After Kennedy’s assassination, Johnson worked to push many of his reforms through Congress. Among them were anti-poverty, civil rights (see Civil Rights Movement), education and health care laws. Johnson aimed to aid those that had not shared in the post war wealth, such as those in the poverty stricken Appalachia region, and his efforts were dubbed the War on Poverty.
The foundation for this war was the Economic Opportunity Act which provided job training and adult education, as well as small business loans, to help the unemployed. Other aspects of the Great Society were the Medicaid and Medicare programs which provided the poor and elderly with medical treatment via federal funds and also provided those over 65 with health insurance. Johnson also secured federal funding for public schools and for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). The Food Stamp Act (federal program that helped poor buy food), National foundation on the Arts and Humanities (federal funding for arts and creative projects), as well as the Immigration Act (abolished discriminatory quotas) were some of Johnson's other important legislative acts. Johnson was also able to create the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development as Congress increased funding for public transit and housing.
While billions of dollars were poured into Johnson’s new legislation and programs, the war in Vietnam also increased. Unable to fund both the war and the Great Society programs, Johnson was forced to make tax increases and reduce domestic spending in favor of the highly unpopular Vietnam war. This decision lost Johnson much public approval and led to eventual anti-war protests throughout the nation.
The foundation for this war was the Economic Opportunity Act which provided job training and adult education, as well as small business loans, to help the unemployed. Other aspects of the Great Society were the Medicaid and Medicare programs which provided the poor and elderly with medical treatment via federal funds and also provided those over 65 with health insurance. Johnson also secured federal funding for public schools and for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). The Food Stamp Act (federal program that helped poor buy food), National foundation on the Arts and Humanities (federal funding for arts and creative projects), as well as the Immigration Act (abolished discriminatory quotas) were some of Johnson's other important legislative acts. Johnson was also able to create the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development as Congress increased funding for public transit and housing.
While billions of dollars were poured into Johnson’s new legislation and programs, the war in Vietnam also increased. Unable to fund both the war and the Great Society programs, Johnson was forced to make tax increases and reduce domestic spending in favor of the highly unpopular Vietnam war. This decision lost Johnson much public approval and led to eventual anti-war protests throughout the nation.