Weekly Blog 9/20/12

This week we learned a lot about the history of Atlanta. We learned that because of all the railroads in Atlanta the city was expanding and changing shape. Because of all the railroads we were building we were able to trade with the rest of the USA. With all this trading businesses were able to be made and people were getting rich. Schools were being built and gas companies were being made. But Atlanta was separated. They divided the city by race. One side of it was white and the other was black. Soon a race riot started. Whites thought that blacks were harassing white women so a group attacked every black they saw. Some were killed and many where injured. Eventually they fought back and everyone started to stand down when the army was called in. Racism wasn't the only problem in ATL. Crime and job shortages were a big deal in this time. In 1930, Atlanta unfortunately became home to the Ku Klux Klan. When World War II was happening, women and children were working in the factories since the men had left. Whites moved to the suburbs. This brought federal laws to the city. As you can see we have come a long way since then and it's very hard to imagine living in that time period.