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LBJ’s Great Society

LBJ’s Great Society. 19.1. Lyndon Baines Johnson. Texan from a poor, rural community Started as a teacher at a segregated school for Mexicans Elected to Congress in 1937, Senate in 1948, and the Senate Pro Tem (second highest ranking) in 1955. How he ended up in the most powerful office….

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LBJ’s Great Society

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  1. LBJ’s Great Society 19.1

  2. Lyndon BainesJohnson • Texan from a poor, rural community • Started as a teacher at a segregated school for Mexicans • Elected to Congress in 1937, Senate in 1948, and the Senate Pro Tem (second highest ranking) in 1955

  3. How he ended up in the most powerful office… • Chosen to balance JFK’s ticket • Became president after the assassination • Vowed to continue JFK’s efforts • Works hard to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964

  4. “The Johnson Treatment” • Reputation of being “overpowering and intimidating” • Invaded personal space: nose to nose • Said to be persuasive and personal rather than elegant and charming

  5. The War on Poverty • Based on Harrington’s book • Dramatic middle class cuts (continues Kennedy’s actions) • Billions for poverty • Job training • Re-education • Healthcare

  6. Operations of the Poverty War • Economic Opportunity Act created Jobs Corp to train youth • VISTA (volunteers in service to America) • A domestic peace corp (Service Learning) • Head Start Program for poor pre-school kids • Bonus option…

  7. The 1964 Election • LBJ and his Great Society Program vs. Barry Goldwater

  8. The Challenger • Barry Goldwater (AuH20) • Believed in smaller gov’t, fewer taxes • Would kill LBJ’s Great Society • Funding for social and education programs cut • Right to work (anti-union) • Nukes in Vietnam? • LBJ wins in a landslide

  9. The Results • 485-52 landslide win for Johnson • Goldwater said Great Society was communist • Wanted to use nuclear weapons on Vietnam

  10. LBJ’s Great Society Program • Use America’s wealth to end poverty and injustice • Medicare – healthcare for those 65+ • Medicaid – assistance to the poor and disabled • Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and Higher Education Act (HEA) • Gave federal money to poor urban schools and grant money to students

  11. More Results of the Great Society • Water Quality Act and Clean Water Restoration to improve water and air standards • National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act – set auto safety standards • Immigration and Nationality Act opened up US doors

  12. Rachel Carson • 1962 – “Silent Spring” to describe the impact of pesticides on plants, animals, and people • Claiming people were impacting the environment • Public worried • Creation of environmentalism

  13. Controversies and Success • National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities • Poverty reduced from 22.2% in 1960 to 12.6% in 1970 • Enormous Costs • Republicans gain seats in 1966 midterms • Rising cost of Vietnam made it unfeasible

  14. Failures of the Great Society • Welfare and payments to unwed mothers claimed to destroy the black American family • 70% of all births in the black community to single moms • Increase dependency of the poor on gov’t • Higher taxes for all, long term listlessness and loss of productivity to the society

  15. Johnson’s Foreign Policy • Increasing involvement in Vietnam • Johnson Doctrine • Let US intervene if Latin America communism spreading • Soviet-US Relations • Ban of weapons in outer space • Pueblo Incident • North Korea took a US ship and its crew hostage for 11 months

  16. More Cultural Changes • Chief Justice Earl Warren • LBJ’s Right-Hand Man • Headed the Warren Commission • Known for the decisions of the Warren Court (diff than commission) • Ended school segregation and transformed many areas of American law

  17. Liberal Praise • Expanded the rights of the accused • Declared segregation to be unconstitutional • Expanded federal power • Firmly separated Church and State

  18. Conservative Criticism • Undermined traditional American institutions • Made law enforcement more difficult • Increased criminal behavior in the US • Destroyed states’ rights

  19. Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) • 9-0 decision • Counsel must be provided by state gov’t to defendants who cannot pay for their own attorneys

  20. Baker v. Carr (1962) • 6-2 decision • Eliminates racial “gerrymandering” • Evened out voting power of districts

  21. Escobedo v. Illinois (1964) • 5-4 decision • Citizens have a right to counsel during police interrogations

  22. Miranda v. Arizona (1966) • 5-4 decision • Evidence obtained prior to individual being informed of rights is inadmissible in court • Miranda Rights • Power shift to criminals?

  23. Mapp v. Ohio (1961) • 6-3 decision • Evidence obtained in violation of Fourth Amendment provisions is not admissible in court

  24. Terry v. Ohio (1968) • 8-1 decision • A routine “frisk” is not an unreasonable search • Officer safety • Evidence seized during a routine “frisk” by police is admissible in court

  25. Engel v. Vitale (1962) • 6-1 decision • Schools cannot require the recitation of a prayer • Later related rulings • No prayer at graduation • No student-led prayer at athletic events • No Bible readings

  26. Tinker v. Des Moines (1969) • Student speech and expression can only be censored if it interferes with the operation and educational mission of the school district

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