module 7 notes

lesson 1

the great society

johnson as president

• americans believed they were living the good life in the 50s and 60s

• poverty rate had declined since the 50s but still over 1/5 of americans lived below the poverty level

• many of these americans were children, migrant laborers and elderly

• a disproportionate number of these were african americans

• wealthy whites moved to suburbs to escape crowding, called the white flight

• lyndon b johnson was vice president for jfk, saw the president’s efforts in social reform fail because of the lack of support from southerners

• johnson had a tougher and more persuasive image to help the nation heal and transition to a new president

• in 1964 johnson pushed for kennedy’s reforms and shared his vision called the great society

the great society

• johnson’s goals were ending poverty and injustice, first steps toward creating the great society