LBJ’s Great Society

Lyndon B. Johnson Unlike JFK Background Older, political experience, “burly” Background High School Teacher, Congressmen, Senator (Majority leader after only 1 year) Vice President *Concern for poor & underprivileged

JFK’s Legacy “JFK told his countrymen that our national work would not be finished ‘in the… life of this administration, nor perhaps in our lifetime… But let us begin.’ Today, in this new moment of resolve, I would say to all my fellow Americans, let us continue. This is our challenge – not to hesitate, not to pause, not to turn about & linger over this evil moment, but to continue on our course so that we may fulfill the destiny that history has set for us” - LBJ

Continuing JFK’s Agenda Smooth transition into presidency Continued JKF’s “New Frontier” ideas LBJ’s focus was the “War on Poverty” After reading Michael Harrington’s 1962 book The Other America Economic Opportunity Act Funded antipoverty programs Job Corps: Work training programs for unemployed youth VISTA: Volunteers In Service to America; domestic version of Peace Corps

Great Society Great Society: term for LBJ’s domestic programs He was able to do more than JFK; more ambitious Goal of Great Society was a better life Election of 1964 Chooses running mate Hubert Humphrey as Vice President Republican candidate: Barry Goldwater Considered extremist; wanted to use nuclear weapons to end Vietnam War) LBJ won in the biggest landslide of the century

Election of 1964

Great Society programs Education = key to Great Society Elementary & Secondary Act 1st large-scale gov’t aid to public schools Higher Education Act 1st federal scholarship for needy college students Housing: Omnibus Housing Act > HUD *1st African American to head cabinet = Robert Weaver

Great Society continued Civil Rights Civil Rights Act 1964 Outlawed discrimination in public, housing, etc Voting Rights Act 1965 End requirements against African Americans for voting Environment Wilderness Preservation Act Water Quality Act Clean Air Act Amendments

Decline of the Great Society Peak of Great Society 1965-1966 but declined because of Vietnam War By 1966, we had 385,000 U.S. combat troops in Vietnam & spent $2.5 billion/month One congressmen said “you can’t have guns & butter” LBJ chose guns because committed to preventing the spread of communism Also declined because American public & Congress thought there was too much reform too fast

Immigration Issues Immigration Act of 1965 Significance Act repealed national-origin immigration quotas of the 1920s Significance Triggered a new wave of immigration from Asian & Latin American nations Created ethnic diversity in the U.S.

1st wave of immigrants: 1800 - 1880 2nd wave of immigrants: 1880 - 1910 National Origin Act of 1924 Immigration Act of 1965

LBJ’s Foreign Policy Increased money & troops Escalation: Vietnam Escalation: Increased money & troops Johnson Doctrine Prevent the spread of communism to Latin America Improve relations with the Soviet Union Pueblo incident U.S. spy ship captured by North Korea who refused to return North Koreans eventually returned the crew but kept the ship

Compare & Contrast In the space below, complete a double bubble comparing JFK & LBJ’s presidencies. Consider their characteristics, policies, strengths & weaknesses