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.

The Great Society Social reform similar to the New Deal... A vision for the future of America Goals… End poverty Protect minorities Provide jobs Protect consumers Improve children’s health Improve medical care Protect the environment

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 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.

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

Community Action Programs (CAP) Programs that have high impact on poverty stricken local communities.... Legal help Basic medical services Educational support for kids who have college potential Prepared disadvantaged preschool children for elementary school.

LBJ & Housing…. Created Dept. of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Appoints 1 st AA Cabinet member to HUD 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 – The right to a lawyer during questioning Miranda v. Arizona – Accused must be read their rights Reactions to the Warren Court?... Divided the public Liberals: Limited power of police Protected rights of accused Conservatives: Limited police investigation Benefited suspects

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