civil rights movement. what do you know or remember about the civil rights movement? brainstorm in...
Post on 18-Dec-2015
215 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
What do you know or remember about the Civil Rights Movement?
Brainstorm in small groups using the organizer
Select one of the following overviews of the Civil Rights
Movement:
Civil Rights Movement Overview [4:20]
History of the Civil Rights Movement
[5:52]
During this unit, you will be learning more specifically about some of the events and people you saw in the video, as well as,
many others.
However, before we get into specific events of the Civil Rights
Movement, we will examine events in Georgia that helped to fuel the Civil Rights Movement.
Standard:SS8H11a. Describe major developments in civil rights and Georgia’s role during the 1940s and 1950s; include the roles of Herman Talmadge, Benjamin Mays, the 1946 governor’s race and the end of the white primary, Brown v. Board of Education, Martin Luther King, Jr., and the 1956 state flag.
“White Primary” was a practice that did not allow African Americans to vote in the primary elections (first elections held to determine the candidates for the general election)
Georgia’s White Primary was ended by a federal court casein 1945
White Primary
Watch the Three Governors Controversy Part I video
[see resources].
Pay close attention to the problem that is described because you will need to discuss it with a partner.
1946 Governor’s RaceDescribe the problem…
• Eugene Talmadge was elected, but died before taking office
• Knowing he was sick, Eugene Talmadge supporters secretly wrote his son’s name, Herman on ballots
• The General Assembly chose the person with the largest write-in votes, Herman Talmadge
1946 Governor’s RaceDescribe the problem…
• The new constitution said the Lieutenant Governor [Melvin Thompson] would take office if the governor died
• The outgoing governor, Ellis Arnall refused to accept the General Assembly election results. He refused to give up his position until the issue was resolved
Watch the Three Governors Controversy Part II video
[see resources].
Pay close attention to the resolution so you can
discuss it with a partner.
1946 Governor’s RaceHow was it resolved?
• The Georgia Supreme Court ruled that the Lieutenant Governor [Thompson] was the rightful governor and Talmadge left the governor’s office• A special election was called
in 1948 and Talmadge closely defeated Thompson
Significance of the 1946 Governor’s Race
The 1946 Governor’s Race was an embarrassment for
the state that became nationwide news. More
importantly, it led to a series of segregationist governors
Herman Talmadge• Son of Eugene Talmadge who
ultimately lost in the 1946 Governor’s Race
• He won the Governor’s race in the 1948 special election
• Positive: He successfully pushed for a state sales tax to support Georgia’s public education system
Herman Talmadge• Positive: He brought more
industry to the state• Negative: He was an tough
segregationist who fought against the U.S. Supreme Court’s civil rights decisions, primarily the desegregation of schools.
• Negative: He wanted to restore the White Primary
Pro-civil rights court rulings such as Brown v. Board of Education angered many
southern states.
Southern states began urging their white citizens to display
acts of massive resistance against the federal mandates
banning segregation.
One of the ways the Georgia General Assembly showed
their disregard for these federal regulations was by
changing the state flag.
At that time, the Confederate battle flag had become a
symbol of southern protest and resistance to the federal
government.
The new state flag was symbolic of Georgia’s resistance to the
federal government’s integration laws.
Select one of the quotes below and discuss what is meant with a partner.
Representative Denmark Groover said that the flag “…will serve notice that we intend to uphold what we stood for, will stand for, and will fight for.”
Another Representative 40 years later said“There was only one reason for puttingthat flag on there. Like the gun rack inthe back of a pickup truck, it telegraphsa message.”
1956 State Flag
Current State Flag
In 2001, the governor changed the flag. In 2003, the people of Georgia were allowed to vote on the flag.
If you lived in Georgia during the 1940s and 1950s, which of the four topics discussed
below would have upset you the most? Explain your
answer.
White Primary 1946 Governor’s Race Eugene Talmadge 1956 State Flag
top related