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8th Social Studies Post Test/Exam Study GuideChapter 1What is Culture? ? Culture is the way of life of a group of people. Culture includes such elements as religion, music, and food. ? Cultural anthropologists study groups of people to learn about their culture. ? The major religions of Louisiana are Catholic and Protestant; the religions of more recent immigrants include Buddhism and Islam. ? Louisiana music includes jazz, blues, Cajun music, zydeco, and country music. ? The foods most often associated with Louisiana came from the Cajuns and Creoles.Louisiana’s Festivals ? The earliest festivals throughout the world were a celebration of the harvest. Louisiana continued this tradition as an agricultural culture. ? The fall festivals featured important crops such as sugar cane and rice. ? Louisiana has hundreds of festivals every year, held in every month of the year. Food and music are often the focus of these festivals. ? Mardi Gras, Louisiana’s largest cultural celebration, was begun as part of the practice of the Catholic religion. The largest Mardi Gras is in New Orleans, but many other towns and cities also celebrate with parades.Louisiana’s Cultural Regions ? Louisiana can be divided into different cultural regions based on such factors as ethnic heritage, language, religion, food, music, or recreation. ? The Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism has divided the state into five cultural regions.Louisiana’s People ? Louisiana has many ethnic groups including Acadians, African Americans, American Indians, Anglos, Germans, Hispanics, and Italians. ? Recent immigration has brought more ethnic groups into the state.Chapter 2Louisiana’s Location ? Louisiana’s location can be described in terms of absolute location or relative location. ? The Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi River form two of the boundaries of Louisiana. Both have influenced the culture, history, and economy of the state.Louisiana’s Waterways ? Rivers form three of Louisiana’s natural boundaries. ? Louisiana’s other important waterways are the bayous and natural and manmade lakes. ? The state has almost five thousand miles of rivers, bayous, creeks, and canals.Louisiana’s Natural Regions ? Regions help identify, classify, and analyze geographic information about a place. These geographic regions are described by differences in relief, soil, and vegetation. ?? Louisiana has been divided into five natural regions. ? Some major regions are divided into smaller regions with similar geographic features.Louisiana’s Climate ? Louisiana has a humid subtropical climate. ? Northwest Louisiana has both the hottest and the coldest temperatures. The southern part of the state has milder temperatures and a longer growing season. ? Louisiana has a long growing season, which means that many crops can be grown here. ? The most common form of precipitation is rain. The most falls in southeast Louisiana. ? Winds cause damaging storms in Louisiana. People have died from some of these hurricanes and tornadoes. ? Tornadoes form quickly and can destroy buildings and uproot trees. ? Hurricanes cause major damage with high winds, a storm surge, and heavy rains.People and the Environment ? Louisiana’s natural environment has been altered by humans. ? Problems in the environment have been caused by humans and by nature. ? Flood-control efforts have saved people and farms from flooding but have had unplanned results. ? The biggest crisis is the loss of coastal wetlands, a problem that endangers both the environment and the economy. ? Louisiana’s coastline is losing land every year. Efforts to stop the loss must involve the federal government because this loss affects the entire countryChapter 3Basic Economic Concepts ? All people have economic needs and wants. ? Goods and services meet those needs and wants. ? Producers provide various goods and services to consumers. ? Resources are used to produce those goods and services. Wants and needs are unlimited but resources are not. ? This scarcity requires both producers and consumers to make choices. Each choice is an opportunity, with costs and benefits. Sometimes trade-offs are made, combining several options. ? An economy may be a market economy, a command economy, or a traditional economy. Louisiana is part of the market economy of the United States. Producers and consumers are free to make economic choices. An important concept of a market economy is supply and demand. ? An economy is based on the answers to four basic questions: what to produce, how to produce, how much to produce, and for whom to produce.Louisiana’s Economic History ? Louisiana’s first economic system was a traditional economy—the barter system of the Native Americans. ? Colonial Louisiana had a mercantile economy. ? By the