1. Virginia Changes After Reconstruction
Virginia Grows

2. Economic Changes in VA
Railroads, new industry, and growth of cities were important to the economic development of Virginia after Reconstruction.
Virginia’s cities began to grow with people, businesses, and factories.
What do you think made the cities grow?

3. Railroads Connect the Country

4. Railroads
Railroads were key to the expansion of businesses, agriculture, and industries.
Small towns became large cities because the railroads passed through them or near them.

5. Railroads Connect the Country

6. New Resources
Other parts of Virginia grew as other industries developed along the railroad routes.
Coal deposits were discovered in Tazewell County and nearby counties in southwest Virginia. The people of this area used it as a source of livelihood.
Railroads made it possible to transport the new found raw material across the state.

7. Virginia Changes
20th Century
Early 1900’s

8. Farming before the 1900’s

9. Agriculture/New Industry
Old systems of farming were no longer effective.
Working on farms without slavery made it almost impossible. Farms were too large without a workforce.
Coal mining spurred growth of Virginia towns and cities as people moved from the countryside to find jobs and opportunities to work in other industries.

10. Tobacco
Tobacco farming and the manufacture of tobacco products still were very important industries in Virginia.

11. Farming in the 1900’s

12. Virginia’s Cities 1900’s
People moved from rural to urban areas for economic opportunities.
The cities grew because people were looking for jobs.
Technological developments in transportation, roads, railroads, and streetcars helped cities grow. 12

13. Streetcars 13

14. Virginia’s 20th Century Leaders
Woodrow Wilson was a Virginian and US President who wrote a plan for world peace. He created the League of Nations and helped end WW I with the Treaty of Versailles.
He was born in Staunton, VA and his parents were Scot-Irish.
He is the only US President to hold a Ph.D, Degree.

15. Woodrow Wilson

16. Virginia’s 20th Century Leaders
George C. Marshall was a Virginian and WWII military leader who created an economic plan to ensure world peace called “The Marshall Plan.”
He organized the largest military expansion in the history of the US and was credited as “the organizer of victory” for WWII.
He attended and graduated from VMI, Virginia Military Institute.

17. George C. Marshall

18. Virginia Grows Today
People moved to Virginia from many other states and nations for jobs, freedom, and enjoyment of Virginia’s beauty and quality of life.
Late 20th and early 21st Century, Northern VA has experienced growth due to increases in federal jobs located in this region.
Both Northern VA and Tidewater region have grown due to computer technology today. 18

19. Virginia’s Beauty 19

20. Virginia Today
Virginia’s transportation system moves raw materials to factories and finished products to markets.
Highways
Railroads
Air transportation
Virginia imports and exports goods with the global economy.

21. Agricultural and Manufactured Goods
Virginia Exports
Agricultural and Manufactured Goods
Tobacco
Poultry
Coal
Large Ships
Exports are products sent outside the state our country

22. Virginia’s Industries
Today Virginia is known for these industries:
Communications
Technology
Tourism
Federal Government