L6&L7: The 1960s – Johnson & The Great SocietyThe Shifting Size and Scope of the National

Government: Part Two

AgendaObjective:1. To evaluate how Johnson

redefined the purpose and role of government through his Great Society Program.

Schedule: 1. Lecture, Reading/Audio,

Discussion

Homework:1. Consult

Unit Schedule for background reading.

The Shifting Size and Scope of the National Government in

the 1960s• The 1960s represents the second wave

of government growth and expansion in modern US history.

• Made possible by the policies of two presidents:– John F. Kennedy

• The New Frontier– Lyndon B. Johnson

• The Great Society – Outlines a new philosophy on the role of government– Tremendous expansion in the size and the scope of government

The Legacy of the New Deal in the 1960s…

• Recall the following chart…

Questions We Ask About the Role of of Government up in

the 1930s..Should the Government Intervene in

the Economy(Question Introduced by the Gilded

Age)

NO YES Should the Government Intervene in Social Life?(Question

Introduced by the Progressive Era)

NO YES

The Legacy of the New Deal in the 1960s…

• The New Deal introduces another question into the role/function of the United States Government

Questions We Ask about the Role of Government in the 1960s

Should the Government Intervene in the Economy

(Question Introduced by the Gilded Age)

NO YES

NO YES Should the Government Intervene in Social Life?

(Question Introduced by the Progressive Era)

NO YES Should the Government Intervene to Promote Equality

(Economic, Racial, Sex, Sexuality?)

(Question Introduced by the New Deal)

Questions We Ask about the Role of Government in the 1960s: Republicans

Should the Government Intervene in the Economy

(Question Introduced by the Gilded Age)

NO YES

NO YES(Social

Conservative Wing)

Should the Government Intervene in Social Life?

(Question Introduced by the Progressive Era)

NO YES Should the Government Intervene to Promote Equality

(Economic, Racial, Sex, Sexuality?)

(Question Introduced by the New Deal)

Questions We Ask about the Role of Government in the 1960s: Democrats

Should the Government Intervene in the Economy

(Question Introduced by the Gilded Age)

NO YES

NO YES Should the Government Intervene in Social Life?

(Question Introduced by the Progressive Era)

NO YES Should the Government Intervene to Promote Equality

(Economic, Racial, Sex, Sexuality?)

(Question Introduced by the New Deal)

John F. Kennedy• 1917-1963• Senator from Massachusetts

before becoming President• Youngest person to be

elected president (he was 43)

• First and only Catholic president

• Assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald 3 years into his term as president.

Kennedy’s New Frontier• Package of domestic programs• Promised federal funding for

education, medical care for the elderly, economic aid to rural regions, government intervention to half the recession of 1960, and an end to racial discrimination

• Accomplishments of the “New Frontier”– Stabilized the recession– Passed laws to prohibit racial

discrimination in federally supported housing

– Sent the national guard to Little Rock to enforce integration of the schools

– Created the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women

– Signed the Equal Pay Act of 1963

Kennedy is Assassinated• Kennedy does not have

the opportunity to enact much of his New Frontier Program before he is assassinated.

• When Kennedy’s VP Lyndon Johnson takes office he makes it his mission to achieve Kennedy’s goals.

Lyndon Johnson• 1908-1973• From Texas• Was a teacher prior to getting

involved in politics• First comes to office by way of

succession, but runs on his own and wins election in 1964 by a significant margin over Barry Goldwater.

• One of only 4 people to be a Representative, Senator, VP, and President.

• Mixed presidential legacy: impressive civil and economic rights agenda contrasted with the Vietnam disaster.

Johnson’s Great Society Program• Package of domestic policies Johnson proposed between 1965 and 1968 to deal with a variety of social and economic problems facing the United States.

– Civil Rights, Education, Poverty, Environmental Issues

• 435 bills pushed through Congress dealing with these problems!!

• LBJ able to do so much because:– “Landslide Lyndon”: 1964 election swept Democrats into majority

in both houses, enormous mandate for LBJ (61% pop. vote)– Kennedy legacy and assassination

What is the Great Society?• We will listen to a

commencement address given by Johnson at the University of Michigan in which he outlines the goals of the Great Society.

• As you watch take notes on the programs and goals Johnson outlines.

Legislative Accomplishments of the

Great Society• Take a look at a list of some of the

legislative accomplishments Johnson achieved as part of the Great Society

• Any other programs/goals we want to add to our list?

Great Society Discussion• What is the Great Society?• What is the philosophy on the role government

Johnson articulates through the Great Society?– Related, How does Johnson change the size and scope of

the government as a result of this philosophy?

• How does Johnson’s philosophy on the role of government compare with past eras?– Gilded Age– Progressive Era– 1920s– Roosevelt & The New Deal– The 1950s

Other Points to Add to Johnson’s Philosophy of Government

• If these didn’t come up, we should also note that…• Johnson moves the government to one that reacts to

social/economic problems to one that is proactive in dealing with social/economic problems– How can we stop the problems before they start?

• Job Training, Head Start

• Redefines the definition of needy– Needy are not just the disabled and the aged, needy are

also the poor (whether they work or not)• Medicaid, HUD and Rent Subsidies

• Broadens the definition of “citizen” – who the government is responsible to: blacks, women, immigrants, the poor –those who do not have a voice!

Exit Activity

• Make a diagram/chart/visual metaphor that shows the shift in the role/purpose of government between 1890 and 1960.– “Points on your Graph” =

• Gilded Age• Progressive Era• The 1920s• Roosevelt and the New Deal• The 1950s• Johnson and the Great Society