time Louisiana became American in the nineteenth century, the economy was based on agriculture. ? In the twentieth century, the oil industry drove the state’s economy. ? Today’s twenty-first-century economy produces a variety of goods and services.Louisiana’s Resources ? Natural resources, capital resources, and human resources all contribute to this economy. Natural resources include mineral resources such as oil, natural gas, salt, sulphur, and lignite. The state also has biological resources such as forests, wildlife, and fish. ? Capital resources include ports, highways, and buildings. New capital resources include technology that helps improve the economy. ? Human resources are the people who do the work. Skilled workers are needed in today’s economy.Producing Goods and Services ? These natural, capital, and human resources produce many goods and services in Louisiana’s economy. ? Economic institutions include small businesses, corporations, banks, and labor unions. ? Louisiana is part of the U.S. economy. Today’s economy is more global and interdependent. ? Louisiana’s economy has been affected by changes in U.S. trade policies. ? The success of the current U.S. economy is measured by several economic indicators. These include the GDP, the CPI, and the unemployment rate.Chapter 4Democratic Government ? Government is an organization in a society with the authority to make, carry out, and enforce laws. In a democracy, this power comes from the people and is limited by the people. ? A democratic government protects individual rights and promotes the common good. ? Louisiana government has roots in the state’s colonial days, with some of today’s laws based on French and Spanish ideas. ? When Louisiana became a state in 1812, a constitution was written. ? The United States government, the state government, and local governments have specific powers and responsibilities as described in the U.S. Constitution and the Louisiana constitution. ? The U.S. Constitution gives some powers to states, shares other powers with the states, and keeps some powers only for the federal government. The state constitution receives its power from the U.S. Constitution and the people of the state.The Structure of State Government ? The state government has three branches—the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch—and a separation of powers among those branches. ? Each branch of state government checks and balances the power of the other two branches. ? The executive branch carries out the laws and runs the government. ? The legislative branch makes the laws. The Louisiana legislature has two bodies—the house of representatives and the senate. ? The judicial branch interprets and applies the laws. Louisiana has two kinds of law—civil and criminal. ? The state court system has three levels: district courts, courts of appeal, and the Louisiana supreme court. ? The state budget is an annual plan for receiving and spending money. The money comes mainly from taxes but also from some other sources.Local Governments ? The state has sixty-four parishes, and most parishes have a police jury form of government. ? Cities and towns also have local governments. ? A school board is a special local government.Citizens and Government ? Citizens have rights and responsibilities. ? You can vote when you are 18. ? Candidates campaign to win votes. A candidate is usually a member of a political party. ? Elections in Louisiana have the open primary system.Chapter 5Prehistoric Cultures ? American Indians lived in Louisiana thousands of years before any Europeans came. Scientists have classified these prehistoric people into several time periods according to their hunting and settlement practices. ? The Paleo Indians were nomads that followed the animals they hunted. ? The Meso Indians hunted smaller animals and gathered fruits and vegetables. They stayed in one place longer, building houses and the first mounds. ? The early Neo Indians made the first pottery, lived in villages, and developed trade. ? The late Neo Indians farmed, built more permanent homes, and built temple mounds.Historic Indian Tribes ? The historic period began when the Europeans arrived and recorded information. ? By this time, Louisiana’s American Indians had distinct languages, social and political organizations, belief systems, and customs. ? The Atakapa lived in southwest Louisiana and were known as cannibals by other tribes. ? The Natchez had a complex social structure and were ruled by the “Great Sun.” They had large villages and farms and were almost completely wiped out by the French. ? The Caddo hunted bison from horseback and also grew crops. ? The Choctaw, the second-largest tribe in the Southeast, became important allies of the French. They farmed and also traded. ? The Houma were driven into the marsh and swamps by the