THE GREAT SOCIETYLYNDON BAINES JOHNSON

THE GREAT SOCIETY

Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) drove through Congress the most ambitious domestic legislative package

The Great Society like the New Deal

LBJ’S PATH TO POWER

From Texas to Capitol Hill

LBJ entered politics (House of reps) 1937

Caught the eye of President Roosevelt

LBJ won senatorial race 1948

MASTER POLITICIAN

The LBJ Treatment Was a master of party

politics Behind the scene

maneuvering Rose to powerful

senatorial position in 1955 Why was he a good VP

choice-from the South (balance Democrat’s ticket) great amount of experience in Washington D.C.

JOHNSON DOMESTIC AGENDA

Used Kennedy's memory to get civil rights and tax cut passed

February 1964- Congress passed 10 billion tax reduction bill

July 1964- passed Civil Rights Act – prohibited discrimination

WAR ON POVERTY

In 1964 LBJ declared an “unconditional war on poverty”

What were the provisions of the Equal Opportunity Act Job Corps- provided

job training to young people

Headstart-early education for lower income

1964 ELECTION

The Republicans nominated Barry Goldwater

What were some of his political beliefs? End Social Security State rights Use nuclear weapons

in Vietnam

RESULT OF 1964 ELECTION

LBJ was more in tune with US voters

LBJ gets 486 electoral votes and 61% of popular vote

An easy landslide win for Democrats

What was the key aspect of this election

The infamous “Daisy Spot” commercial

BUILDING THE GREAT SOCIETY

Johnson outlined his legislative program (Great Society)

Try to end poverty and racial injustice

EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, HOUSING

Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965

Provided more than 1 billion dollars in federal aid for textbooks and library materials

Define Medicare and Medicaid – medical care for the poor, medical care for the elderly

EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, HOUSING

LBJ began low rent housing projects

Established Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Who was Robert Weaver- Secretary of HUD- first African American in a president’s cabinet

IMMIGRATION

Immigration Act of 1965 opened for many non-Europeans to settle in US

Ended quotas based on nationality

THE ENVIRONMENT

Water Quality Act of 1965- requires states to clean up rivers

CONSUMER PROTECTION

Identify Ralph Nader-lawyer who fought for consumer rights- attacked the auto industry Book- unsafe at any

speed

REFORMS OF WARREN COURT

Waves of liberal reforms flowed through the Supreme Court in 1960s

Examples Banned school prayer Limited power of

censorship Allowed for more free

speech

SUPREME COURT CASES

Mapp V. Ohio

Gideon V. Wainright

Escobedo V. Illinois

Miranda V. Arizona

Exclusionary Rule-evidence obtained illegally must be excluded

Must have a lawyer at trial

Must have a lawyer present during questioning

Must be read your Constitutional rights when arrested

IMPACT OF GREAT SOCIETY

The Great Society and Warren Court changed the United States

No president in the post-World War II era extended the power and reach of the federal government more than Lyndon Johnson

Funding for the Great Society became a concern, especially with the war in Vietnam expanding