Which major societal issue did Georgia face during the time of the Civil Rights Movement?

The major societal issue that Georgia faced during the time of the Civil Rights Movement was racial segregation. This was a significant and pervasive practice that enforced the separation of races in various public spaces, including schools, transportation, and restaurants. The Civil Rights Movement sought to address and dismantle these injustices through activism, legislation, and judicial action.

In Georgia, as in many Southern states, segregation laws institutionalized discrimination against African Americans, who faced systemic barriers to voting, education, and access to public facilities. Key events, such as the Atlanta sit-ins and the establishment of organizations like the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), highlighted the struggle for civil rights and equality. This environment fostered a wave of protests and significant legal challenges aimed at achieving desegregation and equal rights, making racial segregation the defining issue of that era in Georgia.

While economic downturns, environmental changes, and political corruption might have been factors affecting the state, they were not the central focus during the Civil Rights Movement. The movement was fundamentally about addressing racial injustices and fighting for equality, making racial segregation the correct answer.