Chapter 20 Section 3

The Great Society

From the Texas Hills to Capitol Hill

• Lyndon Baines Johnson

• Grew up in Texas

From the Texas Hills to Capitol Hill

• LBJ idolized FDR and his leadership style

From the Texas Hills to Capitol Hill

• In the senate-proved a master of party politics and behind the scenes maneuvering

From the Texas Hills to Capitol Hill

• Legislative success helped him to catch the eye of JFK

Johnson’s Domestic Agenda

• After becoming President, he wanted to continue Kennedy’s agenda

Johnson’s Domestic Agenda

• Feb 1964-Congress passes an $11 billion tax cut

Johnson’s Domestic Agenda

• July-Johnson signs Civil Rights Act of 1964

War on Poverty

• 1964-LBJ declared a “war on poverty”

War on Poverty

• August 1964- Congress enacts Economic Opportunity Act

War on Poverty

• EOA created…• Job Corps- a youth

training program

1964 Election

• Johnson popular• Led nation through a

difficult time

1964 Election

• Republicans nominate Conservative(ish) Republican senator from Arizona- Barry Goldwater

1964 Election

• Goldwater’s beliefs

1964 Election

• Johnson’s views– Government can and

should fix social and economic problems

• Goldwater seemed to alarm people

1964 Election

• Johnson capitalized on the fear of the people

1964 Election

• LBJ won by a landslide

Building the Great Society

• “The Great Society demands an end to poverty and racial injustice”

Landmark Legislation

• Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 -

Landmark Legislation

• Medicare- provides hospital insurance and low-cost medical insurance for almost every American 65 and older

• Medicaid- extended health insurance to welfare recipients

Landmark Legislation

• Congress appropriated funds to build 240,000 units of low rent public housing

Landmark Legislation

• Immigration Act of 1965- allowed for annual quota of

Landmark Legislation

• Water Quality Act of 1965- Required states to clean up rivers

Reforms of the Warren Court

• A wave of liberal reform swept through the Supreme Court

• Warren Court

Reforms of the Warren Court

• Warren Court also addressed issue of reapportionment

Reforms of the Warren Court

• Warren Courts also expanded the rights of people accused of crimes

• Mapp v Ohio

• Gideon v Wainwright

Reforms of the Warren Court

• Escobedo v. Illinois– Court ruled than an

accused person has a right to have a lawyer present during questioning by the police

• Miranda v Arizona– Suspects must be

read their rights before questioning

– Miranda Rights