Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society What domestic policies does LBJ create to improve America?

Carrying on Kennedy’s Legacy Lyndon B. Johnson, who was shrewd and forceful will use Kennedy’s legacy to get push an agenda through Congress 1. LBJ gets Congress to continue tax cuts, result: US sees more economic growth, & lower federal deficit 2. Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, and sex (Fed Gov gets new powers to enforce) Discuss: Why do you think LBJ was able to pass Civil Rights before the ‘64 election?

LBJ’s War On Poverty 1964: LBJ announces plan to combat poverty in America, works with Congress to pass Economic Opportunity Act (EOA) EOA was $1 billion in anti-poverty measures which included: 1) Job Corps Youth Training Program (jobs for non-college HS grads) 2) VISTA/AmeriCorps (help impoverished people in US) 3) Head Start (pre-school for low income) 4) Community Action Program (help organization in poor neighborhoods) 5) Food Stamps LBJ easily wins re-election in 1964 http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1964

LBJ’s Great Society LBJ pushes new domestic agenda through Congress: Elementary & Secondary Education Act: $1 bil to public schools Medicare: low-cost medical insurance 65 years old and older Medicaid: health insurance to welfare recipients Immigration Act of 1965: easier rules for immigrants & no quotas Corporation for Public Broadcasting (edu radio & TV-NPR/PBS) Many new laws to help environment & transportation

Supreme Court reforms 1960s America Several major cases decided by Warren Court: Baker v. Carr: Courts can tell congress to reapportion (re-draw) their districts to have more fair representation Gideon v. Wainwright, 1963: criminal courts must provide free legal counsel to those who cannot afford it Miranda v. Arizona, 1966: all suspects must be read their rights