History Standard

1. History Standard • SS8H12 The student will explain the importance of significant social, economic, and political developments in Georgia since 1970. • SS8H12.a Evaluate the consequences of the end of the county unit system and reapportionment. • SS8H12.b Describe the role of Jimmy Carter in Georgia as state senator, governor, president, and past president. • SS8H12.c Analyze the impact of the rise of the two-party system in Georgia. • SS8H12.d Evaluate the effect of the 1996 Olympic Games on Georgia. • SS8H12.e Evaluate the importance of new immigrant communities to the growth and economy of Georgia.

2. End of County Unit System & Reapportionment • The County Unit System was put into place to give rural (white) counties more voting power than urban (black) counties • 1962 – the US Supreme Court ruled the county unit system to be unconstitutional • “One person, one vote” • 1964 – the US Supreme Court ruled that voting districts had to be drawn based upon population, not geography • Had been used to group rural white areas together to give them more advantage over more integrated areas

3. James Earl “Jimmy” Carter • Born in 1924 in Plains, GA to peanut farmers • Attended Annapolis Naval Academy and served in the Navy until his father’s death in 1955 • He returned to Plains to run the farm • His opinion against segregation differed from most Georgians • 1962 – elected to General Assembly (Senate) • 1966 – ran for Governor and lost • 1970 – ran for Governor and won • Streamlined government, focus on Education and Justice system • Appointed many women and minorities to government positions • 1976 – 1980: President of the United States • Positives • Camp David Peace Accords between Israel & Egypt • SALT II treaty with the Soviet Union to decrease weapons • Normalized relations with China • Negatives • Poor economy • Oil/gas shortages • Iranian Hostage Crisis • Return to Georgia • The Carter Center & Presidential Library has oversees elections in foreign countries, resolves international conflicts, and works to end poverty, disease and hunger worldwide • Supports Habitat for Humanity • Continues to teach Sunday School and writes books

4. Rise of the Two-Party System • Following the Civil War (1865), Georgia was politically dominated by the Democratic Party • Particularly the Southern Democrats who supported Segregation • In the 1980s, support for the Republican Party began to grow • Today, the majority of Georgia’s elected officials are Republican, but Democratic support is growing again

5. 1996 Olympics • The idea to host the Olympic games came from former UGA football player and lawyer Billy Paine • He sought help from Andrew Young among many others • 1990: Georgia was awarded the 100th (Centennial) Olympic games over the original host city: Athens, Greece • Facilities had to be built, roads/sidewalks had to be improved, transportation & safety plans had to be designed • Turner Field, Georgia Dome, Phillips Arena, Centennial Olympic Park, Olympic village for athletes, event complexes at Stone Mountain, Savannah, Athens, Columbus • The games overall were a success with the exception of the bombing that took place at Centennial Olympic Park, killing two and injuring others. • Eric Rudolph was eventually charged with this bombing along with two others. He hid out in the North Georgia/North Carolina mountains until his capture in 2003 in Murphy, North Carolina. • To date, the Olympic games have brought $5 BILLION to the state’s economy.

6. Impact of Immigrants • Colonial Georgia • Explorers came from England, Spain, France • Salzburgers (Austria), Scots (Scotland), Irish, Jews • Modern Georgia • 1970s - 1980s: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Africa, Eastern Europe • 1990s – today: Latinos from Mexico, Central America and South America • Benefits to Economy • Construction • Agriculture – farming & POULTRY • Industry – textile/carpet mills, other production