How Successful Was President Johnsons GSP 1964-68

Question 1

What was the main focus of Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society programme?

Answer 1

Civil rights, aiding the poor, and improving the economy

The Great Society aimed to address social issues and improve living standards.

Question 2

When did President Lyndon B. Johnson deliver his speech outlining the Great Society programme?

Answer 2

22 May 1964

This speech was delivered to a packed audience at the University of Michigan.

Question 3

What does Johnson suggest is necessary for society to be great?

Answer 3

Equality for every citizen, regardless of belief, race, or skin color

Johnson emphasized the importance of civil rights in his vision for a great society.

Question 4

What historical event led to Lyndon B. Johnson becoming President?

Answer 4

The assassination of J. F. Kennedy

Johnson was Vice President before ascending to the presidency.

Question 5

What significant economic program did Johnson reference in relation to his Great Society plans?

Answer 5

F. D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programme

The New Deal was aimed at recovering from the Great Depression.

Question 6

What was one of Johnson’s goals in relation to poverty?

Answer 6

To wage a ‘war on poverty’

This phrase encapsulated his commitment to addressing economic disparities.

Question 7

What year was pivotal for Johnson as it was a presidential election year?

Answer 7

1964

This year was crucial for Johnson’s ambitions as he sought the Democratic Party nomination.

Question 8

True or False: Johnson believed the federal government had no role in changing US society and the economy.

Answer 8

False

Johnson believed in the federal government’s major role in social and economic transformation.

Question 9

Fill in the blank: Johnson’s Great Society was seen as a continuation of _______.

Answer 9

Kennedy’s programme

Johnson aimed to fulfill the social and economic ambitions laid out by Kennedy.

Question 10

What were three central themes of the Great Society according to Johnson’s speech?

Answer 10

• Civil rights
• Environmental protection
• Education reform

These themes highlighted the areas where Johnson sought to make significant improvements.

Question 11

What does Johnson argue is necessary for young minds in the context of the Great Society?

Answer 11

They must be set free to explore thought and imagination

Education was a key component of Johnson’s vision for societal improvement.

Question 12

According to Johnson, what must be addressed to build a Great Society?

Answer 12

The threats to air, water, and food

Johnson emphasized the importance of a healthy environment for societal wellbeing.

Question 13

What was the aim of the new federal agency created under the Great Society programme?

Answer 13

To empower the poor

The agency was part of a broader strategy to address poverty and social inequality.

Question 14

How did Johnson view the relationship between individuals and their context?

Answer 14

Individuals make choices based on their context

This perspective emphasizes the influence of societal attitudes and personal experiences on decision-making.

Question 15

What was one of the most controversial aspects of the Great Society?

Answer 15

The Job Corps programme

This program aimed to provide job training for young people, but faced criticism for its implementation.

Question 16

What was a significant statistic about wealth distribution in America during this period?

Answer 16

20% of Americans owned 80% of the wealth

This statistic highlights the economic disparity that the Great Society aimed to address.

Question 17

What did Johnson believe should be the role of the federal government in his Great Society?

Answer 17

To bring about fundamental social and economic change

Johnson’s vision involved active government intervention to improve society.

Question 19

What was the central feature of the War on Poverty?

Answer 19

The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 was the central feature, aimed at coordinating efforts to eradicate poverty within the USA.

Question 20

What did the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 create?

Answer 20

It created the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) to coordinate programs aimed at poverty eradication.

Question 21

What was the purpose of Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA)?

Answer 21

VISTA provided people the opportunity to directly help the needy in the USA.

Question 22

What was the goal of the Jobs Corps program?

Answer 22

The Jobs Corps aimed to improve the skills of unemployed inner-city youth.

Question 23

What was the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965?

Answer 23

It allocated $1.1 billion to programs to raise the standard of living in the Appalachian mountain region.

Question 24

How much did the War on Poverty cost?

Answer 24

$10 billion.

Question 25

What was the impact of LBJ's programs on poverty rates?

Answer 25

The number of families in poverty dropped from 40 million in 1959 to 28 million in 1968.

Question 26

Who was Lyndon Baines Johnson?

Answer 26

Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) was a powerful politician who served as president after JFK's assassination.

Question 27

What significant action did LBJ take regarding Vietnam?

Answer 27

He decided to send ground troops to Vietnam in March 1965.

Question 28

What was the role of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)?

Answer 28

HUD was established to implement LBJ's policies on housing and urban renewal.

Question 30

What was the Great Society programme announced by Johnson in 1964?

Answer 30

The Great Society programme aimed to eliminate poverty and racial injustice through various legislative acts.

Question 31

What significant act was passed in 1965 to improve education?

Answer 31

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act aimed to provide federal funding to aid deprived children.

Question 32

What was the purpose of the Economic Opportunity Act?

Answer 32

It aimed to invest in the skills and strength of the American people to combat poverty.

Question 33

What did Johnson believe about raising the earnings of the poor?

Answer 33

He believed that raising the earnings of 10 million poor people by $1000 would add $14 billion to the national output.

Question 34

What was the Head Start programme?

Answer 34

A programme that provided pre-school classes to benefit children from low-income families.

Question 35

What was the significance of the Higher Education Act?

Answer 35

It provided loans for students to attend colleges and universities, expanding access to higher education.

Question 36

What was Medicare and who did it serve?

Answer 36

Medicare was a federally administered program that provided health insurance primarily for the elderly.

Question 37

What was the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

Answer 37

It outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Question 38

What was the impact of the Watts Riots in 1965?

Answer 38

The riots highlighted racial tensions and issues of inequality in urban areas.

Question 39

What was the timeline of significant events in the Great Society programme?

