Lyndon B. Johnson's "Great Society" was a set of domestic policy initiatives launched in the United States during the 1960s. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, aimed to create a more equitable society by addressing issues like poverty, education, healthcare, [[civil rights]], and the environment. ## Notable programs and legislation under the Great Society 1. **War on Poverty**: The War on Poverty was an effort to reduce poverty and improve economic opportunity for all Americans. Key programs included the Economic Opportunity Act, which created the Job Corps, Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), and Community Action Programs. 2. **Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)**: Enacted in 1965, this act provided federal funding for public schools, with a particular focus on supporting low-income students. The act aimed to close achievement gaps and ensure equal access to education. 3. **Higher Education Act**: This act expanded federal support for higher education, providing financial aid to students in the form of grants and loans. The act made college more accessible to lower- and middle-income families. 4. **Medicare and Medicaid**: These two major healthcare programs were established in 1965 as part of the Social Security Act. Medicare provides health insurance to elderly Americans, while Medicaid offers coverage for low-income individuals and families. 5. **[[Civil Rights Act]] of 1964**: This landmark legislation outlawed [discrimination based on race](https://doctorparadox.net/category/psychology/racism/), color, religion, sex, or national origin. It prohibited [[segregation]] in public places, enforced desegregation of schools, and established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to prevent workplace [[discrimination]]. 6. **Voting Rights Act of 1965**: This act aimed to protect the voting rights of African Americans by outlawing discriminatory practices like literacy tests and other barriers to voting. 7. **National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act**: This act created the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to support and promote arts and culture in the United States. 8. **Housing and Urban Development Act**: This act aimed to provide affordable housing and revitalize urban areas. It created the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and established various housing programs. 9. **Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act**: These acts were aimed at addressing environmental concerns by setting air and water quality standards and regulating pollution sources. Great Society programs had a lasting impact on American society, and the initiative looms large in the history of U.S. social policy.