LB Johnson (1963-1969) Flashcards
Johnson’s personality / context
- teacher in 1928
- 2 children
- entered politics 1930 (22) won seat in house of representatives
- appointed Texas state director for National Youth Admin 1935, helped over 28,000 texans , alleviated black unemployment
- served navy during war
- elected to congress 1937
- won senate race 1948
- great political skill + became democratic leader in the senate 1955
- sought presidential nomination but Kennedy chose him as running mate
Johnson context: vice president
- chaired Ks EEOC: increased federal jobs for black people by 22% - lacked funding and power
- intimidating politician ‘johnson treatment’
- work ethic greater than any other president despite major heart attack 1955
- ## passed over 60 pieces of legislation
Johnson context: vice president
- chaired Ks EEOC: increased federal jobs for black people by 22% - lacked funding and power
- intimidating politician ‘johnson treatment’
- work ethic greater than any other president despite major heart attack 1955
- ## passed over 60 pieces of legislation
1964 election
- seemed to gibe Johnson advantage: opponent Barry Goldwater, seen to be campaigning against Kennedy’s legacy
- J won 61% of vote - highest in 20th century
what were Johnson’s policies
- policies were mostly domestic (unlike most Ps)
- great society was extension of ks new frontier
- didn’t intend to raise taxes
- problems exposed by Harringtons ‘the other america’ were his principle focus
- war on poverty: sought to re-establish the American Dream for all
Programmes of great society: 1964
- Economic Opportunity Act
- Urban Mass Transportation Act
- Omnibus Housing Act
- Civil Rights Act
- Wilderness Protection Act
Economic Opportunity Act
- 1964
- created the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) to administer the ‘war on poverty
Urban Mass Transportation Act
- 1964
- provided federal money for public transport
Omnibus Housing Act
- 1964
- provided fed dfunds for public housing along with rent subsidies for poorer families
- gave $8bn to moderate and low income housing
Civil Rights Act
- 1964
- prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin
- made all forms of de jure segregation a fed crime
- established Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC)
- people could be convicted of ‘denial of civil rights’ e.g. Goodman, Chaney, Schwerner
- failed to address problems with voting
Wilderness Protection Act
- 1964
- promised that 9million acres of gov land would be protected from development
programmes of Great Society: 1965
- Medical Care Act
- Elementary and Secondary Education Act
- Voting Rights Act
- Air and Water Quality Act
- Minimum Wage Act
- Higher Education Act
Medical Care Act
- 1965
- Created the medicaid and medicare programs to help poor and elderly with the cost of medical treatment
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
- 1965
- granted federal aid to poorer children
Voting Rights Act
- 1965
- outlawed the discriminatory voting practices adopted in many southern states
- abolished literacy tests and poll taxes
- effect was immediate and dramatic
- result of Selma to Montgomery march
- end of 1966: only 4 of southern states had less that half their AA population registered to vote, even Mississippi had 59%
- by next decade: number of elected black officials increased 12 fold; 0-300 (1960-80)
Air and Water Quality Act
- 1965
- set tougher limits on polluters and gave states responsibility to enforce quality controls
Minimum Wage Act
- 1965
- raised minimum wage and extended the groups it is applied to
- raised by 35 cents
Higher Education Act
- 1965
- federal finding for post high school education
Programmes of the Great Society: 1966
- Redevelopment Act
- Highway Safety Act
Programmes of the Great Society: 1967
- Public broadcasting Act
Redevelopment Act
- 1966
- focused on 150 ‘model cities’ which were integrated grogrammes of social care, training and housing would be trialled
Highway Safety Act
- 1966
- set new federal standards for vehicle and road safety
Public Broadcasting Act
- 1967
- established the National Public Radio (NPR) and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
Success of war on poverty with EOA
- 44 states had anti-poveert programmes
- 53 Job Corp centres = recieved alot of applicants
- 25,000 families on welfare recieving work training
- 35,000 college students on work-study programmes
- Neighborhood Youth Corps in 49 cities and 11 rural communities
- 8000 VISTA’s assisting poor groups
- over 4M recieving aid for dependent children benefit families
- $17M on loans given for small businesses
- Community Action Programme assisted poor areas in combatting poverty
Education in 1964
1964: J highlighted:
- 54M Americans never finished high school
- 8M has under 5 years schooling
- 100,000 high school graduates couldnt afford college
- schools rundown and short of teachers