Changes In The Southern Region Of The United States After World War II

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After World War II there were quite a number of drastic changes happening throughout the Southern region of the United States. Demographic changes played a huge role in shaping the new Southern identity, as well as a number of economic, political, and cultural changes as well. Though these were not all considered good for the region, James Gregory in Leveraging Civil Rights and Pete Daniel in Going Among Strangers highlight some key challenges that came along after the war. The Southern region of the United States experienced significant demographic changes after World War II. One of the most important of these changes was the influx of migrants from other parts of the country. According to James Gregory, this migration was driven by a “variety …show more content…

One of the most important of these changes was the emergence of the Civil Rights Movement. According to James Gregory, this movement was driven by a variety of factors as well, including the frustration of African Americans with the “slow pace of change” and the “growing sense of frustration and anger” among young people in the wake of the Vietnam War (Gregory, 242). The movement was also driven by the efforts of civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, who galvanized support for the cause of racial …show more content…

One of the most important of these changes was the shift from an agricultural to an industrial economy. This led to an increase in the demand for labor, which in turn led to the growth of the industrial sector.
Pete Daniel provides additional insight into the economic changes that occurred in the South after World War II. Daniel notes that the growth of the manufacturing sector in the South was driven by the availability of “cheap labor, the presence of natural resources such as coal and timber, and the favorable business climate” created by the Southern political establishment (Daniel, 17). However, Daniel also notes that the growth of the manufacturing sector in the South was often accompanied by low wages, poor working conditions, and a lack of job security.
One of the most important cultural changes in the Southern region of the United States after World War II was the emergence of the Civil Rights Movement. James Gregory noted the movement challenged the dominant cultural norms of the region, which had long been characterized by racial segregation and discrimination. The movement gave voice to African Americans who had been marginalized and excluded from mainstream culture, and it created a space for alternative cultural expressions that challenged the status