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Great Society — is an economical program of President Lyndon Johnson involving large-scale reforms in different fields (healthcare, social equality, protection of environment, education). The program had much in common with the “New Deal'' of Roosevelt. The main agenda of the Great Society was the overcoming of poverty and racial discrimination. The impact of this program on people’s lives was significant.

What is Great Society

The program “Great Society” was implemented during the period of economic growth. Johnson stated that poverty in the rich society is unacceptable and offered various reforms to solve this problem. In 1964, he signed the Economic Opportunity Act (EOA). The act provided for serious measures against poverty, unemployment, and illiteracy, especially among persons of color.

The government had devoted funds to the educational programs in the slums including the payment for educational supplies and transport. Also, the government provided federal assistance to clear the slums and improve the urban areas. Then, the government implemented several programs. These programs received the name “War on Poverty”.

Humanitarian programs of Great Society:

Job Corps. This program implied free professional education for people of age 16-24. This program was aimed to provide poor young Americans with the job experience and keep them interested in education.
AmeriCorps VISTA. The program against poverty implied the involvement of volunteers for one year. The volunteer could choose a project they wanted to participate in (distribution of food or medicines, training the kids).
Upward Bound. This program provided opportunities to enter college for children from low-income families.
Federal Food Stamp Act of 1964. This act provided the possibility for poor Americans to exchange the food stamps for the alimentary products in the groceries.
Head Start. This program implied free early education and nutrition for children from families with low income.
Bilingual Education Act. This act provided help for children with limited ability to learn English.

In 1965 Johnson signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, another important part of the Great Society programs. This act implied significant governmental support for schools, colleges, and universities. The major goal of the act was to decrease the level of educational inequality between Americans. Also, the nurses and teachers working with low-income citizens or in rural areas had been receiving government support.

As for healthcare, several key programs were implemented — Medicare, Medicaid, and Older Americans Act. The Older American Act included various complex services for retired persons like homemaking services, transportation, providing the caregiver, and protection from age-based discrimination.

Medicare is a national insurance program for persons over sixty-five and for younger persons with certain disabilities (permanent kidney failure, Charcot's disease). Medicaid is a program that provides coverage for low-income citizens, disabled people, pregnant women, and parents with children under twenty-one. Both these programs are active to this day.

The second essential part of the Great Society program was the overcoming of racial discrimination. The Civil Rights Movement demanded changes in society and the elimination of racial segregation. The Civil Right Act of 1964 made racial discrimination outlawed. This act prohibited racial segregation in education institutions, transport, and public places. The Voting Rights Act and Fair Housing Act were the second important steps. The Voting Rights Act prohibited the literacy test in polling places. Fair Housing Act prohibited race-based discrimination during the rent or selling of real estate.

Besides, the government had adopted a range of laws aimed at caring for the environment. These laws covered the protection of natural resources and wildlife, national parks, control of air pollution, and noise control for airplanes.

Results of Great Society

The implementation of the Great Society program had a significant influence on American society. It had a positive impact on the life of African Americans and increased the share of the middle class among African Americans. They received more opportunities to participate in social life.

Another positive result of the Great Society was the reduction of poverty, especially among the elders and persons of color, a decrease in infant mortality, and an increase in tax revenues. It helped many unprivileged Americans to escape the poverty trap.

However, the government had to curtail the program because of the Vietnam War. The expenditures on the war were enormous, and the government couldn't continue the Great Society program.

The legacy of this program is still under discussion. Some politicians criticized the program for creating a budget deficit and inefficacy. Despite the controversy, the Great Society program increased the equality between different categories of citizens and provided more opportunities for them.