French and learned to trap and fish. They live in that area today. Baton Rouge is the French name for a Houma marker. Chapter Summary 171 ? The Tunica trading skill gave them power during the European colonial days. The Tunica and the Biloxi were pushed from their traditional lands and now have a reservation near Marksville. ? The Chitimacha originally lived in South Louisiana. Today they are the only Louisiana tribe that lives on its ancestral lands. ? The Coushatta encountered the Spanish explorer de Soto and moved further south. They now have a reservation in Allen Parish. Members of the Coushatta tribe still speak their language.Early Historic Culture ? Many American Indians lived in villages that were organized according to clans or social class. ? Clothing was usually simple, made from available materials and suited to the climate. The Natchez wore more elaborate clothing, including feather capes. ? Work involved hunting, fishing, and farming. Men could make a pirogue from a cypress log, and women made beautiful baskets. Children’s play imitated adult work. ? Most houses were made from available material. Sometimes a wood frame was covered with a clay-and-moss mixture. The Caddo built log houses. ? Corn was the main food crop, and sagamite made from corn was an important dish. Bear oil was valuable for cooking and was often traded. ? The religion of each tribe was based on the concept of sacred harmony. Harvest festivals were religious ceremonies. ? Tribes had war chiefs and peace chiefs. Some tribes included women in their governments. Smoking the calumet was an important ritual.Chapter 6The French Come to Louisiana ? France, Great Britain, and Spain wanted to control North America. ? Joliet and Marquette explored the upper Mississippi River for France. La Salle claimed all of the land drained by the river for Louis XIV. ? Iberville founded the French colony of Louisiana by building Fort Maurepas. Later several other forts were built. ? All governors faced problems because they shared authority with another colonial official. ? Lack of food and support from France created miserable conditions for the colonists. ? The Indians accepted the colonists at first but soon resented them as intruders.Louisiana as a Proprietorship ? The king allowed Crozat to operate the colony as a proprietorship. ? Crozat chose Cadillac as governor, and St. Denis established a fort at Natchitoches to trade with the Spanish. ? Crozat did not make money, and the Company of the West took over the colony. ? John Law sold stock in the Company to investors. The price of the stock soared, and then the Mississippi Bubble collapsed. ? Law recruited a group of German farmers as colonists, and they improved the colony. ? Slaves were brought to the colony, and the Code Noir was passed to manage the slaves. ? The Company sent Perier as the new governor. He was blamed for the Natchez uprising when the Chapter Summary 203 Natchez Indians attacked the settlers after a French official took their land. ? After the uprising, too few colonists wanted to settle in the area. Because of this major loss, the Company of the West returned the colony to the king.A Royal Colony Again ? Bienville returned as governor but returned to France when he could not win a clear victory in the war against the Chickasaw. ? Governor Vaudreuil was very formal and dignified but was able to reduce the Indian threat. Kerlerec became the next governor and was soon involved in conflicts. ? The colonists included French Canadian woodsmen, German farmers, slaves, soldiers, and nuns and priests. ? Convicts were sent to the colony, and some women also came to marry the male colonists. One group was called the casket girls. ? The official religion was Roman Catholic, and no other religion was allowed. Priests and nuns provided schools, and nuns cared for the sick. ? Mardi Gras was celebrated. ? For entertainment, people danced, played cards, and gambled. ? A few people lived in elegant homes, but most people lived in simple log houses. ? Some clothing was imported from France, but most clothing was made from imported cloth. ? They knew little about the diseases such as smallpox and yellow fever that killed many. ? Decisions made in France and the lack of enough good colonists created problems.Chapter 7Louisiana Becomes a Spanish Colony ? France traded Louisiana to Spain in return for money and military assistance. ? The agreement at the end of the French and Indian War gave the Florida Parishes to Great Britain. ? The first Acadians arrived in Louisiana during the colony’s transition from France to Spain. ? The first Spanish governor did not take control, and the colonists rebelled and forced him from the colony. ? The Spanish king sent a strong military leader, O’Reilly, to end the rebellion and punish the leaders. O’Reilly angered the French