Glossary
Child Nutrition Act
A 1966 Great Society law that expanded federal support for school meal programs, including the addition of breakfast.
Example:
The Child Nutrition Act ensured that more children received nutritious meals at school, improving their health and ability to learn.
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
A landmark 1965 Great Society law that provided significant federal funding to public schools, especially those serving low-income students.
Example:
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act marked a historic increase in the federal government's role in public education.
Food Stamp Act
A 1964 Great Society law that expanded the federal program providing food assistance to low-income individuals and families.
Example:
The Food Stamp Act helped combat hunger by making nutritious food more accessible for struggling households.
Great Society
President Lyndon B. Johnson's ambitious domestic policy agenda aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice, and improving education and healthcare.
Example:
The Great Society represented a peak of American liberalism, believing in the government's capacity to solve societal problems.
Head Start
A program under the OEO that provides comprehensive preschool education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and families.
Example:
Head Start aimed to give disadvantaged children a crucial early educational advantage before entering elementary school.
Higher Education Act
A 1965 Great Society law that provided federal scholarships and financial aid to college students.
Example:
The Higher Education Act aimed to make college more accessible to students from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Jack Ruby
The Dallas nightclub owner who fatally shot Lee Harvey Oswald two days after JFK's assassination.
Example:
The televised killing of Jack Ruby added another layer of shock and mystery to the events surrounding JFK's death.
Job Corps
A program under the OEO that provides vocational training and education to young adults, particularly those from low-income backgrounds.
Example:
Job Corps offered a pathway to employment for many young people by equipping them with practical skills.
Johnson treatment
Lyndon B. Johnson's legendary persuasive technique involving intense personal pressure and close physical proximity to influence others.
Example:
LBJ's famous Johnson treatment was a powerful tool he used to secure votes and pass his ambitious legislative agenda.
Lee Harvey Oswald
The individual identified as the assassin of President John F. Kennedy.
Example:
The Lee Harvey Oswald conspiracy theories continue to fascinate historians, despite the official findings.
Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ)
The 36th U.S. President who assumed office after JFK's assassination and launched the Great Society programs.
Example:
Lyndon B. Johnson leveraged his extensive congressional experience to push through landmark civil rights and social welfare legislation.
Medicaid
A federal and state health program established under the Great Society that provides medical assistance to low-income individuals and families.
Example:
Alongside Medicare, Medicaid aimed to ensure that even the poorest Americans had access to necessary healthcare services.
Medicare
A federal health insurance program established under the Great Society, primarily for Americans aged 65 or older.
Example:
Medicare provided essential health coverage to millions of elderly Americans who previously struggled with medical costs.
National Foundation of the Arts and Humanities
A Great Society initiative that provided federal funding for artistic and cultural projects, as well as scholarly research.
Example:
The creation of the National Foundation of the Arts and Humanities demonstrated the Great Society's commitment to cultural enrichment.
New Deal
A series of programs and reforms enacted in the United States during the 1930s under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, primarily aimed at economic recovery from the Great Depression.
Example:
While both expanded government, the New Deal focused on economic relief and recovery, whereas the Great Society prioritized social justice and equality.
Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO)
The federal agency created in 1964 as part of the War on Poverty to administer various anti-poverty programs.
Example:
The Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) oversaw initiatives like Head Start and Job Corps, aiming to provide opportunities for the disadvantaged.
The Other America
A 1962 book by Michael Harrington that exposed the widespread poverty in the United States, inspiring LBJ's War on Poverty.
Example:
Reading The Other America opened many Americans' eyes to the hidden poverty existing amidst national prosperity.
Warren Commission
A commission established by President Lyndon B. Johnson to investigate the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Example:
The Warren Commission concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, a finding that remains controversial for many.
liberalism
A political ideology emphasizing individual rights, civil liberties, and the belief in government's active role in addressing social and economic problems.
Example:
The expansion of social welfare programs during the Great Society reflected a strong surge in American liberalism.
unconditional war on poverty
President Lyndon B. Johnson's declaration in 1964 to combat poverty in the United States through various social programs.
Example:
LBJ's declaration of an unconditional war on poverty signaled a significant expansion of federal efforts to address social inequality.