P.1.9- Great society Flashcards
When Kennedy died in 1963 what was over and what was the USA experiencing? and why?
The recession that had affected the US economy was over
The USA was experiencing a period of economic prosperity
Kennedys aid to depressed areas had helped bring this about
What were the Johnson program and reforms called?
The great society continuation
In many ways, the Great Society was a…
continuation of Kennedy’s programme with an increased focus on civil rights and aiding the poor, whilst also improving the economy
What did Johnson call his plans other than the great society?
“War on poverty”
When did Johnson win the election and to whom? and by how much?
In 1964 Johnson won a landslide victory over Barry Goldwater
Why did Johnson win the election?
Successfully associated himself with Kennedy
How much of the vote did Johnson win?
61.1% of the popular vote
Why did Barry Goldwater not win the elections?
Lack of support from own party due to his deeply unpopular conservative political position
How did Johnson portray Goldwater?
Dangerous extremist
how much of the nation’s wealth did the top 20% of the population own?
77%
How much of the nation’s wealth did the bottom 20% own?
0.5%
The top 10% of the population earned how many times as much as the bottom 10%
28
What % of blacks were classed as poor?
43%
What was the annual income of poor black families?
less than $300
What % of black Americans owned businesses?
1%
In 1962 what % of Americans had barely enough money to buy food or pay for accommodation?
20-25%
What book revealed the extent of poverty and what did it suggest?
Michael Harrington’S Book the other America: Poverty in the US 1962
suggested that there were hidden slums in rural areas in the deep south and on reservations
what were the 3 main options to solve extreme poverty? and which did the great society place emphasis on?
- Redistribute society’s wealth more evenly
- To give more to the poor
- To give the individual poor a better chance to overcome their poverty
More emphasis on 3
What was the economic opportunity act and when was it?
1964
Co-ordinating a variety of initiatives to eradicate poverty within the USA
What were some of the successes of the economic opportunity act?
44 states had anti-poverty programs
Members of 25,000 families on welfare were receiving work training
35,000 adults learning to read and write
3 acts that advanced the rights of minority groups
- Civil rights act 1964
- Voting rights Act 1965
- Fair housing act 1968
3 acts that helped decrease poverty
- Economic oppurtunity act 1964
- Head start
- Job corps
2 failed acts due to lack of funds johnsons underestimation
- Medicare
2. Demonstration cities and met act 1966
What did the head start bill enable for children and how many children benefitted from it?
enable poor preschool children to catch up with other children
1 million disadvantaged children enrolled
50,000 disadvantaged students participated each year during johnsons presidency
What did the job corps provide? and how many new job corp centres were made?
Jobs and training
53 new job corps centers
How many people received either jobs or job training due to the job corps?
100,000
What did the civil rights act 1964 ban? and what did this show?
Banned racial segregation in public places
End Jim crow laws
Demonstrated changing social attitudes in society and congress as Kennedy struggled to make progress in this area before.
What did the Voting rights act of 1965 ban and what did it REMOVE ?
- Banned voter registration tests to prove educational achievement
- removed several barriers that some southern states had to prevent blacks from voting
What did the voting rights act ensure?
Black voters had the opportunity to choose who represented them on a local, state, and federal level
Black issues had a prominent place on the political agenda
How did the laws in the south prevent blacks from voting?
impossible to pass
making any changes to the state voting laws without prior approval from congress
What did the Fair housing act 1968 prohibit?
Prohibit racial discrimination in the sale and rental of housing
Integrate housing
What 2 things did the voting rights act tackle?
De facto segregation
Black ghettos
contributed to transforming the opportunities available to black Americans
Overall did Johnson’s great society transform the USA?
ensured black Americans had legal rights and backing to protest against poor treatment and set a precedent for future gov action to protect minority groups
Who was the first black mayor of Fayette Mississippi?
Charles Evers due to
By 1968 what % of the black population of Mississippi were registered to vote?
59%
Between 1965 and 68 how did spending to help the poor change?
doubled
how did the % of Americans living below the poverty line change?
declined from 20% to 12%
what did the medicare act provide and when was it?
1965
Provided federally funded health insurance for 65+ and disabled regardless of their income or existing medical conditions
How much did the medicare act cost by 1993? and 1966
$144 billion in 93
$3.5 billion in 66
By 1965 what % of GNP went to healthcare? and what did to change to in 1990
5%
15%
1966 how many were enrolled in healthcare?
19 million
The growing belief that his great society had run out of steam in the face of…
Financial reality
What was the issue with the medicare act?
Gaps in coverage
What were the demonstration cities and metropolitan act 1966?
Stated that areas such as Chicago, Houston , Detroit and LA would be seen as model cities/demonstration cities
all gov levels would work on housing and replicate
What did Johnson estimate the cost of the demonstration cites and met act 1966?
but how much did new york alone need according to the new york times?
$2.4 billion
$6 billion
Why were the demonstration cities and met acts not effective?
MOney was spread too thinly
To what extent did President Johnson’s Great Society program improve the quality
of life for poor people in America?
OVERALL: NO
- JOB CORPS, HEAD START, ECONOMIC OPPURICTY ACT- YES
- OMNIBUS HOUSING ACT 1965, DEMO MET ACT - HOUSING
- HEALTHCARE/ EDUCATION- MEDICARE, ESEA 1965
To what extent did President Johnson’s Great Society program improve the quality
of life for poor people in America?
OVERALL: NO
- JOB CORPS, HEAD START, ECONOMIC OPPURICTY ACT- YES
- OMNIBUS HOUSING ACT 1965, DEMO MET ACT - HOUSING- NO
- HEALTHCARE/ EDUCATION- MEDICARE, ESEA 1965- NO
What did the omnibus Housing act finance?
Financed rent supplements and low moderate-income homes in ghettos
