MAJOR EVENTS
1963: LBJ becomes President after JFK’s assassination
1964: • LBJ Elected President
• Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Economic Opportunity Act
• 24th Amendment passes 1965:
• Medical Care Act
• Voting Rights Act
LYNDON B. JOHNSON Background:
• Politics: House of Reps., Senate, then VP
• Party: Democratic
• Region: Texas
• Experience: 1937 – 60 in Congress, until elected VP
• Achievements:• Civil Rights Act of 1957: 1st Civil Rights
legislation since Reconstruction
• Southern connections help JFK win 1960 election
LBJ’s DOMESTIC POLICIES Goals:
• Continue / get approval for JFK’s civil rights & tax-cut bills
• Tax cut: $11 billion
• Civil Rights Act of 1964: Did what?
•Prohibited discrimination based on race, gender, ethnic origin, & religion
• Attack Poverty:
• 1964: Economic Opportunity Act: Did What?
• $1 billion for youth programs, job training, small business loans, antipoverty measures
• GET RE-ELECTED
1964 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION Who’s running?
• Democrats: LBJ
• Republicans: Sen. Barry Goldwater, (AZ) Platform:
• LBJ:
• “BIG” GOVERNMENT. ; Gov’t should solve society’s problems
• No commitment to sending combat troops to Vietnam
• Goldwater:
• “SMALL” GOV’T.: gov’t had no business trying to solve all of society’s problems
• Hard-line Anti-Communist Results?
• LBJ wins: 61% of popular vote, 90% of electoral vote
THE GREAT SOCIETY, 1964-68
“THE GREAT SOCIETY DEMANDS AN END TO POVERTY AND RACIAL INJUSTICE.”
•Lyndon B. Johnson
THE GREAT SOCIETY
Define: LBJs political agenda to improve America (his version of JFKs “New Frontier”)
Goals:• Attack education needs
• Attack poverty
• Attack urban problems
• Attack Civil Rights problems
• Attack environmental issues
• Attack unethical business practices
The Great Society Did What? See chart, p. 847 Major legislation:
• 1964: Tax Reduction Act • Did What?
• 1964: Civil Rights Act• Did What?
• 1965: • Medical Care Act• Dept. of Housing & Urban Development created• Elementary & Secondary Education Act• Higher Education Act• Voting Rights Act• Immigration Act• Clean Air Act Amendment
• 1966: Department of Transportation created
CONSUMER ADVOCACY Early 1960’s: Concern for environment &
consumer safety / product safety issues grows Why?
• 1962: Rachel Carson: Silent Spring•Book outlines the dangers of pesticides &
chemicals on the environment• Ralph Nader: Unsafe at Any Speed
•Book criticizes auto industry for ignoring safety issue in car production
Result?• Johnson Administration passes laws
requiring more safety standards for U.S. businesses
JUDICIAL EVENTS 1960’s: Supreme Court headed by Chief
Justice Earl Warren
• Known as the “Warren Court”
• Famous for variety of issues: examples?
•1954: Brown v. Board of Education
•Banned prayer in public schools
•The Warren Commission
•1966: Miranda v. Arizona
•“Reapportionment” ; See p. 848-49
MIRANDA v. ARIZONA When? 1964-66 Where? Arizona Who? Ernesto Miranda Why? Miranda suspected of kidnap / rape Issue? What rights does a detainee have? Court decision? Any detainee must be given the following
rights:
• All suspects must be “read their rights” before questioning
• What are “Miranda Rights”?
• Right to remain silent
• Anything they say may be used against them in a trial
• They have the right to an attorney before and during questioning
• If they cannot afford an attorney, the state will appoint one