1 / 14

The Great Society

The Great Society. Chapter 20 Sections 3. LBJ’s path to power. Mentored by fdr as congressman Wins senate seat in 1948 1955 – senate majority leader “ Lbj treatment” - combination of physical intimidation and coercion, and it was one of his most effective tools

karlyn
Download Presentation

The Great Society

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. The Great Society Chapter 20 Sections 3

  2. LBJ’s path to power • Mentored by fdr as congressman • Wins senate seat in 1948 • 1955 – senate majority leader • “Lbj treatment” - combination of physical intimidation and coercion, and it was one of his most effective tools http://jackbrummet.blogspot.com/2011/02/johnson-treatment-lbjs-version-of.html

  3. Lbj’s path to power • Gets 1957 civil rights act passed – voting rights measure • Lbj selected as vice president to help kennedy win southern states

  4. The war on poverty • In his 1964 State of the Union message, President Johnson announced, “This administration today . . . declares unconditional war on poverty,” • and he declared that only “total victory” would suffice. the United States, already a “rich society,” Johnson observed, had the opportunity to move “upward to the Great Society.” • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3AuStymweQYoutube video of LBJ’s “War on poverty” speech. 3:03 Runtime. Watch it. 1. How does he say the US will win the “war?” 2. Have you heard this recently? 3. By whom? (This is a 6 point assignment due tomorrow.)

  5. The war on poverty • Tax cuts – 1964: Spurs economic growth, cuts deficit • Civil rights act – 1964: prohibits racial discrimination; provides penalties • Economic opportunity act – education, training, small business loans • Community action programs, VISTA, Job Corps, head start

  6. The 1964 election • Senator barrygoldwater –republican nominee • Goldwater - championed smaller government, states’ rights , & stronger front against communism than Johnson. • A World War II veteran and officer in the air force reserve, goldwater viewed combat in Vietnam as a clear-cut prospect: if the United States committed troops to Vietnam, it should do so intending to win and using any force necessary, including nuclear weapons. • Johnson campaign commercial (Ran only 1 time. Public outcry against it.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDTBnsqxZ3k

  7. The 1964 election • Johnson runs many attack ads in his campaign making goldwater look like warmonger. • LBJ pledges to not send U.S. troops to vietnam. Wins race by landslide. • Democrats have large majority in congress and hold it throughout lbj’s presidency. (see Congress under LBJ slide)

  8. 1964 election at a glance Electoral college President Johnson Barry Goldwater States carried by Johnson: 44 + DC Johnson won 486 of 538 electoral votes Johnson ran on no war in vietnam but instead a “War on poverty” policy Ran on smaller government, states rights and if enter war, fight to win.

  9. Congress under lbj Veto proof majority 1963-67 Veto proof majority 1965-67

  10. Lbj – shades of fdr • Congress passes 206 of johnson’s bills – Great Society intitiative • Education - Elementary & secondary Education act – provided funding for public education (in addition to what each state already provided]. • Healthcare – Medicaid: health insurance for welfare recipients & Medicare: low cost medical, hospital insurance for senior citizens. • Housing – dept. of housing & urban development established; taxpayer money set aside for public housing; low to medium income families • Immigration - No more quotas based on national origin – immigration act of 1965

  11. Lbj – shades of fdr (cont) • Environment: Silent spring by rachelcarson, a well known nature writer, touts dangers of pesiticides, ending use of DDT nearly worldwide. • Over time Many reputable scientists have found multiple errors in her thesis, including members of the Sierra Club and the Audubon Society. • Water quality Act of 1965 – water pollution prevention of rivers. • Consumer protection – sets laws for labeling products, auto safety and food safety standards. Ralph Nader publishes Unsafe at any speed, testifies in congress about car safety. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibo6i_2XflE Runtime 1:45. Corvairs were found to be unsafe (rear engine cars).

  12. Warren Court • US Supreme court justice earl warren’s court • Appointed to court in 1953 by president eisenhower • Brown v. Board of education (1954) – public school desegregation • Reynolds v. sims (1964) – congressional reapportionment; districts must be equal in population • Miranda v. Arizona (1966) – Miranda warning

  13. Warren court (cont) • Expands rights of those accused of crimes: • Illegally seized evidence not allowed at trial • Right to fair trial • Some Americans like warren court rulings, others think it harms police & lets guilty get away with crime

  14. Impact of the great society • Since WW II,LBJ expands presidential power more than any other president in history. • Massive tax cuts spur economic growth, but government costs of great society programs raises deficit spending • Huge debate to this day over effectiveness of programs, and whether federal government should be involved in some areas, particularly education (not mentioned in US constitution – considered a state power).

More Related