LBJ Great Society Domestic Policy

Overview of LBJ's Great Society

• The Great Society was a series of domestic programs initiated by President Lyndon B. Johnson to eliminate poverty and racial injustice.
• LBJ's presidency follows the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and he utilizes Kennedy's legacy to push for significant legislative reforms.
• The civil rights movement's momentum aids in shaping Johnson’s domestic policies.

Contrast Between Kennedy and Johnson

• John F. Kennedy: Charismatic, had a strong public image, and struggled to pass civil rights legislation due to opposition from Southern Democrats and Republicans.
• Lyndon B. Johnson: Lacked Kennedy's charm but was a skilled legislator and dealmaker who understood Congress and employed the "Johnson Treatment" to win support for legislation.
• Johnson's approach included aggressive negotiations and unconventional meeting locations to discuss policies.

Major Legislative Achievements

1. Civil Rights Act of 1964

• A landmark piece of legislation banning segregation in public facilities and discrimination in employment, education, and federally funded programs.
• Established federal authority to protect voting rights and speed up school desegregation.
• Title VII: Prohibits job discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, influencing future women's rights movements.

2. Twenty-Fourth Amendment

• Outlaws poll taxes used to restrict voting rights for African Americans, particularly in the South.

War on Poverty

• Johnson highlights poverty as a key issue during the 1964 election influenced by Michael Harrington's The Other America, which documented the plight of the poor.
• Declares a "War on Poverty" aimed at improving the lives of various underprivileged groups including the elderly and single-parent households.
• Significant funding allocated through legislation to tackle poverty:
  • Office of Economic Opportunity: Coordinated programs like Head Start and Job Corps.
  • Funding was aimed at creating pathways out of poverty.

Significant Programs

1. Health Care

• Medicare: Provides healthcare for the elderly.
• Medicaid: Offers healthcare support for the poor.

2. Education

• Head Start: Early childhood education for disadvantaged children.
• Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965: First general federal aid program for schools, providing $1 billion for educational resources, aligning federal funding with compliance on educational standards.

3. Civil Rights

• Continued focus on civil rights, culminating in the passing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which outlawed literacy tests and empowered the federal government to oversee voter registration.

Key Figures in Civil Rights Movement

• Martin Luther King Jr.: Advocated for nonviolent protest and played a significant role in mobilizing activism, culminating in events such as the Selma to Montgomery marches.
• Malcolm X and Black Power Movement: Represented a more militant response to racial inequality, advocating for black self-determination and civil rights through any means necessary.
• Stokely Carmichael: Emerged as a leader in the SNCC advocating for black empowerment.
• The Black Panther Party: Founded by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale focused on community service, self-defense against police brutality, and promoting social programs for underserved communities.

Racial Violence and Government Response

• The late 1960s saw a series of racial riots that led to the establishment of the Kerner Commission, which investigated causes of racial unrest and called for reinforcement in job, education, and housing policies.

Assassination of Key Leaders

• Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination in 1968 marked a turning point in the civil rights movement, leading to increased violence and a deceleration of civil rights advancements.
• His "Mountaintop Speech" is noted for its prophetic closing remarks reflecting his awareness of impending danger.
• The impact of his death and the growing Vietnam War shifted national focus away from civil rights.

Conclusion

• LBJ's Great Society programs established significant legislative reforms and aimed to address social issues within the U.S.
• Despite mixed successes, the initiatives laid foundational changes for civil rights and welfare, affecting generations to come.