Lyndon Johnson & Lyndon Johnson & The Great SocietyThe Great Society

Lyndon B. JohnsonLyndon B. Johnson

“There are no problems we cannot solve together, and very few that

we can solve by ourselves.”

Election of 1964Election of 1964Lyndon B. Johnson Barry Goldwater

Johnson & Humphrey WinCarried 61% of the Popular Vote, 44 states + DC, and 486 Electoral Votes

The Johnson YearsThe Johnson Years

The Great SocietyThe Great Society

Lyndon Johnson and the Great Society

Goals of the Great Goals of the Great SocietySociety

“So I want to talk to you today about three places where we begin to build the Great Society: in our cities, in our countryside, and in our classrooms.”

1.Reduce Poverty2.Improve Education3.Improve the Environment

The War on PovertyThe War on PovertyTax Reduction Act

Reduce taxes to encourage spending and stimulate growth

Economic Opportunity ActCreated various programs, such as youth organizations and programs to assist the impoverished with preschool education, to help fight the

war on poverty.

Medical Care ActCreated Medicare (medical assistance to citizens 65+) and Medicaid

(extension of health insurance to those on welfare.)

Appalachian Regional Development ActTargeted economically depressed areas to provide aid for various

aspects of living (ex: West Virginia).

One of every three Appalachians lived in poverty.

Per capita income was 23 percent lower than the U.S. average.

High unemployment and harsh living conditions had, in the 1950s, forced more than 2 million Appalachians to leave their

homes and seek work in other regions.

The EnvironmentThe Environment

Clean Air Act AmendmentEstablished emission standards for new vehicles.

Wilderness Preservation ActSet aside over 9 million acres for the preservation and growth of

forest lands.

EducationEducation

Elementary & Secondary Education ActDirected federal money towards public schools to enhance libraries, special

education, and more.

National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities

Formed to assist and financially support artists, painters, musicians, and more.

Was the Great Society Was the Great Society envisioned by President envisioned by President Johnson a success or a Johnson a success or a

failure?failure?Question.

Success of the Great Success of the Great SocietySociety

Medicare & Medicaid still exist…Education expanded (if not improved…)Environmental preservation expanded…

17 Trillion Dollars SpentPoverty in 1965?

14%

Poverty in 2012?16%