LBJ’s Great Society
description
Transcript of LBJ’s Great Society
LBJ’s Great Society
Lyndon B. Johnson
Unlike JFK Older, political experience, “burly”
Background High School Teacher, Congressmen, Senator
(Majority leader after only 1 year) Vice President *Concern for poor & underprivileged
JFK’s Legacy
“JFK told his countrymen that our national work would not be finished ‘in the… life of this
administration, nor perhaps in our lifetime… But let us begin.’ Today, in this new moment of
resolve, I would say to all my fellow Americans, let us continue. This is our challenge – not to
hesitate, not to pause, not to turn about & linger over this evil moment, but to continue on our course so that we may fulfill the destiny that
history has set for us” - LBJ
Continuing JFK’s Agenda Smooth transition into presidency
Continued JKF’s “New Frontier” ideas
LBJ’s focus was the “War on Poverty” After reading Michael Harrington’s
1962 book The Other America
Economic Opportunity Act Funded antipoverty programs
Job Corps: Work training programs for unemployed youth
VISTA: Volunteers In Service to America; domestic version of Peace Corps
Great Society Great Society: term for LBJ’s domestic programs
He was able to do more than JFK; more ambitious Goal of Great Society was a better life
Election of 1964 Chooses running mate Hubert Humphrey as Vice President Republican candidate: Barry Goldwater
Considered extremist; wanted to use nuclear weapons to end Vietnam War)
LBJ won in the biggest landslide of the century
Election of 1964
Great Society programs
Education = key to Great Society Elementary & Secondary Act
1st large-scale gov’t aid to public schools Higher Education Act
1st federal scholarship for needy college students
Housing: Omnibus Housing Act > HUD *1st African American to head cabinet = Robert Weaver
Great Society continued Civil Rights
Civil Rights Act 1964 Outlawed discrimination in public, housing, etc
Voting Rights Act 1965 End requirements against African Americans for voting
Environment Wilderness Preservation Act Water Quality Act Clean Air Act Amendments
Decline of the Great Society Peak of Great Society 1965-1966 but
declined because of Vietnam War By 1966, we had 385,000 U.S. combat troops in
Vietnam & spent $2.5 billion/month One congressmen said “you can’t have guns &
butter” LBJ chose guns because committed to preventing
the spread of communism Also declined because American public &
Congress thought there was too much reform too fast
Immigration Issues
Immigration Act of 1965 Act repealed national-origin immigration quotas
of the 1920s
Significance Triggered a new wave of immigration from Asian
& Latin American nations Created ethnic diversity in the U.S.
1st wave of immigrants: 1800 - 1880
2nd wave of immigrants: 1880 - 1910
National Origin Act of 1924
Immigration Act of 1965
LBJ’s Foreign Policy Vietnam
Escalation: Increased money & troops
Johnson Doctrine Prevent the spread of communism to Latin America Improve relations with the Soviet Union
Pueblo incident U.S. spy ship captured by North Korea who refused to
return North Koreans eventually returned the crew but kept the
ship
Compare & Contrast
To Do:(1) Label your paper “Double Bubble Map”
(2) JFK & LBJ are the 2 presidents you will compare
(3) Contrast JFK’s & LBJ’s characteristics, policies, strengths
(a) in the middle, identify what is common to both
(4) Write up (min. 1 paragraph): Discuss the similarities & differences of JFK & LBJ’s presidencies.