The Great Society and the Warren Court Social & Legal Reforms to Protect Americans
The Great Society President Lyndon B. Johnson s set of domestic programs to eliminate poverty and social injustices Influenced by the initiatives of J.F.K. s New Frontier programs and F.D.R. s New Deal policies Focusing on civil rights, poverty, education, health care, welfare, transportation, & housing Dedicated to protecting both consumers and the environment
The Great Society Civil Rights Acts CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 Landmark legislation against discrimination Outlawed discrimination based on Race, Ethnicity, Nationality, Religion, & Gender Group of Southern Senators conducted a Filibuster for 54days 1963: Proposed by John F. Kennedy (died) 2 Jul 1964: Signed by Lyndon B. Johnson VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 Landmark legislation against discrimination Prohibited discrimination from Voting and Voter s Registration Restrictions by States Cloture Vote was used to prevent another Filibuster by Southern Politicians 6 Aug 1965: Signed by Lyndon B. Johnson IMMIGRATION ACT OF 1965 Radical break from the immigration policies of the past Intended to change existing restrictions on Latin Americans, Asians, & Africans Would not drastically change the existing demographics in America 3 Oct 1965: Signed by Lyndon B. Johnson FAIR HOUSING ACT OF 1968 Landmark legislation against discrimination Outlawed discrimination against rental or purchase due to Race, Creed, & Nationality Re-enforced the Civil Rights Act of 1866 Re-enforced Executive Order 11063 (signed by President John F. Kennedy) 11 Apr 1968: Signed by Lyndon B. Johnson
The Great Society War on Poverty The most ambitious and controversial part of L.B.J. s programs Continuation of the goals for eliminating hunger and deprivation initiated by J.F.K. s administration ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 1964 Designed to create a safety net for the impoverished and unemployed Intended to provide poor teens & adults with job training and higher education Promoted increased health and financial support to the elderly and handicapped 20 Aug 1964: Signed by Lyndon B. Johnson Spawned dozens of community action programs
The Great Society War on Poverty JOB CORPS To help young people between the ages of 16-24 to improve the quality of their lives through vocational & academic training. NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH CORPS Established to give poor urban youths work experience in the community and encourage them to stay in school. AMERICORPS VISTA Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) consisted of various volunteer teachers and other professionals dedicated to help fight poverty in community based programs COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM Local private and non-profit organizations designed to help communities become selfsufficient through local volunteerism and specialized federal grants COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS Local non-profit primary care centers that provide voluntary medical services by licensed professionals to the nation s uninsured population (backed by federal grants)
The Great Society Focus on Education HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES ACT OF 1963 Financial assistance for the construction, rehabilitation, or improvement of public or non-profit post-secondary facilities. ELEMENTARY & SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT OF 1965 Provided significant federal aid to public education programs to help schools start special programs and purchase materials. HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965 Designed to help increased resources for public colleges and universities and provide financial aid to students in post-secondary and higher education programs. HEAD START PROGRAM (1965) Comprehensive program providing preschool education, healthcare, nutrition, and parent services for the poor and disadvantaged BILINGUAL EDUCATION ACT OF 1968 Provided financial assistance to local school districts in assisting them to develop programs that addressed the needs of children with limited English-Speaking abilities
The Great Society Welfare & Health Care FOOD STAMP ACT OF 1964 Legislation passed to permanently implement federal food-purchasing assistance for low-income or unemployed families in the United States. SOCIAL SECURITY ACT OF 1965 Established Medicare to provide health insurance for anyone over 65 and Medicaid to provide similar assistance to low-income women, children, and the disabled. SOCIAL SECURITY AMENDMENT (1965) Provided a 7% increase in cash benefits for the disabled, widows, and eligible children between the ages of 18-21. TAX ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 1966 Implemented provisions for special financial payments under the Social Security Program to certain uninsured people over the age of 72. SOCIAL SECURITY AMENDMENT (1967) Provided a 13% increase in old-age, survivors, and disability benefits, as well as meals for low-income senior citizens.
The Great Society Transportation and Housing URBAN MASS TRANPORTATION ACT OF 1964 Provided $375 million for large scale urban public and private rail projects like BART in S.F. and MARTA in ATL. HIGH SPEED GROUND TRANSPORTATION ACT OF 1965 Provided federal funding for the creation of high-speed rail transportation like the Metroliner between NY and Washington,DC NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT OF 1966 Developed safety standards for the design and construction of New Vehicles and new traffic speed and enforcement standards. FAIR HOUSING ACT OF 1968 Legislation designed to eliminate racial discrimination in housing lending and rental, plus subsidized the construction or rehabilitation of low-income housing units. NATIONAL HOUSING ADMINISTRATION The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) merged with the Farmers Housing Administration (FHA) to provide and manage insured home mortgages for middle to low income families.
