Chapter 20 Section 3: The Great Society pp. 686-695

Objective… Describe LBJ’s political path to the White House. LBJ’s Path to Power Objective… Describe LBJ’s political path to the White House.

Q#1: How did FDR influence LBJ? LBJ was a member of the US House of Reps when FDR was President. He was a “New Dealer” who FDR took under his wing and helped to secure key committee assignments. In those committee positions LB was able to direct much-needed electrification and water projects to his district back in Texas. Johnson idolized FDR and imitated his leadership style. Further along in his political career LBJ became a US Senator and ultimately became the Senate majority leader.

Q#2: How did LBJ persuade legislators to support his position? Johnson was called a master of behind the scenes maneuvering – often called the “LBJ treatment” His great powers of persuasion and mastery of party politics helped him to champion the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1957;JFK noted JBJ’s skill at moving things through Congress despite party divisions & decided to name him as his VP running mate in the 1960 election. Side note…LBJ was a high school English teacher who taught public speaking and debate before getting into public service and eventually politics.

Q#3:What factors led JFK to ask LBJ to be his running mate? Legislative results (Civil Rights Act) Congressional connections Southern Protestant Ultimately Kennedy felt LBJ’s strengths compensated for his own weaknesses….making him the ideal VP running mate.

LBJ Finishes JFK’s term…. LBJ was sworn in as President hours after JFK’s death on Air Force One. Recalling LBJ's swearing in 4 days after taking oath as President, LBJ addressed the nation & talked about carrying on JFK’s legacy. Listen to a brief part of that speech in the blank space at the bottom of page 23 in your packet, list the policies and initiatives started by JFK that LBJ pledged to move forward… Space Better foreign relations Peace Corps Educational opportunities Jobs Elder Care Mental Illness care & support EQUAL RIGHTS for all Americans LBJ pushed through the passage of the Civil Rights Act; declared “unconditional war on poverty” & passed the Economic Opportunity Act – providing $1 billion for Job Corp training, Head Start programs & other anti-poverty measures.

Q#4: Who did Republicans nominate in the 1964 election? Conservative Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona.

Q#5: What issues where the Republican’s attacking in the 1964 presidential campaign? Big, intrusive federal government programs that tried to solve social and economic wrongs such as poverty, discrimination, and lack of equal opportunity. For example Social Security and the Tennessee Valley Authority

Q#6: How did LBJ fair in the 1964 election? Landslide victory and majority in Congress

Q#7: I & E: Great Society This was LBJ’s vision for America. He envisioned a series of legislative programs that would not only create a higher standard of living and equal opportunity, but also promote a richer quality of life for all. LBJ Explains the Great Society

Tax-cut bill of 1964 Implemented to facilitate economic growth – specifically to cause… An increase in consumer spending Increased business investment & revenue – which meant More $ to the gov. in tax revenues – potentially leading to… A reduction in the federal budget deficit

Civil Rights Act of 1964 Prohibited discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, and gender Granted the federal government new powers of enforcement so they could prosecute civil rights abuses more successfully.

Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 Provided nearly $1 billion in funding for… Youth programs Antipoverty measures Small business loans and job training Created the Job Corps Home Page The VISTA program (the Volunteers in Service to America – like a “Peace Corps” here at home) Home Page Project Head Start Home Page The Community Action Program – encouraging participation in Public Works programs. Home Page

Elementary & Secondary Education Act Education “the key which can unlock the door to the Great society” LBJ Provided federal aid to help public and parochial schools to purchase textbooks and new library materials This was one of the earliest federal aid packages for education in the history of the nation.

Medicare Provided hospital and low-cost medical insurance to most Americans age 65 or older

Medicaid Extended health insurance to welfare recipients

Immigration Act of 1965 Replaced the national origins system with a new immigration quota system that allowed more non-European immigrants to settle in the U.S.

What effect did the publication of Rachel Carson’s book, Silent Spring have on the environmental movement? This was the first book to expose the dangerous effect of pesticides on the environment. It led directly to the… Water Quality Act of 1965 requiring states to cleanup rivers Chemical and oil companies are targeted by the gov. – this was the basis of the modern environmental movement in this country.

What effect did the publication of Ralph Nader’s Book, Unsafe at Any Speed have on auto safety? Nader was a lawyer & consumer advocate whose book led to … Establishment of safety standards for cars and tires. Additional Standards: Truth-in-packaging laws set standards for labeling consumer goods Wholesome Meat Act of 1967

Reforms of the Warren Court Objective… Identify the reforms of the Warren Court

State sanctioned prayer in public schools was deemed unconstitutional; What ruling did the Warren Court make regarding the practice of state sanctioned prayer in public school? Earl Warren was the Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court during the Great Society years. During this time a number of liberal reforms occurred (so conservatives did not support the Warren Court decisions)… State sanctioned prayer in public schools was deemed unconstitutional; Brown v. Board of Education ruled segregation unconstitutional; Protected free speech (censorship of books & film became limited)

Impact of the Great Society Objective… Evaluate the impact of the Great Society.

Describe how the Great Society expand the power of government? Americans disagree whether we’re better or worse All agree that no other president in the post-WWII era did more to expand the power of the federal government

How effective was the War on Poverty? Succeeded in decreasing poverty from 21% in 1962 to 11% in 1973

What was the reaction of Republicans regarding the Great Society and the War on Poverty? Contributed to growing budget deficit Spurred debates over the program’s effectiveness and the role of the federal government Conservative backlash grows

What event compromised the Great Society? The growing U.S. involvement in Vietnam against communism