Period+6+1960s

1960's **__Historical Context__** The 1960's encompassed several movements which resembled the time of the New Deal in the 1930's under Franklin Delano Roosevelt's presidency; the boom of legislation in the 1960's was the largest since the New Deal. Beginning with **President John F. Kennedy**, the legislation included the **New Frontier plan**, which increased the amount of federal spending towards education and health care. The program also developed a Department of Urban Affairs. In a sense, this was Kennedy's New Deal; he offered hope to the American people: "We stand at the edge of a New Frontier- the frontier of unfilled hopes and dreams. It will deal with unsolved problems of peace and war, unconquered pockets of ignorance and prejudice, unanswered questions of poverty and surplus." These ideals were expanded upon by **President Lyndon B. Johnson** after Kennedy was assassinated in November of 1963. Deemed "a large, boisterous, arrogant, and driven man", Johnson focused his presidency on the riots in black ghettos, Communism in Vietnam, and rebuilding the United States. The **Great Society** was Johnson's New Deal, for a slew of legislation was released to help the common people of America: " But most of all, the Great Society is not a safe harbor, a resting place, a final objective, a finished work. It is a challenge constantly renewed, beckoning us toward a destiny where the meaning of our lives matches the marvelous products of our labor.” Johnson also established the **War on Poverty** on January 8, 1964 to address the issues of poverty and standard of living. Because the country did not have a national deficit, the U.S. was able to put forth more programs. He wanted "maximum feasible participation" from the American people to make his project a success. Among the programs within the War on Poverty, including the Economic Opportunity Act and the Neighborhood Youth Corporation, was **Head Start**, a program which prepared pre-school age children with skills to make them successful in elementary school. Schools provided 19% of this care. Among Johnson's changing legislation were the **Civil Rights Act of 1964** and the **Medicare and Medicaid** programs in 1965. The Civil Rights Act outlawed race and gender discrimination in movie theatres, restaurants, hotels, and other public places. The Supreme Court was given authorization to punish any state that discriminated on the basis of gender or race. Amendments to the Social Security Act, enacted by FDR in 1935, the Medicare and Medicaid programs of 1965 provided health protection for the elderly, poor, and disabled. Medicaid specifically offered states grants if they complied with the new federal health programs. The subject of much debate, psychiatric care was eventually included in Medicare and Medicaid. Johnson established a reaction to FDR's New Deal that lasted and was continued after his presidency in 1969. JFK and his wife, Jacqueline Onassis, right before his assasination. JFK was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas, Texas. "Throughout his brief presidency, Kennedy's special combination of grace, wit and style sustained his popularity and influenced generations of politicians to come.”

 LBJ adressing a crowd concerning the Great Society Johnson's War on Poverty Speech. A testimonial from a current parent whose child is part of the Head Start Program. "I thought it was a bunch of bull that bureaucrats would let us help make the decisions. Low income people - no way - we have always been herded through the system by their rules. Rules made by people we didn't know. After all they had never lived as I had. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus and Head Start really works." A testimonial from a current Head Start Staff Member. //"Head Start has caused people to move from 'I can't to I can, just let me find the way'."//  //﻿// 1960's Johnson's Enactment of Medicare and Medicaid - A Video (watch 1:11 - 2:20
 * [|Audio of Johnson's introduction of the Great Society] (3:44 - 5:12)

__**Analysis of Provided Information**__

Throughout history, America's government has been consistently molded by its people, crucial events, and its presidents. The 1960's presented a time of opportunity for presidents to continue the ongoing movement which Roosevelt had begun with his enactment of the New Deal. Post New Deal programs were later created with goals of upholding the same values as the New Deal itself. Among these programs was the New Frontier and it's concern of maintaining Federal spending, the idea of Great Society solving issues for the common man, as well as the Civil Rights Act which dealt with inequality and led to great success for many. America still follows the ideals of the Civil Rights Act; we are now a country partially freed from the racial and gender discrimination that plagued America from its founding. Medicare and Medcaid are still functioning today, and consist of a large portion of the government's spending. Both President Kennedy and President Johnson were greatly influenced by FDR and his New Deal of the 1920s. With their programs, the American government's influence in the peoples' lives continued to expand. All in all the formation of these programs and acts all contribute to the governments view of it's people and in turn the way the Government is run.


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