Social and Political Change in Georgia after 1970 Module Overview

Introduction

The 1970s marked the beginning of a modern era in Georgia. Great changes lay ahead that continued to push the state into an urban environment. The old County Unit System, which allowed rural, less populated areas, to dominate elections was abolished. The voting power shifted to the population, the urban areas. Jimmy Carter, who would eventually become President, served as governor to the state. He continued the progressive reforms and fought for Civil Rights. As the century wrapped up, Georgia had the honor of hosting the 1996 Olympics. This brought international attention to the city of Atlanta and the state as a whole. Georgia continued to boom and saw an increase of new immigration to the state as well. The diversity of the state continued to allow Georgia to stand out compared to other Southern states.

Module Lessons Preview

In this module, we will study the following topics:

The End of the County Unit System: The County Unit System was a unique system to the state of Georgia that did not recognize the population differences between the urban and rural settings in the state. It allowed rural counties to control Georgia elections by decreasing the political voice of the urban counties and cities, especially Atlanta. This system allowed the rural communities to maintain political control and keep the Democrats in power; in the 1970s the state abolished this system.

Jimmy Carter: Georgia is currently home to the 39^th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter. President Carter was born and raised in Plains, Georgia to peanut farmers. He currently resides there today. A graduate of the Naval Academy, he began his political career as a two term State Senator. He then was elected Governor of the state where he systematically consolidated numerous offices and committees. He then served as President of the United States from 1977-1981. Today, the Nobel Peace Prize winner focuses on serving humanity both in Georgia and abroad.

Rise of the Two-Party System in Georgia: The County Unit System caused Georgia to consist of only one political party, the Democratic Party. With the end of the County Unit System, the state transitioned into a two party system. This dynamic shift caused laws to change, African-Americans began to experience equality in the political process, and urban voting began to outnumber rural votes. Overall, the two party system allowed for the state of Georgia to continue on the progressive path.

The 1996 Olympics: The 1996 Centennial Olympics gave Georgia the opportunity to shine for the world. This specific event marked the 100^th celebration of the Olympics. The state had made significant changes politically and socially and the Olympics would display all that the state, specifically Atlanta, had to offer the world community. It brought 197 nations and numerous spectators to the state.

The Importance of New Immigrant Communities in Georgia: Immigrants from multiple nations around the world have begun settling in Georgia, bringing with them new cultures. Georgia's economy has only grown stronger with these new immigrants.

Key Terms

County Unit System - a political policy that gave each county a certain number of votes based on three categories (rural, town, or urban)
Immigrant Communities - communities that are made up of immigrants from the same country or those that speak the same language
Reapportionment - part of a Supreme Court ruling that mandated congressional districts needed to be divided by population with each district having a roughly equal number of voters
Two Party System - a democratic form of government where two major parties dominate the political landscape

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