Answer 39

Key events include the announcement in 1964, the passage of various acts from 1965 to 1968, and the Watts Riots in 1965.

Question 41

What was the impact of preschool classes during the 1963-72 period?

Answer 41

Preschool classes benefited eight million children. ## Footnote Encouraged children from low-income families to attend higher education.

Question 42

What was the purpose of the Higher Education Act?

Answer 42

Aimed to strengthen the educational resources of colleges and universities and provide financial assistance to students. ## Footnote Allowed many students to attend universities they could not have afforded otherwise.

Question 43

What healthcare programs did Johnson introduce?

Answer 43

Medicare and Medicaid. ## Footnote Medicare was for the elderly, while Medicaid was for the poor without medical cover.

Question 44

What was Medicare and when was it introduced?

Answer 44

Medicare was introduced in 1965 and provided medical care for those 65 years old and above without health insurance. ## Footnote In its first year, over 19 million Social Security recipients registered.

Question 45

How was Medicaid financed and administered?

Answer 45

Medicaid was financed by both federal and state governments and administered by the states. ## Footnote The quality of healthcare varied from state to state.

Question 46

What significant civil rights legislation did Johnson pass?

Answer 46

The Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964, outlawing discrimination based on race, religion, or sex in public places. ## Footnote This was the most important piece of civil rights legislation since the Civil War.

Question 47

What challenges did JFK face regarding civil rights legislation?

Answer 47

JFK faced problems dealing with Congress, where he encountered a conservative coalition of southern Democrats and Republicans. ## Footnote He was assassinated before his proposals could become law.

Question 48

What was the significance of the Civil Rights Act?

Answer 48

It marked a milestone in American history by ending legal segregation and promoting civil equality for black Americans.

Question 50

What was the purpose of the Attorney General's powers under the Act?

Answer 50

The Attorney General was given the power to take legal action in federal courts against any violation of the Act.

Question 51

What was a key demand of Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement?

Answer 51

Ending legal segregation in the USA.

Question 52

What did the 24th Amendment achieve?

Answer 52

It outlawed the use of poll taxes at elections.

Question 53

What was the impact of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 on voter registration in Mississippi?

Answer 53

Before the Act, only six percent of blacks were registered; after the Act, the figure rose to 60 percent.

Question 54

What was the voter registration percentage for blacks in Alabama before and after the Voting Rights Act?

Answer 54

It was 18 percent before the Act and 54 percent after.

Question 55

How did the Voting Rights Act affect voter registration in Virginia?

Answer 55

In Virginia, 44 percent of blacks were registered before the Act and only 43 percent after it was passed.

Question 56

What were the voter registration figures for blacks in Florida before and after the Voting Rights Act?

Answer 56

It was 51 percent before the Act and 54 percent after.

Question 58

What was the purpose of the Attorney General's powers under the Act?

Answer 58

The Attorney General was given the power to take legal action in federal courts against any violation of the Act.

Question 59

What was a key demand of Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement?

Answer 59

Ending legal segregation in the USA.

Question 60

What did the 24th Amendment achieve?

Answer 60

It outlawed the use of poll taxes at elections.

Question 61

What was the impact of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 on voter registration in Mississippi?

Answer 61

Before the Act, only six percent of blacks were registered; after the Act, the figure rose to 60 percent.

Question 62

What was the voter registration percentage for blacks in Alabama before and after the Voting Rights Act?

Answer 62

It was 18 percent before the Act and 54 percent after.

Question 63

How did the Voting Rights Act affect voter registration in Virginia?

Answer 63

In Virginia, 44 percent of blacks were registered before the Act and only 43 percent after it was passed.

Question 64

What were the voter registration figures for blacks in Florida before and after the Voting Rights Act?

Answer 64

It was 51 percent before the Act and 54 percent after.

Question 66

What landmark civil rights legislation was associated with Johnson's administration?

Answer 66

The civil rights legislation of Johnson's administration has been regarded as a landmark in aiding black Americans to gain civil rights.

Question 67

What personal challenges did Johnson face during his presidency?

Answer 67

Johnson was personally and professionally depressed due to the Watts Riots of 1965 in Los Angeles and the rise of Black Power.

Question 68

What was the Great Society programme?

Answer 68

The Great Society programme was a period of immense domestic reform from 1963 to 1969, during which 435 bills were submitted to Congress.

Question 69

What was the economic impact of Johnson's tax cuts in 1964?

Answer 69

Johnson's 1964 tax cut of $10 billion encouraged economic growth, aided by a buoyant economy, with the Gross National Product increasing by seven percent in 1964.

Question 70

What were some achievements of the Great Society programme?

Answer 70

The Great Society increased the number of students from low-income families able to attend college, reduced poverty levels, and ended legal discrimination against black Americans.

Question 71

What issues remained unresolved despite the Great Society programme?

Answer 71

The Great Society programme did not solve key problems of inner cities, which were in decline due to the rise of suburbia, leading to issues like crime, drug-trafficking, and poverty.

Question 72

What happened in the 1966 mid-term elections?

Answer 72

In the 1966 mid-term elections, the Democrats lost seats in both the House and Senate to the Republicans, indicating a drop in support for Great Society policies.

Question 73

Why did LBJ announce he would not seek re-election in 1968?

Answer 73

LBJ announced he would not stand for re-election primarily due to the failure to win the war in Vietnam and the Great Society programme not achieving its ambitious aims.

Question 74

What lesson did the Great Society programme teach about federal funding?

Answer 74

The Great Society programme demonstrated that massive federal funding might not be the best way to address social and economic problems; local efforts might be more effective.