theme 2 - Johnson's Great Society

Question 1

what were the main aims of Johnson’s Great Society?

Answer 1

1964 ‘unconditional war on poverty’

Question 2

how did Johnson’s Great Society improve poverty and unemployment?

Answer 2

1964 Economic Opportunity Act - established social programs for welfare

Office of Economic Opportunity established to co-ordinate War on Poverty

1965: 44 states had anti-poverty programmes

1965: over 4 million received Aid to Families with Dependent Children benefits

Question 3

How did Johnson’s Great Society improve housing and ghettos?

Answer 3

1965: established government department Housing and Urban Development - co-ordinate programmes to combat housing shortages and urban decay

1966 Demonstration Cities Act, but it was underfunded

1965 Omnibus Housing Act - financed rent supplements and $8 billion worth of low and moderate-income housing in ghettos

Question 4

How did Johnson’s Great Society improve education?

Answer 4

ESEA - anti-poverty programme to provide resources to schools
- but 50% went to those above the poverty line

HEA - aimed to give poorer students financial college aid and helped poorly funded black colleges

Question 5

How did Johnson’s Great Society improve health care?

Answer 5

1965 Social Security Act
- established Medicare which gave elderly people federally funded healthcare
- established Medicaid, which gave states financial assistance to those who couldn’t afford essential services

Question 6

How did Johnson’s Great Society improve the lives of Black Americans?

Answer 6

1964 Civil Rights Act - ended de jure segregation

1965 Voting Rights Act - ensured race couldn’t bar people from voting

1968 Fair Housing Act - prohibited discrimination in sale or rental of housing