LBJ: Lyndon Baines Johnson 36th president of USA 1963-68 Born Stonewall, Texas 1908 Party: Democrat Before presidency had been a teacher and principal 55 when inaugurated Vice President: Hubert Humphrey
What was meant by the Great Society? Ideal to be strived for Liberty, no poverty, no racial injustice, education
The Key Acts of the Great Society: 1964: Civil Rights Act Economic opportunity 1965: Elementary and Secondary Education act Medical Care act Voting Rights act Immigration act 1966: Minimum wage law Model Cities Act
The Key Features:
1) Education Hubert Humphrey said of LBJ: ‘He was a nut on education ... He felt that education was the greatest thing that he could give to the people; he just believed in it, just like some people believed in a miracle cure’. Not only had education been his previous career but he believed that it was education that had bought him out of poverty in Texas. Problems in education: The post was baby boom had led to overcrowded classes. Furthermore many schools were run down and there was a shortage of competent teachers. Nearly 8 million Americans had not completed 5 years of school. LBJ: ‘Poverty must not be a bar to learning and learning must offer an escape from poverty’
