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The original idea was proposed by [[Henry Ford]] and conservative businessmen in the 1920s, but was blocked by liberals led by Senator [[George Norris]] who feared business. Norris, although nominally a Republican, supported President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and sponsored the TVA in 1933, even though it had no impact on his state of Nebraska.

The original idea was proposed by [[Henry Ford]] and conservative businessmen in the 1920s, but was blocked by liberals led by Senator [[George Norris]] who feared business. Norris, although nominally a Republican, supported President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and sponsored the TVA in 1933, even though it had no impact on his state of Nebraska.

The project successfully modernized most of Tennessee, which was hard hit by the [[Great Depression]].  Today Tennessee conservatives support the TVA.  However the economic growth of Tennessee  since 1933 closely parallels neighboring Kentucky, even though Kentucky has almost no TVA activity.

The project successfully modernized most of Tennessee, which was hard hit by the [[Great Depression]].  Today Tennessee conservatives support the TVA.  However the economic growth of Tennessee  since 1933 closely parallels neighboring Kentucky, even though Kentucky has far less TVA activity, and trails Georgiaas well.<ref>See William U. Chandler, ''The Myth of the Tva: Conservation and Development in the Tennessee Valley, 1933-80'' (1984) for a conservative economic critique</ref>

 

 

Liberals hailed the TVA in the 1940s and 1950s as a model for the world. That image has fallen away, leaving the dams and electricity that is now more expensive than gas or coal.

==TVA History==

==TVA History==

Arthur Ernest Morgan (1878-1975) was the first chairman and chief engineer of the TVA. A self-taught engineer and surveyor, in the 1910s Morgan devised a successful flood-control system for Dayton, Ohio, and subsequently became head of Antioch College. Roosevelt appointed him to head the TVA in 1933.  

Arthur Ernest Morgan (1878-1975) was the first chairman and chief engineer of the TVA. A self-taught engineer and surveyor, in the 1910s Morgan devised a successful flood-control system for Dayton, Ohio, and subsequently became head of Antioch College. Roosevelt appointed him to head the TVA in 1933.  

Liberals proposed in the 1930s the Arkansas Valley Authority (AVA), patterned on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), which would have contained all of Arkansas and Oklahoma and large parts of Missouri, Louisiana, Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. The AVA was supported by the Roosevelt administration and Federal legislation was proposed in 1941. Opposition, led by Colorado Governor Ralph Carr and including all Colorado Congressmen and Senator Alva B. Adams as well as the Southwestern Interstate Coal Operators' Association and the Denver Chamber of Commerce, helped defeat the AVA. Opposition centered on possible loss of Colorado's water rights and fear of increased Federal powers.<ref>Mary Farley, "Colorado and the Arkansas Valley Authority," ''Colorado Magazine'' 1971 48(3): 221-234 </ref>  

Liberals proposed in the 1930s the Arkansas Valley Authority (AVA), patterned on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), which would have contained all of Arkansas and Oklahoma and large parts of Missouri, Louisiana, Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. The AVA was supported by the Roosevelt administration and Federal legislation was proposed in 1941. Opposition, led by Colorado Governor Ralph Carr and including all Colorado Congressmen and Senator Alva B. Adams as well as the Southwestern Interstate Coal Operators' Association and the Denver Chamber of Commerce, helped defeat the AVA. Opposition centered on possible loss of Colorado's water rights and fear of increased Federal powers.<ref>Mary Farley, "Colorado and the Arkansas Valley Authority," ''Colorado Magazine'' 1971 48(3): 221-234 </ref>  

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

* Colignon, Richard A. ''Power Plays: Critical Events in the Institutionalism of the Tennessee Valley Authority'' (1997)

* Colignon, Richard A. ''Power Plays: Critical Events in the Institutionalism of the Tennessee Valley Authority'' (1997)

* Creese, Walter L. ''TVA's Public Planning: The Vision, the Reality.'' (1990). 388 pp.

* Creese, Walter L. ''TVA's Public Planning: The Vision, the Reality.'' (1990). 388 pp.

* Hargrove, Erwin E. ''Prisoner of Myth: The Leadership of the Tennessee Valley Authority, 1933-1990'' (1994)

* Hargrove, Erwin E. ''Prisoner of Myth: The Leadership of the Tennessee Valley Authority, 1933-1990'' (1994)

* Neuse, Steve M.  ''David E. Lilienthal: The Journey of an American Liberal'' (1996).  

* Neuse, Steve M.  ''David E. Lilienthal: The Journey of an American Liberal'' (1996).  

===Primary sources===

===Primary sources===

* Lilienthal, David. ''TVA: Democracy on the March'' (1944), classic statement of liberal visions based on TVA model

* Lilienthal, David. ''TVA: Democracy on the March'' (1944), classic statement of liberal visions based on TVA model