Summary
Highlights
The period after World War II saw generalized economic prosperity in the U.S., but a significant portion of the population (about 1/5) remained impoverished. This was highlighted by Michael Harrington's book, "The Other America," which argued that poverty was invisible to the affluent, who largely lived in suburbs, separate from the city ghettos and rural areas where the poor resided. This awareness spurred liberal presidents in the 1960s to address systemic poverty.
John F. Kennedy's 'New Frontier' aimed to eliminate poverty and disease, extending Roosevelt's New Deal but focusing on systemic inequality rather than acute economic crisis. Kennedy faced congressional resistance, limiting his progress. After Kennedy's assassination in 1963, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson took office and expanded upon Kennedy's vision, leading the U.S. into a 'golden age of modern liberalism.' In 1964, Johnson won the presidential election with a wide margin, interpreting it as a mandate for his extensive liberal policies, which he branded as the 'Great Society'.
A major focus of the Great Society was combating racial inequality. Despite his past opposition to civil rights legislation as a senator, President Johnson championed sweeping reforms. The Civil Rights Movement's momentum and the national mourning for Kennedy created opportune conditions. In 1964, the Civil Rights Act was passed, ending legal discrimination and segregation in public facilities, employment, education, and public accommodations. In 1965, the Voting Rights Act was enacted, outlawing discriminatory voting practices and granting Congress oversight of elections in southern states.
Johnson launched a 'War on Poverty' as a robust component of the Great Society. Key legislation included the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, providing services like food stamps and rent assistance. Programs such as Job Corps offered vocational training, and Head Start provided free preschool and nutritional support for low-income children, aiming to break the cycle of poverty. Additionally, Medicare (for those over 65) and Medicaid (for impoverished children) were established to provide government-funded healthcare.
The Great Society also reformed immigration policies. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 abolished discriminatory quotas against immigrants from Southern and Eastern European nations, as well as non-Western countries. This led to a significant increase in immigration from Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, fundamentally altering the demographic landscape of American society.