Georgia and the American Experience

Georgia and the American Experience Chapter 13: Peace, Prosperity, and Peril Study Presentation Mr. Smith’s Classes

Georgia and the American Experience Section 1: The 1980s Section 2: The 1990s Section 3: Terrorism at Home and Abroad Section 4: Georgia in a New Century

Section 1: The 1980s • ESSENTIAL QUESTION: • How did Georgia change during the 1980s?

Section 1: The 1980s • What words do I needtoknow? • telecommute • email • Reaganomics • Quality Basic Education • Per capita income

1980s • The age of the personal computer • email: sending messages by computer • telecommute: work at home while keeping in touch with the office by computer • Schools began to purchase computers • Other technology: ATMs, FAX machines, cellular phones, Internet, scanners • More television channels added with cable and satellite service

The End of the Cold War • Ronald Reagan: “Great Communicator” elected president – served 1981-1989 • Reaganomics: “supply-side” economics, tax cuts, heavy defense spending, limited government, limited regulation on business • Reagan tough with USSR • By end of 1980s, Cold War ending • Mikhail Gorbachev: leader of USSR • 1989: Berlin Wall came down • 1991: Communist USSR government collapsed

Georgia During the 1980s • Governors • George Busbee: 1975-1983 – foreign investment increased; expanded Department of Industry and Trade; expanded ports and highway system • Joe Frank Harris: 1983-1991 – brought over 850,000 jobs; Georgia Dome; World Congress Center expansion • Educational Improvements • Full-day kindergarten; increased teachers’ salaries; testing of teachers; QBE (Quality Basic Education) standard curriculum • Georgia Gets a New Constitution • Adopted 1982 after 5 years work to shorten it

The Two-Georgia Debate Continues • Population of Georgia grew in 1980s • People moved to Georgia for mild climate, low taxes, low fuel costs, land, and non-union workers • Georgia now one of the fastest growing states • Two Georgias: • Atlanta: fast growing and prosperous, generating most taxes, expanding business • Rural: declining population, more poverty, higher unemployment, young people moved to urban areas Click to return to Table of Contents.

Where are GA’s highest concentrations of population located?

Atlanta 519,000 - 416,000Augusta 193,000 -195,000Columbus 187,000 - 185,000Savannah 125,000 - 127,000Athens 111,000 - 120,000

Section 2: The 1990s • ESSENTIAL QUESTION: • How did Georgia change economically and politically in the 1990s?

SS8H12 The student will explain the importance of significant social, economic, and political developments in Georgia since 1970. b. Describe the role of Jimmy Carter in Georgia as state senator, governor, president, and past president. d. Evaluate the effect of the 1996 Olympic Games on Georgia. e. Evaluate the importance of new immigrant communities to the growth and economy of Georgia. Geography SS8G2 The student will explain how the Interstate Highway System, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and Georgia’s deepwater ports help drive the state’s economy. a. Explain how the three transportation systems interact to provide domestic and international goods to the people of Georgia. b. Explain how the three transportation systems interact to provide producers and service providers in Georgia with national and international markets. c. Explain how the three transportation systems provide jobs for Georgians.

Section 2: The 1990s • What words do I need to know? • downsizing • bankruptcy • HOPE scholarship program • infrastructure

The 1990s • recession: economic slowdown; decreased demand for products and services, increased unemployment, decreased wages • downsizing: companies’ reaction to recession – laying off workers to cut costs • When workers don’t have jobs, they don’t spend money, causing greater recession • Many Georgians filed for bankruptcy protection because they had borrowed more money on credit than they could pay back

The Persian Gulf War • August 1990: Iraq (led by Saddam Hussein) invaded Kuwait • President George Herbert Walker Bush joined Operation Desert Shield and later Desert Storm to free Kuwait from Saddam Hussein • January 16, 1991: US and allies began bombing Iraq • March 3, 1991: Iraq accepts terms of cease fire and begins to leave Kuwait • Ecological disaster left behind: oil fires, 10 million gallons of oil dumped in Persian Gulf

Political Changes in a Conservative South • Conservative voters elected conservative Democrats and Republicans • In 1980, Mack Mattingly was first Republican US Senator since Reconstruction – by 1992, most were Republicans • Cynthia McKinney: Democrat, first black woman elected from Georgia to Congress • John Lewis: Democrat, civil rights leader, senior member of Georgia’s congressional delegation

Political Changes in a Conservative South • Newt Gingrich: Republican, became Speaker of the US House in 1994, “Contract with America” promised to reduce size of government, resigned in 1998 after poor election results for Republicans • Sam Nunn: Democrat, served as US Senator 1972-1996, expert on military affairs • Zell Miller: Democrat, Lt. Governor then Governor (1990-1999), known for educational improvements, “boot-camp” style prisons, state lottery for education – pre-Kindergarten, HOPE scholarships, promoted growth in North Georgia, became US Senator from Georgia

Georgia Hosts the Olympics • Summer 1996: Atlanta hosted XXVI Olympiad • 10,000 athletes from 197 countries • 90,000 volunteers in Atlanta and other Georgia cities and locations • Brought international attention to the city and state • July 29, 1996: Bomb in Olympic Park killed one visitor and injured 117 • Traffic problems brought much criticism • Too many street vendors and commercialism were other concerns • “Southern hospitality” and athletic competition were noteworthy

Where is this monument located?

