HIST 2112 Great Society Postwar Liberalism s High Water Mark Lyndon Bays Johnson o Mid 1960s o Legacy of New Deal is still alive o Era of Liberal Consensus o Argument over a big and active government Whether we should have it or not o Liberalism Government should use its power to its fullest extent o 1970s results in a new political era o This is the golden era of postwar liberalism o Becomes president in November of 1963 JFK assassination o Becomes reelected on his own the next year Landslide victory o From rural Texas born August 27 1908 Poverty is very well known to him Believes poor and rich should have equal starting line o Father Sam was a state legislature Democrats Sat in on his dad s state legislature meetings Picked up on his father s activist temperament o Studied to be a teacher Had to work his way through school o Fired from Cleeburg o Goes to work for the New Deal o Runs for Congress in 1937 when his predecessor dies Already had experience in DC o Meets FDR o Runs for Senator in 1941 Loses o Joins the navy instead Desk job One combat job in a bomber o Runs for Senate again in 1948 Wins Back to DC o Middle of the Road liberal o Becomes Senate majority leader o 1960 becomes JFK s vice president Did it to put his foot in the door for President o Johnson was able to run for President in 1964 and 1968 The rest of JFK s term does not count as one of his o The Great Society Almost like a New Deal People were confused not in a depression Johnson wants to help the poor in the midst of plenty Poverty and lack of opportunity Everyone deserves their hand at the prosperity It was the government s duty to provide that Revive of Progressivism First move Cut taxes GNP Gross National Product o Up 10 Personal Income o Up 15 Average growth o 4 5 a year Second move Have to deal with African Americans and the Civil Rights movement o Right thing to do o Other benefits The Civil Rights Act of 1964 The Voting Rights Act of 1965 Vista Program Precursor to Teach for America Community Action Programs A board of people that would decide how the money should be spent Controversial o Resistance from local governments Medicare Critics to the Great Society Conservatives claimed it was wasteful Having money doesn t mean we should waste it Treating symptoms instead of illnesses Criticisms are so severe he decides not to run for president in 1968
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