Reading #1: LBJ & The Great Society Objectives… Summarize the goals of the Great Society. Identify the reforms of the Warren Court. Evaluate the impact of the Great Society programs.

LBJ’s path to power… 1908: Born a rural Texan 1937: 6 term New Deal Congressman 1948: Texas Senator 1955: Senate Majority Leader 1960 JFK’s VP …“President by accident” 1964 elected President FDR meets a young LBJ

Five days after the assassination, LBJ tells Congress…“… let us highly resolve that John Fitzgerald Kennedy did not live…. or…die in vain” - LBJ LBJ taking the oath of office on Nov. 22, 1963

Civil Rights Act of 1964 JFK introduced the CR bill following Birmingham Spring (1963) & it stalled in Congress. JFK is assassinated in Nov, 1963 LBJ persuades Senators to pass the CR bill The 1964 Civil Rights Act: Makes segregation in public places is illegal & bans discrimination in employment, unions & in gov. programs. LBJ signing the 1964 Civil Rights Act July, 1964

The CR movement creates an awareness of… Poverty Unemployment Low wages A lack of voter rights Discrimination

The Other America (1962) by M. Harrington Claims 20% of America is… –Inadequately housed –Malnourished –No or poor medical care –Below poverty level “What good was winning the right to sit at the lunch counter if one could not afford to buy a hamburger” …Out of Many

The Great Society The most far reaching social reform since the New Deal Goals… End poverty Protect minorities Provide jobs Protect consumers Improve children’s health Improve medical care

The 1964 Election Johnson v. Goldwater The Democrats portrayed LBJ as a man of peace & Goldwater as a militaristic kook. Goldwater's slogan, "In Your Heart You Know He's Right," was changed to "In Your Heart You Know He Might." Johnson’s 1964 Campaign Ad Peace, Little Girl

The Election of 1964 Republican - Barry Goldwater Conservative… - Attacks Social Security & TVA - Suggests nuclear weapons in Vietnam & Cuba

The Election of 1964 LBJGoldwater Electoral: Pop. vote %: 61% 31.4% –Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress –A mandate for change AKA “Landslide Lyndon”

The War on Poverty The 1964 State of the Union address… “This administration today, here and now declares unconditional war on poverty” – LBJ LBJ State of the Union War on Poverty

Job Corps Provides disadvantaged youth with jobs and training to succeed in the workforce. Job Corps – Engine Repair Class

VISTA V olunteers I n S ervice to A merica Opportunities for education, training, work, and live decently. A domestic version of the Peace Corps.

Community Action Programs (CAP) Legal Services Program - Provides legal help for poor people Community Health Centers - Basic medical services for people who are too poor to see a doctor Upward Bound - Established to give children who are unlikely to attend college (poverty, living rurally) the money, skills and tools they need to succeed in college. Head Start - Prepared disadvantaged preschool children for elementary school.

Medicare / Medicaid Medicare -Health insurance coverage to people aged 65 Medicaid – Health insurance for the poor

LBJ & Housing…. Created Dept. of HUD Appoints 1 st AA Cabinet member to HU) 250K units of public housing $ to low & moderate income families to buy homes Civil Rights Act of 1968 Prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental & financing of housing.

Mixed results for the Great Societies War on Poverty… 1959: 26% at poverty level 1969: 12% at poverty level 1970 report: “barely scratched the surface” 75% of $ spent above poverty level Welfare $: 1960: 7% 1974: 16% Why did conservatives criticize the Great Society?

Consumer Protection… Unsafe at Any Speed by Ralph Nader –Federal safety standards for automobiles & tires –State highway safety laws

Environmental Concerns… Water Quality Act (1965)- Drinking water standards Air Quality Act (1967)- Air quality standards Silent Spring (1962)- by Rachel Carson Exposes the effects of pesticides

Immigration Act of 1965 Reversed 1920s immigration laws Ended nationality quotas Allowed non-European immigrants into U.S.

Rights of the Accused… Mapp v. Ohio – Illegally seized evidence could not be used in court Gideon v. Wainwright – Free legal counsel Escobedo v. Illinois – Accused has a right to a lawyer while questioned Miranda v. Arizona – Accused must be read their rights

What were the differing reactions to the Warren Court? Divided the public… –Liberals: Limited power of police Protected rights of accused –Conservatives: Limited police investigation Benefited suspects “soft on crime”

What compromised LBJ’s ability to fight poverty? LBJ’s Scar Based on the cartoon... What compromised LBJ’s ability to fight poverty?