LBJ: The Great Society

1. LBJ: The Great Society 1963-1968 Ch 29, pages 888-892

2. Essential Questions: • What political path led LBJ to the White House? • What were the goals of the Great Society? • What were some of the major programs of the Great Society? • How did the Supreme Court reflect the wave of liberal reform that characterized the Great Society? • How were the rights of the accused expanded? • What was the short term and long term impact of Great Society programs?

3. FDR meets a young LBJ

4. LBJ’s Path to Power • LBJ ran for Congress as a “New Dealer” in 1937 • In 1948 LBJ won a seat in the US Senate • LBJ was a master of party politics and behind the scenes political maneuvering • LBJ efforts helped the Civil Rights Act of 1957 to be passed • LBJ was JFK running mate in 1960 • After JFK’s assassination LBJ urged Congress to pass the civil rights and tax-cut bills that JFK had sent to Congress

5. “The Johnson Treatment” LBJ was the master of the Senate – could always get his bills passed

6. How did Johnson complete Kennedy’s agenda? • Kennedy was the inspiration to solve world and national problems • Johnson – got the job done • Tax cut bill • Civil rights bill

7. Tax Cut • February 1964 tax reduction of over $10 billion passed into law • Spurred economic growth…. • People spent more • More profit for business • Increased tax revenues • Lowered deficit from $6 billion to 4 billion • It worked!!!!

8. In Feb. 1964 Congress passed a tax cut which spurred economic growth and lowered the budget deficit • In July, LBJ pushed through the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibited discrimination based on race, religion, sex, and gave the federal government new powers of enforcement

12. Johnson’s Agenda • Early in 1964 LBJ had declared a War on Poverty • In Aug. 1964 Congress passed the Economic Opportunity Act (EOA) which provided $1 billion for youth programs, antipoverty measures, small-business loans, and job training • (EOA) created: • Job Corps Youth Training Programs • VISTA –Volunteers in Service to America • Project Head Start – Ed. For underprivileged kids • Community Action Programs (CAPS)

14. The Election of 1964 • LBJ (D) Vs Barry Goldwater (R) • Goldwater believed the federal government had no business trying to right the wrongs of poverty, discrimination, and economic opportunity • Goldwater wanted to make Social Security voluntary, and sell the TVA • Goldwater mentioned he might use nuclear weapons on Cuba and Vietnam • LBJ won in a landslide and the Democrats increased their majority in Congress

16. Johnson’s Vision for America • The Great Society • End poverty and racial injustice • Higher standard of living and equal opportunity • By end of presidency – enacted 206 measures

17. Johnson introduces Great Society “. . The Great Society rests on abundance and liberty for all. It demands an end to poverty and racial injustice, to which we are totally committed in our time. But that is just the beginning. . . "

18. LBJ launches The Great Society • LBJ wanted to end poverty and racial injustice • The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 provided $1 billion in aid to help public and parochial schools • Medicare provided low-cost health benefits to Americans 65 or older • Medicaid extended health insurance to the poor or welfare recipients • Department of Housing and Urban Development was established (HUD) 240,000 low rent public houses, and $

21. The Great Society II • The Immigration Act of 1965 opened the door for many non-European immigrants to settle in the US by ending the quotas of the 1920’s based on nationality • The Water Quality Act of 1965 required states to clean up rivers, it resulted from Rachel Carson’s Silent Springabout pesticides, and spurred the environmental movement • Congress established safety standards for cars as a result of Ralph Nadar’s Unsafe at Any Speed • The Wholesome Meat Act of 1967 • The Truth in Packaging Act of 1966

24. Other Great Society Programs • The Higher Education Act of 1965 funded scholarships and low-interest loans for college students • National Foundation for the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 was created to assistance to painters, musicians, actors, and other artists • Corporation of Public Broadcasting 1967 • The Voting Rights Act of 1965 • The Highway Safety Act of 1966 • The Air Quality Act of 1967

25. Impact of the Great Society • Poverty fell from 21% in 1962 to 11% in 1973 • Spending for the Great Society increased the growing year to year budget deficit • Limited $ reached poor people due to complex programs that were tough to implement • Disillusioned inner city residents rioted in protest • A Conservative backlash began to take shape (Reagan Gov. of CA 1966) • Vietnam War overshadowed it and took $

26. What caused the decline of America’s cities? • FHA  insured loans for houses in suburbs • “redlining” – left people in poor neighborhoods w/o access to building loans • Slumlords – high rents and inadequate property • Urban renewal – displaced the poor (80% nonwhite)

27. Violence Erupts in the cities of the North • Centuries of de facto segregation had produced social and economic inequalities • Slums, high unemployment, poor schools all contributed to desperation • Aggressive Police was a point of contention • In July 1964, a race riot erupted in Harlem after a 15 year old black student was killed • On Aug. 11th, 1965 the worst riot erupted in Watts, Los Angeles

28. Watts- 34 deaths, $200 million in damages • Detroit 1967 – 43 deaths, $40 million in property damages • In 1966 and 67 more than 100 riots and violent clashes took place • Newark, San Francisco, Milwaukee, Phila., Cleveland, and Dayton

29. Watts

31. Detroit

32. Detroit

33. The Kerner Commission • What caused race riots and the destruction? • People suffered in the cities from heightened expectations from the civil rights movement and LBJ’s promises in the Great Society that were not realized • “White Racism” created an explosive mixture of poverty, police brutality, and the commission recommended extensive public housing, integrated schools, 2 million new jobs, and a national system of income supplementation

34. Watts- 34 deaths, $200 million in damages • Detroit 1967 – 43 deaths, $40 million in property damages • In 1966 and 67 more than 100 riots and violent clashes took place • Newark, San Francisco, Milwaukee, Phila., Cleveland, and Dayton

35. Brown v. Board of Education – School segregation unconstitutional

36. Liberal Reform in the Supreme Court • The Warren Court – Chief Justice Earl Warren • Brown v. Board of Education • Banned prayer in public schools • Declared state required loyalty oaths unconstitutional • Limited power to censor books and films • Safeguarded freedom of expression – black arm bands

37. Baker v. Carr • “one person one vote” • Reapportionment – redraw election districts to reflect population changes • More people had moved to cities – underrepresented • Gave more power to urban areas and took away from rural

38. 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 – accused has a right to have a lawyer present while questioned • Miranda v. Arizona – accused must be read their rights

39. What were the differing reactions to the Warren Court? • Divided the public • Liberals: • Limited power of police • Protected rights of accused • Conservatives: • Limited the power of police to investigate • Benefited suspects • “soft on crime”

40. What was the impact of the Great Society? • Activist era • Increased the role of the federal government • “war on poverty” decreased poor from 21% in 1962 to 11% in 1973 • Tax cut spurred economy • Funding of Great Society increased deficit • Vietnam overshadowed the Great Society