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 Goldwaterphilosophies in direct contrast to

Johnson’sbelieves issues like racism and

poverty were not the concern of Federal Gov’t

‘Father’ of the modern Conservative movement

Johnson wins by a landslideBut South is no longer solidly Democrat

The Great SocietySpeech at U of M introduces the concept to end poverty and racial injustice

Healthcare Insurance: Medicare and Medicaid

Education: aid schools in poorer areasEnvironment 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 line1970: 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 14th Amendment

Rights of the AccusedFour landmark cases concerning rights of lawbreaker (individual rights)

Mapp v Ohio: evidence obtained illegally and can be excluded in court; violates 4th 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 5th and 6th Amend. Rights before being questioned

Separation of Church and State

Engel v Vitale: ruled school prayer was a violation of 1st Amend.

Abington v Schempp: Bible reading in public schools violated 1st Amend.