President Johnson’s Great Society

The economy

The Job Corps was introduced to help high school leavers get jobs. The minimum hourly wage increased from $1.25 to $1.40

Healthcare and poverty

A Housing Act funded low-income housing. The Model Cities Act cleared up inner-city slums. Air and Water Quality Acts tightened controls over pollution. Safety standards were improved for consumer products. “Medicare” was created to fund healthcare for the elderly and low income families

Education

“Operation Headstart” gave money to poor schools in cities. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act provided major funding for schools. The Volunteers in Service To American programme was set up as a domestic version of the Peace Corps. The National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities gave grants to fund artists and galleries

Criticisms of the Great Society

Opinions varied dramatically. 1959 : 56% of African Americans lived in poverty. 1970 : had fallen to around 30% and white families saw a reduction from 18% to 8%. Many say that Johnson spent too much on reforms. 1968 : unemployment was rising and there was widespread rioting in poorer cities. LBJ fully supported US involvement in the Vietnam, was becoming costly