colonists by executing the leaders.Spanish Control ? O’Reilly ended the French Superior Council and set up the Cabildo. ? When Governor Unzaga took over, he allowed illegal smuggling so the colony could survive. ? Spain wanted loyal Spanish colonists and brought the Isle?os from the Canary Islands.Louisiana in the American Revolution ? When France joined the war on the side of the American colonies, Spain entered the war. ? The governor of Spanish Louisiana, Gálvez, seized the British forts on the east side of the Mississippi and at Mobile and Pensacola. ? The American Revolution ended with the Treaty of Paris. Spain was given British West Florida and now controlled both sides of the Mississippi in Louisiana.Spanish Louisiana after the American Revolution ? Governor Miro had trouble with American neighbors, Indian trade, and a major fire in New Orleans. Chapter Summary 233 ? Despite these difficulties, Spanish Louisiana continued to grow. The strong Spanish governors and the Spanish colonial system benefitted the colony. ? The French Revolution stirred unrest in the colony, and Governor Carondelet watched for signs of rebellion among the colonists. However, the colonists continued to speak French and live a French lifestyle. ? Western Americans pushed for more access to the port of New Orleans. The issue was settled by Pinckney’s Treaty. ? The population grew when people came from Haiti to escape the slave revolt. ? The colony’s first newspaper was published. ? Sugar cane became a profitable crop when Etienne de Boré improved the manufacturing process. ? Despite growth and improvements, the colony still did not support itself. Spain decided Louisiana was too expensive to keep.Chapter 8Louisiana Becomes American ? In 1802, Spain took away the right of deposit, and western farmers demanded action. ? In a secret transfer, Spain gave Louisiana back to France. ? Napoleon’s plans to take back North America were changed by the revolution in Haiti. ? Robert Livingston and James Monroe worked out the Louisiana Purchase in Paris, but the boundaries of the Louisiana Purchase were unclear. ? The present state of Louisiana became the Territory of Orleans, and William C. C. Claiborne was appointed governor. ? Americans began to move in, joining the Frenchspeaking Creoles. ? The area along the Sabine River became a neutral zone with no government control. ? Former Vice President Aaron Burr was accused of plotting against the United States. ? After the Louisiana Purchase, West Florida remained Spanish. The English-speaking people there revolted and were later accepted as part of the United States. ? As the agricultural economy grew, so did the number of slaves. After a large slave uprising in 1811, the leaders were executed.Louisiana Becomes a State ? Louisiana became a state on April 30, 1812. ? The first state constitution was written at a convention led by Julien Poydras. ? William C. C. Claiborne became the first elected governor. He faced a number of problems.The War of 1812 ? The British blocked the port of New Orleans during the War of 1812. ? By the end of 1814, the British set out to Chapter Summary 267 capture the city. The United States sent Andrew Jackson to protect the city. ? Jackson’s army included the state militia, Kentucky sharpshooters, Choctaw Indians, and Jean Lafitte and his men. ? Jackson and Governor Claiborne doubted the loyalty of the Creoles, but the people promised their full support as new Americans. ? A series of battles ended with the final Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815. Jackson and his men won an overwhelming victory. Neither side knew that the war had already ended, but the United States had proved its strength. ? A treaty settled the boundary with Spanish Texas in 1819, and the United States built Fort Jesup.Growth and Progress ? In 1812, the first steamboat came to New Orleans; soon hundreds of steamboats brought passengers and goods to the city. ? Captain Henry Miller Shreve cleared the great raft from the Red River. ? The people of Louisiana were pleased to learn of Texas independence from Mexico in 1836.Chapter 9The People of Antebellum Louisiana ? The Creoles still spoke French and continued their customs. Many free people of color also spoke French and were part of Creole culture. Another group of Creoles came to Louisiana after the slave revolution in Haiti. More Frenchspeaking people left France because of the French Revolution. ? Irish immigrants came during the colonial period, but the largest number came after the 1830s because of poverty and famine in Ireland. ? Many pioneers in North Louisiana lived a frontier lifestyle. ? Acadians continued their traditional lifestyles of farming and fishing. ? The Native Americans had almost disappeared; the last large group, the Caddo, had been pushed out. ? Despite being treated as