The Great Society Consumer and Environmental Protection Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act of 1965 Fair Packaging and Labeling Act of 1966 Child Safety Act of 1966 Flammable Fabrics Act of 1967 Wholesome Meat Act of 1967 Truth-in-Lending Act of 1968 Wholesome Poultry Act of 1968 Land Sales Disclosure Act of 1968 Radiation Safety Act of 1968 Water Quality Act of 1965 Land and Water Conservation Act of 1965 Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1965 Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Control Act of 1965 Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966 National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 Aircraft Noise Abatement Act of 1968
Justice Earl Warren Appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on 5 October 1953 The Warren Court
Civil Rights Issues Engel vs Vitale (1962) New York State Board of Regents established a daily prayer for students and teachers to recite each morning in NY Schools Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our country. Amen. Jewish Parents filed a complaint based on a violation of their beliefs
Civil Rights Issues Engel vs Vitale (1962) School Prayer established by the NY State Regents violated the fundamental foundations of the First Amendment to the Constitution Justice Hugo Black: "We think that, by using its public school system to encourage recitation of the Regents' prayer, the State of New York has adopted a practice wholly inconsistent with the Establishment Clause violating the Separation of Church and State.
Civil Rights Issues Abington School Dist. vs Schempp (1963) Students of Abington School District in Pennsylvania were required to read passages from the Christian Bible at the beginning of school each day A Universal Unitarian named Edward Schempp filed a suit in U.S. District Court Stating that at least ten verses from the Holy Bible [be] read, without comment, at the opening of each public school on each school day.
Civil Rights Issues Abington School Dist. vs Schempp (1963) The school districts requirement for students to read Bible verses violated the fundamental foundations of the First Amendment The reading of the verses, even without comment, possesses a devotional and religious character and constitutes in effect a religious observance, once again violating the Separation of Church and State.
Civil Rights Issues Tinker vs Des Moines School District (1968) Three Students of the Des Moines Independent Community School District planned to wear black armbands to protest government policies in Vietnam The School Board, upon learning of the planned protest, instituted a policy against this form of protest On Dec 16 th & 17 th, John Tinker (15), Mary Beth Tinker (13), and Christopher Eckhardt (15) were suspended from school for refusing to remove the armbands
Civil Rights Issues Tinker vs Des Moines School District (1968) The school district policy violated the students rights of free speech under the First and Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution In wearing armbands, the petitioners were quiet and passive. They were not disruptive and did not impinge upon the rights of others, therefore their conduct was within the protection of the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth
Due Process of Law Mapp vs Ohio (1961) Police in Cleveland, Ohio received information the Dollree Mapp was hiding a criminal in her house After trying to present a fake warrant, the police entered the house Although they didn t find the criminal, they did discover obscene material in the home and arrested Mapp What amendment did the Cleveland Police violate in this case? THE 14 TH AMENDMENT
Due Process of Law Mapp vs Ohio (1961) The Cleveland Police had violated Mapp s 14 th Amendment guarantee to Due Process of law Evidence obtained through illegal searches and seizures are inadmissible in court cases This decision created the Exclusionary Rule requiring courts to exclude all illegally obtained evidence from all court proceedings
Due Process of Law Gideon vs Wainwright (1963) An unknown person broke into the Bay Harbor Pool Room in Panama City, Florida overnight on 3 Jun 1861 Gideon was spotted by a witness and Police arrested him for the crime Gideon was broke and could not afford a lawyer and the State of Florida did not provide him with one, resulting in his conviction (5 yrs in prison) What amendment(s) did the State of Florida violate in this case? THE 6 TH & 14 th AMENDMENT
Due Process of Law Gideon vs Wainwright The State of Florida had violated Gideon s 6 th Amendment guarantee to a fair trial and the 14 th Amendment guarantee to Due Process Gideon had a right to be represented by a court-appointed attorney Justice Black: An obvious truth is that a fair trial for a poor defendant requires a competent legal counsel
Due Process of Law Escobedo vs Illinois (1964) Danny Escobedo was arrested in 1960 on suspicion that he had shot and killed his brother-in-law Escobedo asked to speak to his attorney and the police refused Escobedo was interrogated by the police for fourteen and a half hours without his attorney and was convicted on circumstantial evidence What amendment(s) did the State of Florida violate in this case? THE 6 TH & 14 th AMENDMENT
Due Process of Law Escobedo vs Illinois The State of Illinois had violated Escobedo s 6 th Amendment guarantee to Counsel and the 14 th Amendment guarantee to Due Process Escobedo had a right to speak to an attorney before/during questioning Justice Goldberg: Any actions taken by investigators that goes beyond mere questioning should be protected
Due Process of Law Miranda vs Arizona (1966) Ernesto Miranda was arrested in 1963 on circumstantial evidence linking him to kidnapping & rape Miranda was interrogated for two hours without the benefit of counsel After relentless questioning, Miranda agreed to sign a pre-typed confession which resulted in his conviction and a 20-30 year prison sentence What amendment(s) did the State of Florida violate in this case? THE 6 TH & 14 th AMENDMENT
Due Process of Law Escobedo vs Illinois The State of Arizona had violated Escobedo s 6 th Amendment guarantee to Counsel and the 14 th Amendment guarantee to Due Process In Addition, Police were obligated to inform a suspect of their rights to counsel and that they may remain silent (avoiding self-incrimination) Justice Warren: A person in custody must be informed of their rights and may not be questioned if they invoke their rights to remain silent