Lyndon B. Johnson

Growing Up in Texas

• Lyndon Baines Johnson was born in 1908 in Stonewall, Texas.

• Stonewall was a very poverty stricken place. – a lack of money

• Johnson’s father was a representative in the Texas legislature. – A member of a state or national legislature.

• Lyndon enjoyed listening to his father talk about politics.

Growing Up in Texas

• Johnson taught school in Cotulla, Texas. – The school had little

money for books, teachers, sports, or other activities.

• Johnson was really passionate about fixing and helping people in poverty. He helped his students by buying them sports equipment.

Representing Texas

• In the 1930’s America went through a hard time. Johnson wanted to help America.

• 1931: Johnson was asked to work for a member of Congress from Texas. – Johnson went to Washington, D.C.

• 1935: Johnson knew what the people needed. Johnson went back to Texas but, promised to come back to Washington, D.C.

Representing Texas

• 1937: Johnson ran for the United States House of Representatives. – Representative is a member of a state or national

legislature. • Johnson was elected by his district. – The part of the state represented by a member of

the House of Representatives. • He was the youngest member of congress.

Representing Texas

• Johnson cared a lot about schools.

• Johnson voted for more money for schools.– He also voted to build roads

and bring electricity to small towns.

• 1948: Johnson was elected to the state Senate (senator) – A member of the United

States Senate

Segregation

• Johnson thought one of the biggest problems was segregation.

• Johnson tried to fight segregation with Martin Luther King Jr. and Thurgood Marshall. – He used his skills at persuading people to get civil

rights law passed.

The White House

• 1960 Johnson became Vice – President. The president was John F. Kennedy.

• 1962 President Kennedy was assonated.– When something happens to the President, the Vice

President becomes president. – Johnson became President.

• Johnson concentrated first on civil rights. • The Congress finally passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. • Johnson’s diligence helped to end segregation. – the act of hard work and attention to a given subject.

The Great Society

• 1964 Johnson was elected President again. • He continued to work on his Great Society

Plan. – New laws were suggested to improve education,

the environment, and medical care. – Biggest part of the plan was to help people who

did not have much. • He really wanted to give more opportunity to African

Americans because of unfair treatment.

The Great Society Cont.

• In some places African Americans had to take and pass a test so they could vote. – The tests were meant to prevent African

Americans to vote. • President Johnson wanted to protect voting

rights for African Americans. – He asked Congress to pass a Voting Rights Act. • This law made tests and unfair practices illegal.

• On August 6,1965 the law was passed.

The Great Society Cont.

• Johnson knew how important voting was. He wanted to make sure that everyone was given the right to vote.

• Johnson wanted people to practice tolerance of others, even if they didn't’t agree with other people. – Respect for others’ values and beliefs

• Johnson really cared for the poor. He wanted to end poverty.

The Great Society Cont.

• Johnson created preschool programs.

• The Vietnam was began at the end of Johnson Presidency. – This was a war being

fought in Southeast Asia.

Remembering Johnson

• Johnson moved back to Texas when he was no longer President.

• In Austin, Texas there is a library you can go to learn about Johnson. – Lyndon Baines Johnson

Library and Museum• Many important places are

named after President Johnson.

• Johnson chose Thurgood Marshall to be judge on the Supreme Court.