johnson as president Flashcards
where did Johnson teach (before he became president)
segregated school in poor Texas town to Mexican Americans
- believed educating them would be their escape route
who did Johnson appeal to when senate in Texas
white segregationists
what was the Johnson treatment
intimidating political tactic
- would use his body to look intimidating (6’3)
- knew everyones secrets and what they wanted
invade personal space
- bullying and persuading
which presidents civil rights bill did Johnson kill
trumans
which civil rights bills did Johnson support (2)
IKE’s - 1957 and 1960
who did Johnson lose a debate to in 1960 and why was this significant
he had wanted to run for presidency but defeated by Kennedy
why did Kennedy choose Johnson as VP
to win the south
what did Johnson head as VP and what improvement did he make
equal employment opportuny commission
- federal jobs held by af-ams increased by 17% to 22% in a year
what was Johnsons domestic policy called
great society !
6 features of Johnsons great society
- racial equality
- end of poverty
- educational reform
- modern housing
- end of urban decay
- peace with other nations
what was Johnsons approval rating in 1964
75%
in 1964 johnson declared ‘unconditional war on…
poverty’
impact of Kennedy legacy (5)
- ppl wanted legislative tribute !!
- johnson introduced bills with emotive references to Kennedy
- ‘let us highly resolve that John Kennedy did not live- or die- in vain’
- nation mourning gave sympathy to johnson
- Kennedy had increased us involvement in Vietnam and pressured johnson to continue it
what act did johnson pass in 1964 to do with his war on poverty and what are some examples of what this did (3)
economic opportunity act
- 44 states with anti poverty programmes
- 90,000 adults enrolled in basic education programmes
- over 4 mil receiving aid to families with dependant children
how did johnson tackle poverty and health
- Medicare and medicaid !! yay helped 19 million Americans in 1966
when was medicare introduced and what was it
1965 - health insurance for over 65s and those with disabilities regardless of income or existing medical conditions
when was medicaid introduced and what was it
1968 - financial assistance to states to help provide medical treatment to impoverished residents who couldn’t afford medical services
why did the elderly constitute a large population of those in poverty
expensive healthcare
what helped johnson approve medicare and medicaid
democrat majorities in both houses of congress and his powers of persuasion
problems with medicare and medicaid (3)
- gaps in coverage such as spectacles
- way more expensive than johnson predicted
- helped 1/5 but not the rest of population
how many Americans had never graduated from high school in 1964
54 million
why did presidents rarely get funds for education
congress felt it should be under local control
two important education acts in 1965
elementary and secondary education act
higher education act (HEA)
impact of Johnsons help in education (5)
- 13 mil children benefitted
- shortage of teachers ended
- percentage of those with high school diploma rose
- new buildings constructed
- 25% college students received aid from HEA
what suggested that the housing and alienation caused ghetto rioting instead of poverty
4/5 of rioters arrested in 1967 had jobs paying over 120 weekly
what did johnson propose in 1968 that would cost nothing but help those in ghettos and how did congress respond
an end to discrimination in housing - would alleviate ghetto overcrowding
responded with fair housing act
why was the fair housing act unsuccessful
white opposition
head start
1 mil children benefited
- helped economically disadvantaged pre schoolers
what did federal expenditure on poor rise to from 1963 to 66
13 bil to 20 bil
did johnson fail to eradicate poverty
sadly yes :(
1/3 non whites lived below poverty line
with infant mortality and unemployment twice that of whites
johnson was torn between ‘the woman I really loved - the great society’ and
the ‘bitch of a war’ against communism in Vietnam
what was spent on great society compared to Vietnam between 65-73
15.5 bil
120 bil
what did congress make johnson agree to in 1967
cuts in the great society programmes
due to inflation and tax rises made it unpopular
what did Nixon describe the great society as
a ‘cruel hoax’
what evidenced johsnons lack of help for af-ams
riots in 1967
what percent of Americans believed their life would improve in 1960s
96%
Johnson called for what in congress in 1967
(economy)
further tax rises
what was americas federal deficit in 1968
estimated 19.8 billion
deficit def
the amount by which something, especially a sum of money, is too small.
issues with the economy by 1968
- deficit of 19.8 bil
- problems with inflation
