The Great Society

War on Poverty

Alleviate poverty

War on Discrimination

To eliminate discrimination

Eliminate Poverty & Racial Injustice End Ignorance Overcome Disease Revitalize the Cities Share the Abundance

Johnson Believed:

No discrimination in public accommodations, housing & jobs

Civil Rights Act 1964

Prohibited the practice of using literacy tests

Assisted blacks in registering to vote

Voting Rights Act 1965

Banned the use of the poll tax

24th Amendment

Preference not given to race

Fair Housing Act 1968

Public health insurance for elderly Americans through social security

Medicare 1964

Federal grants to pay the medical bills of needy persons

Medicaid 1965

Volunteers in Service to America Domestic Peace Corps

VISTA

No more than 20,000 from one country Preference given to skilled workers &

professionals w/ family ties to the U.S.

(no more than 120,000 from W. Hemisphere)(no more than 170,000 from E. Hemisphere)

Immigration Act 1965

Provided Federal funds for schools with large #’s of children from low-income families

Also created Head Start

Elementary & Secondary Education Act 1965

Money for low-income kids to attend college

Higher Education Act

$2.9 billion for building new low-rent apartment buildings in cities

Department of Housing & Urban Development

Mass transit Provided $ for the nations bus & rail

systems

Department of Transportation