What was the outcome of the Three Governors Controversy?
a
Eugene Talmadge served as governor of Georgia for a third term.
b
Ellis Arnall became governor of Georgia.
c
Eugene Talmadge's son became governor of Georgia.
d
Lieutenant Governor Melvin Thompson became governor of Georgia.
b. Ellis Arnall became governor of Georgia.
The correct answer is b) Ellis Arnall became governor of Georgia.
To find the answer to this question, we can do some research on the Three Governors Controversy. The Three Governors Controversy refers to a political dispute that occurred in Georgia in the early 1940s.
Here's a brief explanation of what happened during the Three Governors Controversy. In the 1946 gubernatorial election in Georgia, Eugene Talmadge was elected as governor. However, he passed away before he could take office. The Georgia Constitution did not have a clear process for handling this situation, so it led to a contentious political dispute.
Three different individuals claimed to be the governor of Georgia:
1. Herman Talmadge (Eugene Talmadge's son) was supported by the legislature.
2. Melvin Thompson, the Lieutenant Governor, was endorsed by Georgia's Attorney General.
3. Ellis Arnall, the outgoing governor, believed that he should continue serving until a new election could be held.
Ultimately, the Georgia Supreme Court declared that Herman Talmadge was ineligible as he did not meet the legal requirements to hold the office. Melvin Thompson then served as governor for a brief period until a special election could be held.
In the special election of 1948, Ellis Arnall was elected as the Governor of Georgia. Hence, the correct answer is b) Ellis Arnall became governor of Georgia.