Lyndon B. Johnson: The Great Society

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Lyndon B. Johnson The Great Society

• Essential Questions
• What was the importance of Lyndon Johnsons Great
  Society, including the establishment of Medicare?
  
• How did the Warren Court and the expansion of
  individual rights ultimately evolve in the
  Miranda decision?

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LBJ in the White House

• The demand for reform helped create a new
  awareness of social problems, especially on
  matters of civil rights and the effects of poverty

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LBJs Path to Power

• LBJs ambition and drive were legendary
• He entered politics in 1937 as a New Dealer
• He caught the eye of FDR as a spokesman for
  farmers of his district
• He was a master of party politics and maneuvering
  and rose to Senate majority leader in 1955
• Became President in 1963

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• His ability to achieve legislative results had
  captured JFKs attention as well
• Johnsons congressional connections and his
  Southern Protestant background convinced Kennedy
  to make LBJ his running mate
• This helped Kennedy win states in the south

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The Domestic Agenda

• Johnson urged Congress to pass the civil rights
  and tax-cut bills that Kennedy had sent to
  Capitol Hill
• The tax-cuts spurred economic growth
• The Civil Rights Act of 1964 made it illegal to
  discriminate based on race, religion, national
  origin, and sex

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The War on Poverty Spirit p. 475

• Johnson declared an unconditional war on poverty
  in America
• Congress enacted the Economic Opportunity Act
  (EOA)
• The Job Corps Youth Training Program
• VISTA Volunteers in Service to America
• Project Head Start, an education program for
  underprivileged preschoolers
• The Community Action Program, which encouraged
  poor people to participate in public-works
  programs

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Election of 1964

• Republicans nominate Barry Goldwater of Arizona
• Barry Goldwater believed the federal government
  had no business trying to right social and
  economic wrongs such as poverty, discrimination,
  and lack of opportunity
• Most Americans sided with LBJ

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Election of 1964
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Election of 1964

• Goldwater had also frightened many Americans by
  suggesting he may use nuclear weapons on Cuba and
  North Vietnam
• LBJ won in a landslide
• Democrats also gained more control in Congress
• LBJ could launch his domestic reform program, The
  Great Society with high confidence

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Building the Great Society

• Johnson summed up his vision for America in a
  phrase The Great Society
• In a speech he outlined a legislative program
  (Great Society) that would end poverty and racial
  injustice
• He would also try to create a higher standard of
  living for everyone

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The Great Society

• Passed bills increasing funding for education
  the first major federal aid package for education
  in the nations history
• LBJ created Medicare and Medicaid
• Created the Department of Housing and Urban
  Development (HUD)

• Medicare give low-cost medical insurance to
  Americans age 65 years and up
• Medicaid extends health care insurance to people
  on welfare.

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Impact of the Great Society

• The Great Society and the Warren Court changed
  the United States
• People disagree on whether the U.S. was better or
  worse afterwards
• The massive tax cut spurred the economy, but
  funding the Great Society along with the Vietnam
  War led to increased deficits

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Backlash

• There was a conservative backlash
• Ronald Reagan swept to victory in the race for
  governor of California
• The increase in Communist forces in Vietnam
  began to overshadow the Great Society
• Four years after the election, Johnson, who ran
  on a peace ticket, would be labeled a hawk for
  supporting one of the most divisive wars in
  recent U.S. History

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The Warren Court

• The Supreme Court under Chief Justice Earl Warren
  encouraged the expansion of individual rights in
  the U.S.
• This started with Brown v. B.O.E.
• Limited censorship
• Stated free speech included allowing students to
  wear black armbands to protest the war (Tinker v
  Des Moines)

• Tinker v Des Moines - 1969

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The Warren Court

• The Warren Court also greatly expanded the rights
  of people accused of crimes
• Illegally seized evidence couldnt be used in
  court
• Required criminal courts to provide free legal
  counsel
• (Gideon v. Wainwright)
• Right to a lawyer during questioning
• People must be read their Miranda rights before
  questioning
• (Miranda v. Arizona - 1966)