The Great Society

Upcoming Class and Exams:
- Last class scheduled before Thanksgiving.
- Lecture on Monday after Thanksgiving.
- Third exam the following Wednesday (please bring a blue book).
Assignments:
- Oral history project due on December 10.
- Submission can be posted on Folio.
- Ensure to check for the submission site on Folio; it was posted recently.

Students will be prompted to complete course evaluations this week.
Importance of course evaluations:
- Affect annual evaluations of the course and the instructor.
- They are essential for making adjustments to the course structure and content.
Call to Action:
- Students are encouraged to take the evaluations seriously, as feedback influences future courses.

Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society:
- Aimed to build upon the New Deal and address inadequacies left by it.
- Johnson's agenda is framed against a backdrop of the prosperous American economy post-World War II.
- Central Questions:
- What responsibilities does a prosperous society owe its citizens?
- Does government have a role in ensuring the well-being of its people?
Main Priorities Discussed:
- Two main focus areas:
1. Civil Rights
2. War on Poverty
The Great Society's relationship to the New Deal:
- Seen as an extension but also marked by differences due to the economic context.

Johnson's Civil Rights Agenda:
- Motivation to utilize political capital in the wake of Kennedy's assassination.
- The Civil Rights Act strengthened by his administration, seeking to dismantle Jim Crow.
- Significance of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which follows, enacting further protections against voter suppression.
- **Key Features of the Voting Rights Act:
- Elimination of literacy tests and poll taxes.
- Required jurisdictions with histories of discrimination to obtain federal approval for changes in voting procedures.**
Grassroots movements such as the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party played crucial roles in advancing civil rights alongside legislative efforts.

Johnson's Anti-Poverty Initiatives:
- Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 created various employment and education programs aimed at reducing poverty, such as:
- Job Corps
- Head Start
- Emphasis on providing opportunities rather than redistribution of wealth.
- Multiple perspectives on effectiveness from political left and right.
Challenges:
- The complexity of poverty in America despite economic growth.
- The limits of the War on Poverty reflecting its funding and structural approach.

Medicare and Medicaid:
- Introduction of health care programs aimed at the elderly and low-income families.
- Shifted how America approached health care provision, especially for vulnerable populations.
Federal Education Funding:
- Investing in education to provide equitable access for low-income students, marking a significant approach to educational reform in the U.S.
Law Enforcement Assistance Act:
- Increased federal funding for local police departments emphasizing crime control as essential to the War on Poverty.
Immigration Reform, 1965:
- Ended restrictive quotas from the 1924 Immigration Act, reflecting Cold War dynamics and the need for labor to sustain economic growth.
- Introduction of family reunification visas and preferences for skilled labor to meet market demands.

Background and Escalation:
- Civil war ensued in Vietnam as North and South sought to unify under differing political ideologies.
- U.S. involvement stemmed from fears of communism (Domino Theory) and commitment to South Vietnam.
- Johnson escalated troop involvement significantly by 1964, marking a turning point in U.S. foreign policy.
Media and Public Perception:
- The narrative of victory contrasted with the realities on the ground, leading to a massive anti-war movement in the late 1960s.
Johnson's Fall from Grace:
- Despite ambitions within the Great Society, the toll of Vietnam on Johnson's presidency led to a decline in popularity, ultimately influencing his decision not to run for re-election in 1968.