Chapter 20 Section 3 NotesChapter 20 Section 3 NotesLBJ and the Great SocietyLBJ and the Great Society

LBJ BackgroundLBJ Backgroundfrom Texasfrom Texas

career politician career politician – in House of Reps or Senate for 23 yearsin House of Reps or Senate for 23 years– was was Vice Pres for JFKVice Pres for JFK

picked mainly to “balance the ticket”picked mainly to “balance the ticket”– OldOld– help getting Southern vote help getting Southern vote – Protestant background Protestant background – Lots of experienceLots of experience

LBJ’s Goals Similar To JFK’sLBJ’s Goals Similar To JFK’sMajor Differences:Major Differences:– Country wants to honor JFK’s LegacyCountry wants to honor JFK’s Legacy– Good at convincing Congress to do stuffGood at convincing Congress to do stuff

JFK’s approval ratings slowly decreased while he was in office. After his death, his public approval ratings were over 85%. LBJ used this to convince Congress and the public to pass legislation he wasn’t able to accomplish while alive.

11stst Step = Tax Cuts Step = Tax CutsGets bill proposed by JFK passedGets bill proposed by JFK passed– $10 Billion worth$10 Billion worth

Impact = Economy improvedImpact = Economy improved

22ndnd Step = Civil Rights Step = Civil RightsCivil Rights Act of 1964Civil Rights Act of 1964– Passes in Mid JulyPasses in Mid July– Originally proposed by JFKOriginally proposed by JFK ( (mid 1963)mid 1963)

Stalled in CongressStalled in Congress

When JFK dies, LBJ pushes it alongWhen JFK dies, LBJ pushes it along

– outlawed discrimination based on outlawed discrimination based on race, religion, sex, or ethnicity race, religion, sex, or ethnicity

– Fines or Jail if in violationFines or Jail if in violation

for voting, employment, housing, education, transportation, etc…for voting, employment, housing, education, transportation, etc…

– much more in Chapter 21much more in Chapter 21

Left:LBJ in front of a TV Cameratalking aboutCivil Rights

Right:LBJ signingthe Civil RightsAct into Law.MLK Jr. is behind him

33rdrd Step = “War on Poverty” Step = “War on Poverty”LBJ gets Congress to actLBJ gets Congress to act (Aug 1964)(Aug 1964)

Economic Opportunity ActEconomic Opportunity Act– $1 billion for anti-poverty measures$1 billion for anti-poverty measures

Head StartHead Start = Preschool for the poor = Preschool for the poor

Job CorpsJob Corps = Job and Life training for youth = Job and Life training for youth

VISTA VISTA = A domestic Peace Corps= A domestic Peace Corps– All programs listed above still existAll programs listed above still exist

LBJ Campaigns in 1964LBJ Campaigns in 1964Wants 4 more yrs to accomplish goalsWants 4 more yrs to accomplish goals

Labels his program “Labels his program “The Great SocietyThe Great Society””– 11stst used phrase at U of M used phrase at U of M– More help to all kinds of AmericansMore help to all kinds of Americans

SaysSays he wants he wants less involvement in foreign affairsless involvement in foreign affairs– Vietnam, Cuba, etc…Vietnam, Cuba, etc…

LBJ’s opponent = Barry GoldwaterLBJ’s opponent = Barry GoldwaterBelieved Govt. was too involved with people’s livesBelieved Govt. was too involved with people’s lives– LBJ was spending too much $$$LBJ was spending too much $$$

Wanted to use Nuclear Weapons in Cuba & VietnamWanted to use Nuclear Weapons in Cuba & Vietnam– LBJ used this to scare public with famous political TV ad.LBJ used this to scare public with famous political TV ad.

1964 Election = LBJ Wins Big1964 Election = LBJ Wins BigSo do most DemocratsSo do most Democrats running running in Congressin Congress– He has a clearHe has a clear mandatemandate to do a bunch of stuff to do a bunch of stuff

LBJ’s full term in officeLBJ’s full term in office (1965-1969)(1965-1969)2nd most comprehensive set of reforms ever2nd most comprehensive set of reforms ever (1st = New Deal) (1st = New Deal)– Around 200 pieces of legislation in allAround 200 pieces of legislation in all

Shortly after elected, he escalates involvement in VietnamShortly after elected, he escalates involvement in Vietnam– Many think JFK would have gotten outMany think JFK would have gotten out

Didn’t want to be “weak on Communism”Didn’t want to be “weak on Communism”

Critics claim he broke his campaign promiseCritics claim he broke his campaign promise

Much more in Chapter 22Much more in Chapter 22

Education ReformEducation ReformElementary & Secondary Education ActElementary & Secondary Education Act – Known as No Child Left Behind since 2001Known as No Child Left Behind since 2001– Goal = Provide Quality education to all kidsGoal = Provide Quality education to all kids

Lower gap between high and low performing kidsLower gap between high and low performing kids– How to check? Standardized Tests!How to check? Standardized Tests!

$$$ for books, teacher training, research, etc…$$$ for books, teacher training, research, etc…– States need to follow along with nat. gov. to get the States need to follow along with nat. gov. to get the $$$.$$$.

– 11stst major involvement by Nat. Gov. in Education Ever! major involvement by Nat. Gov. in Education Ever!

