Great Society
Categories: Education, Financial Theory, Econ
The Great Society was a set of programs spearheaded by then-prez LBJ in 1964 and 1965 with the goal of getting rid of poverty and racism. It was kind of the New Deal (by FDR) 2.0 decades later, but with a focus on social issues instead of economic ones (the economy was doing great at the time).
The programs touched on multiple areas of life, from education and rural poverty to healthcare and transportation. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a part of this sweeping plan to give a social-facelift to America, as were many environmental acts in the 60s, addressing water quality, clean air, endangered species, and many others.
So what happened to those programs? Some are still around (Medicare and Medicaid). Others died off. Regardless, there’s no question that the Great Society agenda put forth by President Lyndon B. Johnson has had a lasting impression in almost all areas of American society.