Lyndon B Johnson Great Society Background LBJ was

Lyndon B. Johnson Great Society

Background ¡LBJ was a teacher at a segregated school for Mexican Americans ¡Senator ¡Joined Kennedy’s ticket when he lost Democratic nomination in 1960 ¡Took office when Kennedy was assassinated in 1963

Civil Rights Act of 1964 ¡Outlawed discrimination in voting, education, and public accommodations ¡ Hospitals, restaurants, theaters, and other public places ¡Equal Employment Opportunity Commissionfought discrimination in hiring processes ¡Title VII- prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex

War on Poverty ¡Economic Opportunity Act- created the Job Corps to train young men and women between 16 and 21 in work skill to get better jobs ¡Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA)- sent American volunteers into poor American communities ¡Head Start- provided play groups, day care, ad activities for underprivileged children to prepare for school

Election of 1964 ¡Johnson v. Barry Goldwater ¡Goldwater wanted to reduce federal government and cut spending and taxes ¡Johnson won more than 60% of popular vote ¡Democrats won both houses of Congress

Great Society

Healthcare ¡Medicare- provided healthcare to elderly ¡Medicaid- provided basic medical services to poor and disabled that were not a part of the Social Security system

Education ¡Elementary and Secondary Education Act- gave funds to poor communities to build libraries, learning centers, language laboratories, and services

Environment ¡ Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring discussed the damage done by chemical fertilizers and pesticides ¡ Ralph Nader’s Unsafe at Any Speed addressed passenger safety ¡Water Quality Act and Clean Water Restoration Act- improved water and air standards in the US ¡National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act- established safety standards for vehicles

Immigration ¡Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 - altered America’s quota system ¡ Many immigrants came from all parts of the world

The Warren Court

The Warren Court ¡ Led by Chief Justice, Earl Warren ¡ The most liberal in history ¡ Baker v. Carr- “one man, one vote” approved reapportionment of voting districts ¡ Mapp v. Ohio- illegally obtained evidence could not be used in court ¡ Gideon v. Wainwright- all accused had right to lawyer ¡ Escobedo v. Illinois- every accused had to be offered access to lawyer before questioning ¡ Miranda v. Arizona- accused had to be informed of Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights ¡ Engel v. Vitale- public schools could not require students to recite prayer ¡ Abington v. Schempp- Bible reading in public schools violated First Amendment