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10.03 Notes Outline
“Tragedy, Transition, and Transformation”
Complete10.03 Notes Outline as you review lesson 10.03.
Explore #3:
Identify at least two people in the picture.
When and where were the pictures taken?
Write at least three complete sentences describing the circumstances surrounding the pictures.
I. Kennedy Assassination
The assassination of President Kennedy is one of the most memorable moments in 20th Century history.
The images of the presidential motorcade, sounds of gunshots, and the later announcement of the President's death are unforgettable memories for many who were alive on that fateful day. Though the nation moved on to a new President within hours of Kennedy's death, many were never able to forget the tragic loss of innocence that forever changed the United States.
Tragedy in Dallas
On November 22, 1963, President Kennedy and his wife, Jackie, along with Vice-President Johnson and his wife, Lady Bird, arrived in to campaign for the '64 re-election race for the presidency.
The Governor of Texas, , and his wife, Nelly, rode with John and Jackie Kennedy in an open limousine in the now infamous motorcade route through downtown Dallas.
Kennedy Assassination
Suddenly, shots rang out, and bullets struck Connally (seriously wounding him) and Kennedy (first shot to the throat and a second, fatal shot, to the head). President Kennedy was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at Parkland Hospital. The country was shattered as millions of Americans mourned. Lee , a former marine and supporter of Castro, was the prime suspect.
Accused Assassin Killed
Two days after Kennedy's death,, a Dallas nightclub owner, fatally shot Lee Harvey Oswald while he was being transferred from one jail to another. Americans watched the whole scene on television.
The Warren Commission
Lyndon B. Johnson took the presidential oath of office on board Air Force One just ninety minutes after Kennedy's death. Johnson established the , headed by Chief Justice Earl Warren, to investigate the assassination. The Commission concluded Oswald had worked alone in shooting the President. Some still believe that Oswald was involved in a bigger .
II. Lyndon B. Johnson’s Transition
(LBJ) ascended to the presidency under trying and difficult circumstances following the death of President Kennedy. He worked tirelessly to promote the "Great Society" causes that both he and Kennedy held dear. LBJ used his skills as a politician and the nation's desire to carry on the legacy of its slain President to push domestic reforms through Congress.
The Election of 1964
President Johnson won the Election of 1964 by a landslide over Republican with 61% of the popular vote and 486 to 52 votes in the Electoral College. Johnson's campaign played on the voters' fears of nuclear war by portraying Goldwater as a "trigger-happy" radical who would lead us into nuclear war in one of the most famous campaign ads ever. Democrats also established majorities in both houses of Congress.
Building the Great Society
By 1964, LBJ outlined his goals and domestic policy plans using the phrase .The plan included:
- Aid to
- Provide for the elderly
- Eliminate
The Tax Cut
President Johnson worked with Congress to quickly pass the Civil Rights and bills proposed by President Kennedy before his death. To gain support for the tax cut bill that would likely cause a budget deficit, LBJ promised to cut government spending.
The tax cut was a success. The results of the included:
1. The GNP rose
2. The deficit shrank
3. Unemployment fell, and inflation remained in check
The War on Poverty
Johnson pressed for Kennedy's antipoverty program. To help fight the "," LBJ supported numerous social programs that provided funding and resources to the poor in America.The was created to combat the causes of poverty including illiteracy, unemployment, and inadequate public services. or VISTA was started by LBJ to send volunteers to help poor communities in America. Johnson endorsed the which provided aid to states based on the number of children from low-income homes. The Great Society also revised the immigration policies that had been in place since the 1920s. The eliminated quotas for individual countries and replaced them with more flexible limits.
Medicare and Medicaid
Perhaps his most enduring legacy came with the introduction of new government insurance programs for seniors and the poor under Medicare and Medicaid.
provides hospital and low cost medical insurance for Americans age .
provides low-cost health insurance for Americans of any age who cannot afford private insurance.
These health care programs are still in effect today and are considered to be some of the most important pieces of social welfare legislation since the Social Security Act 1935.
Landmark Supreme Court Cases
was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from 1953-1969. Warren's Court included several landmark decisions were made during the 1960s concerning constitutional rights of the individual against the power of the state.
(1961) ruled that evidence seized illegally cannot be used in trial.
(1963) provided the right to free legal aid to suspects in a criminal trial who cannot afford an attorney.
(1966) stated a suspect must be warned of his or her “Miranda rights” before being questioned.
Effects of the Great Society
President Johnson's "Great Society" programs left a lasting legacy on the United States. The number of people living in poverty was cut in half in the '60s and '70s. Sweeping changes in the fight for Civil Rights resulted from the and the .
Though the Great Society seemed to be a success at first, many critics were opposed to the amount of authority given to the federal government. Furthermore, LBJ continued to escalate the war in which began consuming more and more resources.
Vietnam and President Johnson's Legacy
President Johnson faced many challenges trying to balance the cost of the Vietnam War and domestic spending. He decided not to seek reelection after public opinion of the war changed and altered his legacy.