property, slaves developed a culture within those restrictions.Antebellum Politics ? The Creoles and the Americans did not agree on how the government should be run. ? The capital was moved to Donaldsonville briefly because the Americans did not like having the capital in New Orleans. ? Political parties in the state did not really focus on national elections until 1828, when Andrew Jackson ran for president. ? Sugar planters supported the Whig Party because of tariffs. ? The American Party controlled the government in New Orleans from 1854 until the Civil War. ? The state constitution was rewritten in 1845 because of the financial panic of 1837. In 1852, another constitution was written to improve banking.The Antebellum Economy ? New Orleans was a booming port, with only the port of New York being larger. New Orleans was the fourth largest city in the United States, and other towns and villages were also growing. ? Louisiana banks were strong and stable economic institutions that provided the loans needed in a plantation economy. ? The invention of the cotton gin made growing cotton highly profitable. ? Sugar became more profitable when Norbert Rillieux invented the vacuum pan. ? The growth of plantations brought even more slaves to Louisiana. Only a few people operated large plantations with slave labor. Most farmers had small farms and grew enough to provide for their families. ? Steamboats continued to be important transportation, and canals were dug to connect natural waterways. ? Railroads became a new capital resource during this period, and the state government helped pay for them.Antebellum Life ? Mail was delivered on horseback until telegraph lines brought faster communication. Newspapers were published in several languages. ? The constitution of 1845 established a public school system, but it was poorly funded. ? Epidemics of diseases such as yellow fever killed many people during this period. ? Several Protestant churches were established during this period, partly influenced by the Second Great Awakening. ? Entertainment included theater and opera in New Orleans and dancing and horse racing everywhere.Chapter 10The Road to War ? When Republican Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860, Louisiana seceded from the Union. Propaganda influenced this decision, as newspapers and ministers pushed for secession. ? Louisiana joined the Confederate States of America. ? The Civil War began in April 1861. Eager Louisiana volunteers at first thought the war would be over in months not years. Later the Confederacy needed a draft—conscription—to get enough soldiers.The War in Louisiana ? The Union blockaded the port of New Orleans. Then Admiral Farragut’s gunboats seized the city. New Orleans was occupied by the Union army for the rest of the war years. ? The Union army took Baton Rouge, and careless troops burned the Capitol. ? Many battles were fought along Bayou Lafourche and Bayou Teche, causing great suffering for the people there. The Union army seized sugar and other goods. ? The Union wanted to control the Mississippi River, and General Grant took Vicksburg after a siege. Port Hudson fell to the Union after another siege. ? The Union planned the Red River Campaign to confiscate cotton and take Shreveport. ? The Union and Confederate armies fought in the battles of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill. The Union army then headed south, away from Shreveport. ? Alexandria was burned by the Union troops as the army left the area. Chapter Summary 341 Civilian Life ? Both armies took food and supplies from civilians. Some Union soldiers vandalized homes and other property. Jayhawkers also looted. ? The people faced shortages, and speculators drove up the prices of available goods. ? Congress passed the Confiscation Act in 1862. General Butler confiscated slaves to work for the Union. Large groups of slaves followed the Union troops. ? President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation to free the Confederate slaves. ? The Louisiana Native Guards, free men of color, fought with the Union at Port Hudson. Former slaves were finally accepted as soldiers in the Union army. ? Life in occupied New Orleans was difficult under General Butler. He said women would be punished for being disrespectful to the Union and confiscated the property of Confederates. ? General Banks, who replaced General Butler, was not as strict.Wartime Governments ? President Lincoln wanted a state government that supported the Union. After 10 percent of the people in occupied Louisiana signed a loyalty oath, a governor was elected. ? The Confederate state government kept moving as the Union controlled more of the state. ? Henry Watkins Allen, the Confederate governor, led the people through the crisis. ? The Civil War ended when General Lee surrendered to