1. Standard and Objective
Stand 1: American History Concept 9: Postwar United States PO 2: Describe aspects of American post-World War II domestic policy: e. social reforms Great Society and War on Poverty
Students will comprehend the Great Society of LBJ by identifying the programs that were created.

2. Johnson Takes the Reins
The Great Society
Johnson Takes the Reins

3. Johnson snaps into action
Just a few hours after Kennedy’s assassination, Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn into office on Air Force One
Jackie Kennedy was still wearing the blood stained suit from earlier
There is some controversy over how quickly LBJ took office, people seeing him as insensitive to Jackie

4. Build on Kennedy’s Legacy
Shortly after Johnson took office he urged Congress to continue on with Kennedy’s legacy and work for the poor of America
Although America was in a boom, there were many Americans who lived in poverty
Mostly those who lived in hidden slums, Appalachia, the Deep South, and Native American reservations
Johnson launched an antipoverty crusade

5. A Little about Johnson
Although Johnson had similar beliefs to Kennedy, his style of leadership was quite different
He spoke directly and convincingly
He became president at age 55 and already had 26 years of congressional experience
He had a reputation for a man that got things done
He was able to build coalitions very successfully
He was one of the most powerful and effective leaders in senate history
Also, his wife’s name was Lady Bird

6. Declared War on poverty
LBJ had grown up in hard times and he had been a teacher in a low-income area for a time
He also knew that JFK had been trying to create antipoverty programs and create a civil rights bill
This would give him support because the public would support the assassinated president’s programs
“Unfortunately, many Americans live on the outskirts of hope – some because of their poverty, and some because of their color, and all too many because of both.”

7. Election of 1964
Very shortly after he gained office, LBJ was up for reelection
The republican candidate running against him was Senator Barry Goldwater from Arizona
Goldwater was known for his strong conservatism and said “Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.”
This made people nervous because it seemed to aggressive for a nation on the verge of nuclear war
Johnson won in a landslide

8. The Great Society
After Johnson won the election he started work on his “Great Society”
This created several important programs
Medicare and Medicaid –For senior citizens and those living below the poverty line
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 gave millions of dollars to schools
Project Head Start for created for disadvantaged children

9. Anti-discrimination
The Civil Rights Act of barred many kinds of discrimination
The Voting Rights Act of protected voters from discriminatory practices
The immigration Act of ended the 1920s system of giving preference to Northern Europeans
This allowed immigrants from all over the world to enter the U.S.