The great society- successes and failures

Evaluate TGS’ approach to aiding w/c families (2)

Whilst 8 million children benefitted from the head start initiative, black children were disproportionately neglected.

However, between 1959-70 the number of American families in poverty decreased from 40 million to 25 million

Evaluate the performance of Community Action programmes (CAPs)

Whilst it did establish useful community resources like clinics, if they dared to resist local governing bodies then they would face federal wrath.

Evaluate TGS’ approach to employment

Job corps looked good on paper (e.g. IBM created 10,000 jobs under it) but they were poorly ran and only benefitted urban populations as well as neglecting traditional blue collar industries.

Evaluate TGS’ approach to healthcare

Whilst medicare and medicaid were incredible on paper they did not cover prescriptions in spite of their $6.5 billion of funding

Evaluate TGS’ approach to education (2)

The higher education act was an objective success, its $650 million investment aiding 11 million students

HOWEVER, the elementary and secondary education act often misdirected its $1 billion towards middle class pupils instead of working class ones.

Evaluate TGS’ approach to housing (2)

The Omnibus housing act funded 3 million low income houses

However, slum clearances were performed too quickly as affordable alternatives were not ready immediately after demolition

Evaluate TGS’ approach to the environment

No notable failures but also no huge successes.