General Grant on April 9, 1865.Chapter 11After the War ? Louisiana was heavily damaged by the Civil War. Many men had been killed or wounded, and parts of the state were left with barren land and burned buildings. ? President Lincoln put his plan for Reconstruction into effect during the war. He wanted to restore the Union quickly. Lincoln’s assassination, however, changed Reconstruction. ? The Freedmen’s Bureau was established to help the former slaves. ? Congress and President Andrew Johnson clashed over Reconstruction; Congress thought the president was too easy on the former Confederates. ? The former Confederates passed Black Codes to control freedmen. ? An attempt to give the right to vote to freedmen caused a riot in New Orleans.Military Reconstruction ? Congress responded with military Reconstruction, also called radical Reconstruction. ? Former Confederates lost the right to vote. ? Radical Republicans controlled Louisiana politics. ? The former Confederates, called Redeemers, organized the Knights of the White Camellia to fight this control.The Last Years of Reconstruction ? The last years of Reconstruction were filled with violence and voter intimidation. ? After a contested election in Colfax, many freedmen were killed. ? The Unification Movement attempted to reach a compromise, but the effort failed. ? Former Confederates organized the White League and threatened freedmen to keep them from voting for Republicans. ? The presidential election of 1876 ended Reconstruction because of an agreement between the Republicans and Democrats in Washington.Rebuilding Louisiana ? Louisiana struggled to rebuild the economy. Towns that had been damaged or destroyed slowly recovered. ? Sharecropping developed on plantations. ? People wanted to rebuild their lives, and entertainment helped make life easier. ? The Freedmen’s Bureau started schools for freedmen. Some northern churches also provided teachers and schools including colleges. But the political conflicts interfered with education. ? African American churches developed as important institutions.Chapter 12Political Control ? When U.S. troops left the state, the Democrats regained political control. ? Francis T. Nicholls, the first Democrat elected governor after Reconstruction, challenged the Louisiana Lottery Company, a private business operating in the state. The lottery used its money to influence legislators. ? The constitution of 1879 removed equal rights and set up segregated schools that were never well funded. ? Murphy J. Foster was elected in 1892 as an opponent of the lottery, which finally ended. ? The Populists were a new political group of farmers and workers. ? The Republicans and the Populists joined in the fusion movement to try to defeat the Democrats and gain control of the state. A bitter election resulted in the re-election of Democrat Murphy J. Foster. ? The Democrats pushed for another new constitution in 1898. This constitution required voters to own property, be literate, and pay a poll tax. The constitution also took away the right to vote from the freedmen, but anyone who had voted before 1867 was “grandfathered in.”Segregation, Discrimination, and Conflicts ? Jim Crow laws required separate public facilities for blacks and for whites. ? Violence and vigilante actions arose from social unrest. ? A Supreme Court decision, Plessy v. Ferguson, said that Louisiana’s separate-but-equal laws were constitutional. ? The harsh convict lease system was used as a way to get cheap labor. ? The beginning of the labor union movement reached Louisiana.Economic and Cultural Progress ? Louisiana’s economy began to improve. ? Farmers came to southwest Louisiana from the Midwest and developed rice farms. ? Sawmill towns developed as the forests were cut and sold. New towns also developed with the railroads. ? The oil and gas industry began to boom with the beginning of the twentieth century. ? Sulphur and salt mining were very profitable. ? New railroads, automobiles, and airplanes changed Louisiana. ? Conveniences like telephones and electricity brought progress.The Progressive Movement ? With the new century, people began to consider the quality of life. ? People in the progressive movement wanted government to fight poverty and regulate business. ? Louisiana’s governors during this period brought reforms in education and other areas but were still conservative.Chapter 13Cultural and Political Change ? The music of the Roaring Twenties was New Orleans jazz. ? Radio and the movies brought progress and cultural change. ? The antiliquor movement led to prohibition with the Eighteenth Amendment passed in 1917. Prohibition led to illegal activities and was repealed with the Twenty-first Amendment in 1933. ? Women received the right to vote with the Nineteenth Amendment. ? Governor John M. Parker advocated a severance