Johnsons Great Society Who was Lyndon Baines Johnson

Johnson’s Great Society

Who was Lyndon Baines Johnson? Born in Texas Taught in a segregated school for Mexican Americans Elected to Congress in 1937; Senate in 1948; becomes Senate Majority leader in 1955 avoided conflict, built political coalitions, worked out compromises 1960 candidate for president; chosen as VP

War on Poverty Train the jobless; educate the uneducated; provide healthcare for those in need Economic Opportunity Act: created the Job Corps to train young people ages 16 -21; establishes VISTA (volunteers in service to America) – served in inner cities and Indian reservations and rural and urban health centers; established Head Start

Johnson vs. Goldwater 1964 – Republicans nominate Barry Goldwater philosophies in direct contrast to Johnson’s believes issues like racism and poverty were not the concern of Federal Gov’t ‘Father’ of the modern Conservative movement Johnson wins by a landslide But South is no longer solidly Democrat

The Great Society Speech at U of M introduces the concept to end poverty and racial injustice Healthcare Insurance: Medicare and Medicaid Education: aid schools in poorer areas Environment and Consumer: spurred by Rachel Carson’s book The Silent Spring and Ralph Nader’s Unsafe at any Speed – Water Quality Act (1965), Clean Water Restoration Act (1966), National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (1966) Immigration and Nationality Act (1965): opens our doors once again

Great Society Victories National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities provides assistance for many artists and scholars Poverty and infant mortality rates declined 1960: 22. 2% of Americans live below poverty line 1970: 12. 6% live below the poverty line

The Warren Court Most liberal in American History – legislate from the bench? Issued many landmark rulings concerning civil rights, criminal justice, First Amendment issues, and legislative districting

Voters’ Rights Migration from rural to urban areas led to electoral imbalance – had not been reapportioned Baker v Carr and Reynolds v Sims: electoral districts must reflect the actual numbers in those districts – ‘one man, one vote’ – anything else violates the equal protection clause of the 14 th Amendment

Rights of the Accused Four landmark cases concerning rights of lawbreaker (individual rights) Mapp v Ohio: evidence obtained illegally and can be excluded in court; violates 4 th Amend. Gideon v Wainwright: right to lawyer if you can’t afford one Escobedo v Illinois: accused must be offered lawyer before questioning; info discussed before this offer was inadmissible Miranda v Arizona: accused must be informed of 5 th and 6 th Amend. Rights before being questioned

Separation of Church and State Engel v Vitale: ruled school prayer was a violation of 1 st Amend. Abington v Schempp: Bible reading in public schools violated 1 st Amend.