Section 3: Terrorism at Home and Abroad • ESSENTIAL QUESTION • How did the acts of terrorists change Georgia?

Terrorism at Home and Abroad • terrorism: acts of violence aimed at demoralizing or intimidating others • 1993: bomb at World Trade Center garage in New York City • 1995: Oklahoma City Murrah Federal Building – car bomb kills 168 people • 1998: US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania bombed killing hundreds, injuring thousands – attacks linked to al-Qaeda • al-Qaeda: Islamic terrorist group led by Osama bin Laden – wealthy Saudi Arabian terrorist • 2000: USS Cole attacked • 2001: George W. Bush becomes president

Damage from the first terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, Feb. 26, 1993.

Oklahoma City bombing

Damage sustained by the USS Cole in terrorist attack.

Bringing the Cole home for repair.

“The Day That Changed America” • September 11, 2001: Islamic terrorists hijack US passenger planes and crash them into the World Trade Center and Pentagon • One additional plane (United flight 93) was re-taken by passengers but crashed in Pennsylvania • WTC towers collapse killing 2,774

9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden and the hijackers.

Operation Enduring Freedom • al-Qaeda linked to the September 11 attacks – based in Afghanistan • October 2001: Operation Enduring Freedom – US and other nations’ troops invade Afghanistan to destroy al-Qaeda camps and destroy Taliban government • Osama bin Laden escaped • Department of Homeland Security created to work to protect Americans at home

After ten years of hiding, Osama bin Laden was killed by members of a Navy Seals team on May 5, 2011.

Operation Iraqi Freedom • Saddam Hussein in Iraq continued to violate UN resolutions regarding weapons of mass destruction and inspections • March 19, 2003: US and coalition forces attack Iraq – combat phase over by May • US troops continued to work in Iraq for over two years • Saddam Hussein captured • Weapons of mass destruction were not found

A Touch of Home • Officers in Iraq told not to raise the US flag since the Iraqis were not defeated – only their dictator defeated • April 2003 – Georgia troops in Iraq make the news raising flag of the University of Georgia Bulldogs!

Section 4: Georgia in a New Century • ESSENTIAL QUESTION • What important issues face Georgians in the 21st century?

Section 4: Georgia in a New Century • What words do I need to know? • Georgia Regional Transportation Authority

Roy E. Barnes • 1999: Roy Barnes, Democrat, becomes governor • Served 24 years in legislature • Costliest campaign for governor in GA history • Worked to change the state flag, reform education, and build transportation projects such as the Northern Arc

The State Flag Issue • 1956: Georgia flag changed to incorporate the St. Andrew’s cross, a Confederate battle emblem • Some African Americans were offended as were some modern leaders – concerned the flag focused on slavery and the past • Governor Barnes led effort to have flag changed • New flag approved in 2001 but was unpopular • The flag controversy was one factor in Barnes losing his re-election bid for governor • 2003: Governor Sonny Purdue signed bill creating new Georgia flag

Many Georgians were angered by Barnes’s decision to change the state flag. The tourism industry played a major role in the change of Georgia’s flag.

Highway Issues • Pollution and traffic congestion in Atlanta were problems • Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) created by Gov. Barnes to address traffic problems • Auto pollution (emissions) were reduced • Plans for 59-mile Northern Arc north of Atlanta were put on hold by Gov. Barnes and abandoned by Gov. Purdue

Education Reform • Barnes began reduction of class sizes in lower grades, a building and renovation program for schools, and addition of school nurses • Student achievement did not improve greatly • Barnes was not re-elected and many of his reforms did not continue

Georgia Elects Republican Governor • Sonny Purdue, Republican, elected in 2002 • First Republican governor in Georgia in 130 years • Georgia legislature had Democratic majority until 2004 • Georgians elected Republicans to the US Senate and most of US House of Representatives • Voters gave Georgia a two-party system

Challenges for the Future Three main challenges: • water resources • differences between urban and rural Georgia • tremendous population growth Alabama, Florida and US government have demanded Georgia reduce water use and pollution; Tennessee wants Georgia to reduce use of water from the Tennessee River Difficult to fund services such as schools in rural areas 8 million people live in Georgia – large increase puts demands on environment Click to return to Table of Contents.

Georgia and the American Experience