tax. The progressive Parker also faced problems with the Ku Klux Klan. ? The new constitution passed in 1921 showed progress with some environmental protection and the creation of the Railroad Commission.The 1927 Flood ? A major disaster hit Louisiana with the 1927 flood of the Mississippi. The levee broke near Tallulah, and millions of acres were flooded. ? Relief efforts began to help the people who had lost their homes. ? Fear of flooding in New Orleans led to a deliberate break in the levee below the city.Huey Long ? Huey Long became a powerful political figure who was either loved or hated. ? As governor, Long abolished the poll tax, provided free textbooks for schoolchildren, and had roads paved. ? Long had a bitter feud with Standard Oil because he wanted the company to pay much higher taxes. ? Long’s rough methods led to impeachment by the state house of representatives, but the senate would not agree to remove him from office. ? Long was then elected to the United States Senate and soon clashed with President Roosevelt. ? Huey Long’s Share the Wealth plan appealed to the poor during the depression. ? Long was killed in the State Capitol, and people still disagree about what happened. ? After his death, Long’s political followers were caught in a scandal that sent several to prison.The Great Depression in Louisiana ? The Great Depression led to the highest unemployment rate in state history. ? People in rural Louisiana coped better because they could grow food. ? Banks were closed temporarily to save the economy. ? President Roosevelt’s New Deal programs helped Louisiana. The Federal Emergency Relief Administration and the commodity program gave direct help to the needy. The Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration provided jobs. ? The Rural Electrification Administration brought electricity to rural Louisiana homes.Chapter 14Louisiana in World War II ? Major military training, called the Maneuvers, was held in Louisiana. ? On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked the naval base at Pearl Harbor. As a result, the United States entered World War II. ? Civilian life was called the “home front,” and people did their part with rationing, growing victory gardens, and participating in civil defense activities. ? Defense plants in Louisiana included the shipyard that built the famous Higgins boats. ? Women worked in the plants because so many men were serving in the military. ? USOs were established near military bases to provide entertainment and support for the troops. ? Louisiana had a number of POW camps, and some POWs worked to help bring in crops. ? When World War II ended, the G.I. Bill helped the veterans get housing and an education.Louisiana’s Governors ? Politics in Louisiana was a struggle between proLongs and anti-Longs. ? Sam Jones was elected as a reformer promising an honest, efficient government. ? Jimmie Davis, elected in 1944 as another antiLong, was able to fund improvements because of the good economy but most attention was on the war. ? The prosperity brought by the war provided plenty of money for the state budget and both Jones and Davis left a budget surplus. ? The state elected the colorful Earl Long in 1948. He increased social programs and raised taxes to fund his plans. ? The next governor, Robert Kennon, was an antiLong described as using a “civics book” approach. Governor Kennon and the head of the state police fought illegal gambling. ? With Governor Kennon’s encouragement, the legislature passed a law requiring a two-thirds vote to raise taxes. ? Governor Jones had begun civil service, a job protection for state workers. Earl Long had this law repealed, and Kennon brought it back. ? The people elected Earl Long to follow Kennon in 1956. He had trouble funding new programs because it was more difficult to get the support of two-thirds of the legislature. He opposed the segregationists who were removing blacks from the voting rolls. ? The national publicity about his breakdown in 1959 overshadowed his intentions and his accomplishments.Postwar Changes ? Louisiana’s economy shifted from agriculture as the oil industry grew. ? Growth of labor unions led to the passage of a right-to-work law passed in 1954 under Governor Kennon. The law was repealed in 1956 when Earl Long became governor. ? The 1950s brought the cultural changes of television and rock and roll. ? The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union affected people in Louisiana. The danger of a nuclear attack led to civil defense drills and evacuation plans.Chapter 15Segregation ? Legal and social segregation was the way of life in the South. ? The Baton Rouge bus boycott was an early civil rights protest. ? The Citizens’ Council was an organization of white segregationists. ? The NAACP worked to bring an end to segregation in schools. The 1954 United States Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka said that segregation was unconstitutional. ? Desegregation started in New Orleans with protests and boycotts. ? The legislature tried to block desegregation. ? Protests such as sit-ins brought more attention to the inequality. ? The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed by Congress to end segregation. