1956

 

Led by Governor Marvin Griffin, the Georgia Legislature adopted an Interposition Resolution, trying to declare the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in the Brown v. Board of Education (see 1954 and 1955) null and void in Georgia. Several other notable bills passed, also in response the Supreme Court decisions, in what came to be called Georgia's "massive resistance" packet of legislation. Across the South, most Senators and Represntatives signed the Southern Manifesto - a declaration of constitutional reasons for opposing the decisions.

Testing the U.S. Supreme Court's decisions, two African-Americans applied for admission to the Georgia State College of Business Administration. Their applications were denied.

The Georgia State Flag was changed, adding an image of the Confederate Battle Flag to it; this flag would remain official until 2001.

Herman Talmadge was elected to the U.S. Senate.

Atlanta was chosen as the hub of a 41,000 mile interstate highway system. The Downtown Connector, which would eventually link these highways in the Atlanta area, opened.

The NAACP awarded its annual Spingarn Medal, for outstanding achievement by an African-American, to Jackie Robinson.

The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame was created, though it would not have a permanent, physical home until 1999.

"Long Tall Sally" by Richard Penniman, better known as Little Richard, topped the popular music charts.

Future Atlanta Brave baseball great Dale Murphy was born in Oregon.

Future Olympic gold medalist Edwin Moses was born in Ohio.

Further Information:

The Southern Manifesto

Georgia State Flag 1956-2001

Photo of Signing Ceremony for Bill Changing Georgia's State Flag

Joint Resolution of the Georgia General Assembly - Interposition Resolution

Joint Resolution of the Georgia General Assembly - Committee to Confer with Other States

Joint Resolution of the Georgia General Assembly Censuring U.S. Attorney General

Joint Resolution of the Georgia General Assembly on Aid to Farmers

Joint Resolution of the Georgia General Assembly on Preserving Battle Flags of the Confederacy

Joint Resolution of the Georgia General Assembly on Federal Aid for Education Bill

Joint Resolution of the Georgia General Assembly on All South Centennial Committee

Joint Resolution of the Georgia General Assembly on Federal Aid for Education Bill

Joint Resolution of the Georgia General Assembly on Surplus Agricultural Commodities

Georgia Transportation Timeline

Georgia Sports Hall of Fame

See the following This Day in Georgia History entries:

Jan.3(see 1947)	Jan.10	Jan.30	Jan.31	Feb.1
Feb.2	Feb.6	Feb.7	Feb.8	Feb.9
Feb.13	Feb.14	March9	March11	March12
March22	March23	March26	Apr.24(see 1999)	May27
June8	July1	Aug.7	Aug.9(see 1913)	Aug.31
Sept.5	Sept.29	Nov.9	Dec.10	Dec.27

 

 

 

 

 

 

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