LBJ at the ESEA signing ceremony, with his childhood schoolteacher Ms. Kate Deadrich Loney

2 Major Health Care Programs Created2 Major Health Care Programs CreatedMedicareMedicare– low cost medical insurance to citizens over 65low cost medical insurance to citizens over 65– Also helps people under 65 with disabilitiesAlso helps people under 65 with disabilities

Still insures around 50 million people per year!Still insures around 50 million people per year!

Pays around $200 billion in medical costs per year!Pays around $200 billion in medical costs per year!

– Where doesWhere does $$$$$$ come from?come from? all citizensall citizens (1.45% of gross income) (1.45% of gross income)

special taxspecial tax out of out of paycheckpaycheck

President Johnson signing the Medicare amendment. Former President Harry S. Truman (seated) and his wife, Bess, are on the far right

MedicaidMedicaid– Medical insurance to poor peopleMedical insurance to poor people

Insures around 60 million people per year!Insures around 60 million people per year!

Pays about $200 billion in medical costs per year!Pays about $200 billion in medical costs per year!

– Where doesWhere does $$$ $$$ come from?come from?Paid for by Paid for by all citizensall citizens

part ofpart of Fed. Income TaxFed. Income Tax

Immigration Act of 1965Immigration Act of 1965Changed policy put in place throughout 1910s & 1920sChanged policy put in place throughout 1910s & 1920s

Easier to get into U.S. ifEasier to get into U.S. if– You have skills You have skills – You have an immediate family member that is a citizenYou have an immediate family member that is a citizen

No more favoritism towards Western Europe CountriesNo more favoritism towards Western Europe Countries

Allowed Immigration from Central Am, Asia, and AfricaAllowed Immigration from Central Am, Asia, and Africa

Still has an overall Still has an overall limitlimit on # of new immigrants allowed per year on # of new immigrants allowed per year– Much Much higherhigher than beforethan before

Changes in Immigration to the U.S. by Region1960 -2010

2 books influence new laws2 books influence new lawsRachael Carson’s Rachael Carson’s Silent SpringSilent Spring

Ralph Nader’s Ralph Nader’s Unsafe at Any SpeedUnsafe at Any Speed

Both become popular by mid 1960s. Government starts to act.

Environmental LawsEnvironmental LawsWater Quality Act Water Quality Act – clean up riversclean up rivers– Stop polluting waterwaysStop polluting waterways

Clean Air Act AmendmentClean Air Act Amendment – Tougher federal auto emission standardsTougher federal auto emission standards

Beginning of unleaded gasolineBeginning of unleaded gasoline

– Why? Less Air PollutionWhy? Less Air Pollution

Still a big issue inChina where emissionstandards are very low

Consumer Protection LawsConsumer Protection LawsTruth in Packaging ActTruth in Packaging Act required all of the following on a required all of the following on a labellabel– The identity of the productThe identity of the product– The name and place of business of the manufacturerThe name and place of business of the manufacturer– The net quantity of contents.The net quantity of contents.

National Traffic & Motor Vehicle Safety ActNational Traffic & Motor Vehicle Safety Act– 1st federal auto and highway safety law1st federal auto and highway safety law

Needed because of increasing highway deathsNeeded because of increasing highway deaths

– Led to a bunch of new safety standardsLed to a bunch of new safety standardsMandatory Seat BeltsMandatory Seat Belts

Head RestsHead Rests

Shatter Resistant WindshieldsShatter Resistant Windshields

More gentle curves on roadsMore gentle curves on roads

Better Lighting on RoadsBetter Lighting on Roads

GuardrailsGuardrails Before this Act,seatbelts werenot standardin cars. You could buy them “after market” and installthem yourself.Not exactly what I’d call safe.

2 New Fed Govt. Cabinet Depts.2 New Fed Govt. Cabinet Depts.Housing & Urban Development (HUD)Housing & Urban Development (HUD)– Secretary = Robert WeaverSecretary = Robert Weaver

1st Black Cabinet member1st Black Cabinet member

TransportationTransportation– Air, Water, Cars, Rail, Mass TransitAir, Water, Cars, Rail, Mass Transit

Did the “Great Society” succeed?Did the “Great Society” succeed?Most people believe the nation was “better off”Most people believe the nation was “better off”– 2 major2 major problems problems with itwith it

##1. Cost a bunch of $ and forces $ into certain programs1. Cost a bunch of $ and forces $ into certain programs– Govt. consistently had big deficitsGovt. consistently had big deficits

Still doesStill does

#2. #2. Vietnam cut some programs shortVietnam cut some programs short– Attention mostly focused there by late 1967Attention mostly focused there by late 1967

Supreme Court Decisions in the 1960sSupreme Court Decisions in the 1960sEarl Warren – Chief JusticeEarl Warren – Chief Justice

Many Cases Increase Rights of People Accused in CrimesMany Cases Increase Rights of People Accused in Crimes

Baker v Carr and ReapportionmentBaker v Carr and ReapportionmentCourt case began the process of deciding how to fairly Court case began the process of deciding how to fairly draw up boundaries for Congressional districtsdraw up boundaries for Congressional districts– Used to split a state up evenly by areaUsed to split a state up evenly by area

Unfairly gave more representation to rural communitiesUnfairly gave more representation to rural communities

– Now splits up a state based on populationNow splits up a state based on populationState district lines redrawn every 10 years following the Census State district lines redrawn every 10 years following the Census

Tennessee is divided into nine U.S. Congressional districts, 33 state senate districts and 99 state house districts.

U.S. House of RepresentativeDistrict Divisions