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 outlawed literacy tests and poll taxes and protected black voters.State Government ? Governor Jimmie Davis’s accomplishments include the Sunshine Bridge, the Toledo Bend Dam, and a code of ethics for state government. ? Davis’s successor, John McKeithen, appointed a statewide biracial committee to bring the groups together and ease the tensions. McKeithen brought new businesses to Louisiana and improved the economy. He was so popular the voters changed the law so he could run for a second term. ? Building the Superdome caused some controversy, and labor violence was also a problem. ? Edwin Edwards became governor in 1972 after campaigning for social programs and a new constitution. Other laws passed during his two terms changed the way government operated and how labor unions operated in the state. ? African Americans held legislative positions for the first time since Reconstruction.Political and Social Changes ? Political and social changes brought more opportunities for women. ? The development of the interstate highway system led to the growth of suburbs. ? With U.S. involvement in Vietnam, Louisiana was once again the site of numerous training facilities. ? Louisiana participated in the Bicentennial of the United States in 1976.Chapter 16Challenges ? The extensive damage from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita had widespread and long-term impact. ? The oil bust of the 1980s hurt the economy, and many people lost their jobs. The economy is now improving, and long-range plans seek a diverse economy. ? Education is more important because of a changing economy and reforms have been made. The TOPS program pays college tuition for qualified students. ? Political trends have included a growth in the Republican Party and more women and minorities elected to public office. ? Louisiana elects some influential senators and congressmen in the twentieth century. Louisiana now has both Democrats and Republicans.Louisiana’s Contemporary Governors ? David Treen, the first Republican governor in the twentieth century, had budget problems because of the oil bust. He was also criticized because the state had to help finance the World’s Fair of 1984. ? Democrat Edwin Edwards was elected to his third term and faced legal problems. The economic problems of the state made it harder for him to fund state programs. ? Charles Roemer tried unsuccessfully to change the tax structure to correct the budget problems. His education reform focused on evaluating teachers. Elected as a Democrat, Roemer changed to the Republican Party during his term. ? Edwards was reelected for a fourth term, defeating David Duke. Medicaid spending was a major problem during this term. Edwards also pushed for a land-based casino in New Orleans. ? Mike Foster was a Republican who addressed the health care issues and started major education reform. He began a major building project in Capitol Park. ? Kathleen Blanco, a Democrat, was elected the first woman governor in 2003. She focused on economic improvement and changing Louisiana’s image. After the hurricanes of 2005, she faced the challenge of recovery and rebuilding.Quality of Life ? Health care is an issue because many people cannot afford health care insurance. ? Gaming is legalized gambling. Louisiana has a number of forms of gaming, including several casinos. Former Governor Edwards was convicted of crimes related to the gaming industry. ? Louisiana’s crime rate continues to be high. The juvenile justice system has been changed to keep more juveniles out of prison. ? Hazardous waste sites and chemical spills have created dangerous conditions. Federal and state agencies are correcting some of the problems. ? The state is urging the rest of the nation to help save Louisiana’s coast.Twenty-first Century Lifestyles ? People still enjoy traditional music as well as other music ranging from classical to rap. ? Theater began in colonial times and now includes professional performances and community theater groups. ? Art galleries around the state feature many Louisiana artists. The art includes folk art, photography, and sculpture. ? Louisiana has had many well-known writers. Ernest Gaines was nominated for the Nobel Prize for his novels about Louisiana. ? The state’s parks and forests are a favorite destination for residents and visitors alike ................
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