How Lyndon B. Johnson planned on using his plan of the Great Society to end racial inequalities and poverty in America. 51 years ago President Johnson decided that the government would steer the U.S. towards a better society by ending discrimination with the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. Johnson also tried to put an end to poverty but even after so many years it still remains at 15%.
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Back in the 1960s most people lived comfortably in the middle class. Families were allowed to live with a single earner. This permitted the purchase of modest housing, a model car, used car, and a driving vacation somewhere. But 51 years ago millions of Americans were still poor. So President Johnson created these major Great Society programs to end that:
War on Poverty: 40 programs that were created to eliminate poverty by improving living conditions and enabling people to get themselves out of poverty. Education: 60 separate bills that provided for new and better-equipped classrooms, minority scholarships, and low-interest student loans. Medicare & Medicaid: guaranteed health care to every American over 65. The Enviroment: introduced measures to reclaim our heritage of clean air and water. National Endowment for the Arts and the Humanities: created with the philosophy that artists, performers, and writers were a priceless part of our heritage and deserve support. Job Corps: provided skills for young men and women. Head Start: program for four and five-year-old children from disadvantaged families that gave them a chance to start school on an even basis with other children. |
Liberal Reforms
This is a picture of president Johnson giving his Great Society speech on May 22, 1964 in Michigan. His Liberal beliefs meant that he wanted the government to take action in helping citizens of the United States get through poverty and racial inequalities. He wanted to make changes in order to improve the U.S. which is what reform means.
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Middle Class
The "middle class" is a financial status that is between the upper and working classes. This picture above is what the typical middle class family looked like in the 1960's, they lived comfortably with a single earner that was usually the husband while the wife would assume the job of a "housewife." This comfortable financial situation would also allow for a family vacation that was usually a driving one as pictured above.
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Great Society Programs
Lyndon B. Johnson is captured here signing his Medicare legislation, one of his many Great Society programs. These programs were intended to fight against poverty and the racial injustices going on at the time. Like previously stated President Johnson was a liberal therefore he believed in the government getting involved to make a change in the Nation.
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