1. The Great Society Dr. King-Owen [12.03]

3.  Michael Harrington, The Other America, 1962 The richer America got, the poorer some people were  President Johnson’s Great Society Based in the belief that the U.S. could end poverty A “new” New Deal

4.  Economic Opportunity Act, 1964…creates Job Corps – job training VISTA – volunteers for community service  Food Stamp Act, 1964 – food for the poor  Head Start, 1965 -- $$ to educate low-income children  Medicare, 1965 -- $$ to pay for health care for senior citizens  Medicaid, 1966 -- $$ for healthcare for poor

7.  Poverty dropped 22.2% to 12.6% but there is still a racial gap in poverty rates  Spending on Vietnam took $$ away from Johnson’s Great Society  Criticisms: Spending was excessive Welfare state hurt the poor by trapping them in the welfare system