PRESIDENT JOHNSON AND THE

GREAT SOCIETY

Essential Question: In what ways did Johnson’s Great Society change the nation?

Johnson Becomes President Nov 22nd 1963 2:38PM Johnson took

the oath of office. “A nation stunned, shaken to its very

heart, had to be reassured that the government was not in a state of paralysis…that the business of the United States would proceed. I knew that not only the nation but the whole world would be anxiously following every move I made – watching, judging, weighing, balancing, …It was imperative that I grasp the reins of power and do so without delay. Any hesitation or wavering, any false step, any sign of self-doubt, could have been disastrous.” -Johnson

Lyndon Baines Johnson From Texas 26 years of Congressional

experience Striking contrast with

Kennedy’s style The “Johnson Treatment”

War on Poverty Motivations: personal history and

legacy In his state of the Union address

he announces that his administration will declare an “unconditional war on poverty in America.”

Economic Opportunity ActNeighborhood Youth CorpsJob CorpsVISTA

The Great Society 60 Programs Health: Medicare (health

insurance for elderly) and Medicaid (health insurance for poor)

Education: Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Head Start Program, Upward Bound

Created Department of Housing and Urban Development

Immigration Reform Act

Legacy of the Great Society

Lack of funding Growth of government Programs that still exist Important questions raised:

How can the gov’t help economically disadvantaged citizens?

How to help without weakening private sector? How to help without creating dependent

citizens?

Talk to your neighbor In what ways did Johnson’s Great Society change the nation? (How did Johnson attempt to fix poverty?)