Johnson's Great Society (63-69)

Question 1

What was the Great Society?

Answer 1

Policies by LBJ which aimed to create a society free from racism and poverty

Question 2

How did Johnson tackle poverty and unemployment?

Answer 2

• Economic Opportunity Act (64), established an office to co-ordinate the war on poverty
• Increased the amount of those able to read and write
• Food Stamp Act (64), increased minimum wage
• 1/3 of non-white families still lived below poverty line

Question 3

How did Johnson tackle civil rights?

Answer 3

• Executive Order Act (65), required any institution receiving federal funding to employ more non-white people
• Fair Housing Act (68), no discrimination in sale or rental of housing (couldn’t be enforced properly)

Question 4

How did Johnson tackle the housing problem?

Answer 4

• Housing and Urban Development Department (65), combat housing shortages
• Encouraged builders to construct reasonably priced housing
• White taxpayers were unwilling to help

Question 5

How did Johnson tackle education?

Answer 5

• Doubled federal expenditure to $8bil
• Higher Education Act (65), 11mil kids benefited, provided more opportunities for kids

Question 6

How did Johnson tackle medicare?

Answer 6

• Social Security Act (65), established Medicare and Medicaid
• Provided federally funded health insurance for over 65s, and those with disabilities
• Financial assistance given to help the poor afford essential medical services
• Was far more expensive than initially anticipated

Question 7

What did Johnson not achieve?

Answer 7

• Crime, drug-trafficking and poverty still rife in inner-city areas
• Still discrimination in the housing market
• Since 68, no government has repeated massive federal spending on a social project