LBJ’s Great Society

LBJ’s Great Society

Lyndon B. Johnson

Unlike JFK 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 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 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

To Do:(1) Label your paper “Double Bubble Map”

(2) JFK & LBJ are the 2 presidents you will compare

(3) Contrast JFK’s & LBJ’s characteristics, policies, strengths

(a) in the middle, identify what is common to both

(4) Write up (min. 1 paragraph): Discuss the similarities & differences of JFK & LBJ’s presidencies.