Mayor William B. Hartsfield is best known for

a
being the first Atlanta mayor to be born outside the state of Georgia.
b
opposing efforts to integrate the public school system in the city of Atlanta.
c
making the city of Atlanta and the state of Georgia an important aviation center.
d
refusing to allow African Americans to vote in Atlanta elections.

c

making the city of Atlanta and the state of Georgia an important aviation center.

c) making the city of Atlanta and the state of Georgia an important aviation center.

The correct answer is c) making the city of Atlanta and the state of Georgia an important aviation center.

To determine Mayor William B. Hartsfield's most significant accomplishment, we must evaluate the options and consider relevant historical information.

Option a) being the first Atlanta mayor to be born outside the state of Georgia, may be interesting but does not reflect his major contributions to the city.

Option b) opposing efforts to integrate the public school system in the city of Atlanta, would have been a significant negative action, but there is no historical record or evidence indicating that Mayor Hartsfield took such a stance. Therefore, this option is not correct.

Option c) making the city of Atlanta and the state of Georgia an important aviation center, is the most accurate and significant achievement of Mayor Hartsfield. During his time in office (1937-1961), Hartsfield focused on expanding Atlanta's airports, attracting major airlines, and fostering the growth of the aviation industry. Under his leadership, Atlanta became a prominent hub for air transportation, with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport now being the busiest airport in the world.

Option d) refusing to allow African Americans to vote in Atlanta elections is not a correct statement. Mayor Hartsfield actually played a role in calming racial tensions and fostering positive race relations during his tenure. He worked to avoid violent conflicts and reached out to African American leaders, earning him the reputation of a moderate on civil rights issues.

Therefore, the correct answer is c) making the city of Atlanta and the state of Georgia an important aviation center.