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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.

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LBJ’s Great Society

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  1. LBJ’s Great Society

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Election of 1964

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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.

  11. 1st wave of immigrants: 1800 - 1880 2nd wave of immigrants: 1880 - 1910 National Origin Act of 1924 Immigration Act of 1965

  12. 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

  13. 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.

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