Politics in Flux: The Georgians Behind the Republicanization of the South

TL;DRAbstract

This dissertation examines the Republicanization of Georgia, 1948-1984, through the lens of three Georgian counties that exemplify the key social and economic divides that permeate the South.Pierce and Hancock are both rural, agricultural counties, with economies and, up until the last five years, populations in a steady decline, but while Pierce County's citizens are primarily white, Hancock County's are solidly African American.In comparison, DeKalb County, which contains a portion of the Atlanta metropolitan area, has steadily become more ethnically, racially, and economically diverse with Atlanta's growth.In 1948, both Pierce and Hancock were part of the Democratic Solid South.Today, in state and national elections, Pierce votes solidly Republican and Hancock solidly Democratic, while for local offices Pierce, like Hancock County, continues to vote Democratic.In DeKalb, just as it was in 1948, neither party can claim a definitive hold on the electorate.and Macie Farmer for allowing

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