By: Mrs. Nicholson

1. Virginia in the 20th Century By: Mrs. Nicholson

2. Woodrow Wilson • Born in Staunton, Virginia • 28th President • 1913-1921 • President during World War I

3. Virginia & World War I World War I (WWI) started in 1914. The United States entered the war in 1917. Virginia played an important role during the war. • The shipyards at Newport News & the ports at Norfolk and Portsmouth became major centers for transporting supplies. • Coal became an important fuel. • The naval base at Norfolk became headquarters for the Atlantic fleet of the United States Navy. • The United States Marine Corps set up its headquarters.

4. SUFFRAGE Women got the right to vote in 1920. • After World War I, many Americans thought that women should have a right to vote. Lila Meade Valentine and Ellen Glasgow were Virginians who helped to start the Equal Suffrage League. This organization was formed to fight for women’s rights to vote. • The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed which gave women the right to vote in state and national elections.

5. Harry F. Byrd, Sr. • Governor of Virginia (1926-1930) • He later became U.S. Senator • He created the “pay as you go” policy to improve roads. He did not want to borrow money. He wanted the tax on gasoline to pay for the improvements.

6. The Great Depression • Businesses failed and many people lost their jobs. • Many banks closed and people lost their savings. • In Virginia, coal miners and farm workers had hard times. • Some Virginians who worked for the government or the military were able to keep their jobs.

7. Pres. Roosevelt & the New Deal • Franklin D. Roosevelt was President in 1932. • He had a plan called the New Deal. • This was a plan to create jobs for people and get businesses started again. • Virginians working in New Deal programs built public buildings and state parks. One project was Skyline Drive.

8. World War II • World War II (WWII) began in 1939. The U.S. tried to stay out of the war but on Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese planes bombed the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Pres. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan and its allies, Germany and Italy. • Virginia again played an important role • Old ships from WWI were launched from VA’s ports. • Supplies from factories were shipped overseas. • Cities and towns grew when government workers moved to Virginia.

9. Civil Rights Movement • Civil Rights are the rights of ALL people to be treated equally under the law. • After WWII, African-Americans wanted full equality with white citizens. The Civil Rights Movement started in the 1950’s in the South by African-Americans.

10. “Separate but Equal” • Some people said it was not fair that black children and white children had to go to separate schools. • Others said it was fair because it was “separate but equal.” The Supreme Court upheld this decision in the “Plessy v. Ferguson” case saying it was legal. • BUT…the schools weren’t equal! Black schools had less money, fewer supplies and often no transportation to/from school.

11. Segregation vs. Integration In the 1950’s and 1960’s African-Americans protested against segregation and unfair laws. • They participated in sit-ins, boycotts and marches. • They wanted to remove prejudices and fight against discrimination. • They wanted society to be integrated. Integration- bringing people of different races together

12. Massive Resistance Movement • Harry F. Byrd, Sr. led the Massive Resistance Movement against integration of Virginia’s Public Schools in the late 1950’s. Virginia lawmakers ordered that schools be closed rather than integrated. • By the 1960’s, public schools were integrated. Black and white students were going to the same schools.

13. L. Douglas Wilder He was elected Governor of Virginia in 1989. He was the first African-American governor in America. Arthur Ashe Born in Richmond First African-American professional tennis player. Famous African-Americans