100 likes | 428 Views
What was the impact of Eugene Talmadge’s political career?. First round as governor (1933-1937). Appealed to rural white voters. Promised to cut car tag fees, lower utility rates, and balance the state budget. First round as governor (1933-1937). Was a very strong executive
E N D
First round as governor (1933-1937) • Appealed to rural white voters. • Promised to cut car tag fees, lower utility rates, and balance the state budget
First round as governor (1933-1937) • Was a very strong executive • The General Assembly refused to lower the price of car tags, he did it anyway. • When the highway board would not give in to his control, he declared martial (military) law and picked new members • Had the state treasurer physically removed from his office in the state capitol building.
Why did he do these things? • Read the 2nd paragraph on pg. 296 to determine why Talmadge took such strong actions.
Disagreed with FDR and New Deal • Openly opposed many parts of the New Deal including minimum wage, Social Security, and unemployment insurance • Called FDR a socialist and sought to run against him for president • Instead, ran against Sen. Richard Russell and lost
Changes in Georgia • _______________ became governor in 1936 and GA joined the New Deal completely by building ________________________(pick 3). • Other items in the “little New Deal” included money for ____________ for schools, creation of the _______________, and requiring drivers _____________________.
Still popular with voters • 1940 – Talmadge ran for governor for a 3rd time and won by telling white voters the New Deal was trying to end segregation.
Talmadge and higher education • 1941 – Word spread that some college officials were wanting to integrate state colleges. • Talmadge used his power to fire two administrators – the Dean of Education at UGA and the president of the Georgia Teachers College (now Georgia Southern)
Talmadge and higher education • The Southern Assoc. of Colleges and Schools (SACS) took away the accreditation (official approval) of white public colleges in the state. • Made national headlines. Georgia college credits were worthless outside of the state. • Talmadge was defeated by Ellis Arnall in 1942 – the only governor’s election he lost
Everything old is new again • 1946 – Talmadge ran for governor – yet again. • He did not win the popular vote but won the county unit vote, which meant he won the election. • Talmadge died in December before officially taking office and 3 men claimed to be governor