World War 1 (jul 28, 1914 – nov 11, 1918)

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Even though a majority of the fighting occurred in Europe, World War I still left a significant impact on Georgia. When the United States entered the war in 1917, it wasn’t long until Georgia became a crucial part of the national war effort. They were responsible for over 100,000 troops being added to the U.S. military as well as organizing war bond drives, Red Cross efforts, and food conservation campaigns to help support the overseas soldiers. There were also military training camps, such as Camp Gordon near Atlanta, Camp Hancock in Augusta, and Camp Benning near Columbus, being established and training new recruits. They brought economic activity and overall population growth to their surrounding areas. This helped change the Georgian landscape, not only physically but also socially.

The economic effect that the war had on Georgia's economy was also important seeing as there was a boom in cotton and food production during the war years. This short term prosperity did however mask much deeper problems within the state. Cotton farmers specifically suffered when the prices began to fall after the war, and the boll weevil infestation further devastated the crops. Despite this, Georgia’s agricultural and industrial contributions were still important during the war. Textile mills, in northern Georgia specifically, grew their production to supply fabric for uniforms and tents. Women and African Americans alike began to work in these mills, which reflected the shifts in labor during the war years.

There was also a major social impact on Georgia during this war, especially when it comes to race relations and civil rights. A multitude of african americans in the state joined the military or moved up north during the Great Migration. They seeked opportunities and to escape the racial violence they faced at the time. Despite their war contributions, Black Georgians were still dealing with segregation and discrimination during this time period and following the war as well. Racial tensions began to grow worse and worse, and the end of the war did not evidently bring the social change many people had hoped it would. Also, anti-German sentiments during the war also led to suspicion being cast on immigrants and heightened nativism.

Georgia saw World War I as a chance to assert its patriotic and national importance across the nation, however following the war, there were still challenges. Governor Hugh Dorsey, who was in office during the final years of the war, had to deal with both the war's aftermath and the growing unrest happening at home. This included a significant rise in racial violence and lynchings across the state. The war had also opened the door to new roles for women, African Americans, and urban workers alike, but it also intensified the tensions over who would be the ones to shape Georgia’s future. Even though no battles were fought on Georgian soil, World War I left its mark in shifting demographics, altered economic patterns, and unresolved social divisions that would carry into the next decade.


Sources:
https://georgiastudies.gpb.org/c17-s1
https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/world-war-i-in-georgia/

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