was elected governor again in 1940 His third term was filled with controversy –He was against integration at the University of Georgia and threatened to have the Dean of the College of Education fired –The chain of events that followed seriously damaged the University system and accreditation for all public universities for white people was removed

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 13 Eugene Talmadge, cont. After the University system debacle, Talmadge lost the next gubernatorial election In 1946, he was elected governor a fourth time –His election was due largely to his opposition of a supreme court decision to allow black people to vote in primary elections –He died before taking office

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 14 FDR & The New Deal At the beginning of the Great Depression, Herbert Hoover was president His policies depended on the individual states to help themselves Most states were too poor to create programs to help their citizens who were struggling People began to believe the only way the economy would prosper again was for the federal government to help the states out

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 15 FDR & The New Deal In 1933 Franklin Delano Roosevelt took office and set up a plan called the New Deal When Roosevelt took office, American agriculture was suffering and unemployment was high The New Deal involved creating new jobs and national relief programs to help the economy grow

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 16 New Deal Programs The Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA) –Purpose of the Agricultural Adjustment Act was to raise the price of staple crops by limiting supply –Farmers in GA were paid to plant less cotton to drive the prices up –This administration also hoped to raise the price of farms and vary crops grown –They also hoped to protect the soil from being overworked

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 17 New Deal Programs The Rural Electrification Administration (REA) –Before 1935, very few rural areas in GA and around the country had electricity –Private electric companies did not offer service to many people who lived near power lines –This agency provided loans to states to improve electric service to rural areas –The money was used to build power plants & power lines –Within four years, GA was leading the country in the number of REA groups

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 18 New Deal Programs The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) –This program created jobs for thousands of young war veterans who were suffering from job loss & poverty –In exchange for work, the men received housing, food, and money –Work included soil conservation, reforestation, fire prevention, and park building –Educational classes and job training were also provided –Many Georgia parks were built by the CCC

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 19 New Deal Programs Works Progress Administration (WPA) –As the largest work relief program in U.S. history, it provided jobs for both men and women in construction and education –Roosevelt hoped this program would repair the spirit of people –The Georgia library system is an example of a WPA program Over 100 hundred libraries received assistance Program provided pay for workers and technical services for libraries

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 20 New Deal Programs The Social Security Act –Passed by Congress in 1935 –Permanent plan to protect workers from losing their wages –Two social insurance programs were formed to remedy severe poverty & prevent it in the future: Old-age benefits for retiring workers would support them when they could no longer work (managed by federal government) Insurance was provided for unemployed and disabled to provide people with a sense of security in their jobs (managed by state & federal government)

(c) 2007 brainybetty.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 21 The New Deal These programs changed the way people looked at labor Unions had greater power and began to ask for better wages and working conditions as well as better welfare packages The New Deal gave those who suffered during the Depression security & power