1. Lyndon B. Johnson and the Great Society

2. Following the assassination of JFK, Johnson wanted to further the domestic advances made by JFK, as well as meeting the following three major legislative goals:
Stimulate the Economy
Enact Civil Rights Legislation
Declare War on Poverty

3. Personality Political Experience
Large and intense with none of Kennedy’s good looks, polish, or charm
Hardworking and ambitious
Genuine desire to help others
Greater concern for the poor and underprivileged than Kennedy
Believed in an expanded role for government in making Americans’ lives better
Political Experience
School teacher in Texas
Served as Texas Congressman
Served as U.S. Senator
Served as majority leader in the Senate after one term as senator
By 1960, Johnson had more influence in Washington, D.C., than any other Democrat.

4. Stimulate the Economy Tax Reduction Act of 1964.
Cut taxes by $11.5 billion.
Result: consumer spending rose by $45 billion in four years and unemployment fell to under 4%.

5. Economic Opportunity Act
War on Poverty
Economic Opportunity Act
Funded several new anti-poverty programs
The Job Corps offered work-training programs for unemployed youth.
VISTA was a domestic version of the Peace Corps.
Other programs provided education for adults, work for unemployed parents, and help to fight rural poverty and assist migrants.

6. Enact Civil Rights Legislation
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Outlawed discrimination in public facilities.
Authorized the attorney general to sue to desegregate public facilities and schools.
Stopped federal funds to states and localities that failed to integrate.
Forbade the unequal application of voter registration standards.
Forbade discrimination from employers or labor unions on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, physical disability, or age.