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Lyndon Johnson

August 27, 1908 Stonewall, Texas- January 22, 1973 San Antonio, texas

Political Party: Democrat

Terms: November 22, 1963- January 20, 1969

Vice President: None first term, Hubert Humphrey (Second Term)

Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) was president during a very crucial point in the United States. The Civil Rights Movement was the period where people began to stop racial discrimination of not only for blacks but other minority groups. Great leaders for reform such as Martin Luther King and the NAACP advocated their beliefs through non-violence, whereas other did the opposite. LBJ signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 stopped discrimination in employment and public facilities. This was the beginning of desegregation. Though when Eisenhower was president integration in public schools was announced, it was never fully enforced. Democratic Congress was against the bill, but with consistent lobbying from Johnson, the bill was passed.
 * Thematic Context **

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 continued demolishing discrimination in the U.S. Discrimination was hitting a new peak during the the Civil Rights Movement. Though this was a time for African Americans to get legislation passed for equal rights, constant obstacles were popping up keeping them from these rights. One of them was the fact that African Americans were denied the right to vote, even though the Fifteenth Amendment legally gave them the right to vote. When LBJ helped the passing of the Voting Rights Act, all of the prerequisite qualifications to voting were abolished, allowing African Americans their full right to vote. This was one of Lyndon Johnson’s accomplishments.

Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) became president when John F. Kennedy was assassinated. he dutifully took over the responsibilities of the nation. He helped the country though the monumental Civil Rights Era, passing legislation demolishing poll taxes and obstacles that blocked the right to vote. He also hoped to help those unfortunate through the War on Poverty. With foreign relations, LBJ had to deal with the Vietnam war and other communist threats in the middle east. Johnson increased American presence in Vietnam causing trouble at home. Though Lyndon Johnson helped a huge movement his decisions in the Vietnam war give him a grade of a B.
 * Thesis **

Johnson's main goals were to continue Kennedy’s plans and build the nation in similar ways as his role model FDR did. Basing his ideas off of New Dealism his goals were expressed through the Great Society. This hit upon civil rights, medicare and medicaid, education, and immigration reform. He pushed and got the Civil Rights Act through Congress allowing the blacks and other minority groups in the South easier access to voting polls. It also forced more desegregation in the South. LBJ goal of creating a new way to live was accomplished through his medicare system. This system, paid through Social Security, allowed those over 65 and too poor to get health insurance and medical benefits. LBJ believed that aid should be given to the students not the school as to avoid the separation between church and state controversy. As for immigration, he removed all of the quota acts and actually slowed down immigration from the Western hemisphere. The U.S. was becoming more diverse during this time period. All of his Great Society goals were accomplished during his presidency. Internationally, Johnson wanted to continue U.S. interference in the Vietnam War. He continued to raise the number of troops and air raids in Vietnam. He actions actually caused strife in the U.S. due to the large amount of deaths when most of the country didn't even want to be in war.
 * Goals **

Johnson had a very good relationship with Congress during his terms. During both his terms the Democratic party had majority in House and Senate. During his first term there was a slim majority whereas in his second term there was a significantly larger majority. Johnson vetoed a few number of times, but most of his legislation was passed. Advantages to this would be that his Great Society legislation could be passed in ease. Johnson's relationship with Congress allowed him to pass the biggest acts of the Civil Rights era, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This allowed desegregation in the South. He also could pass legislation n protect the environment such as the Water Quality Act of 1965.
 * Relationship with Congress **

A positive decision that Lyndon Johnson made was the passing of the Civil Right acts. Black in the South were discriminated against, segregated in public facilities, denied basic rights, and disenfranchised. The would be violence from the whites if blacks would attempt to get help through peaceful protest. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 stopped discrimination in public facilities and authorized desegregation. This allowed blacks more freedom. Another act that majorly helped black was the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Though black were allowed to vote, fear and denial of rights kept them from registering. Even if they were registered poll taxes and literacy tests were given to whether they could vote or not. The Voting Rights Act outlawed those obstacles and increased voter registration within blacks. With the opportunity to vote blacks could now have an even larger impact on local legislation than before.
 * Positive Decision **

Lyndon Johnson biggest blunder was regarding the Vietnam War. American presence was not needed, yet Johnson believed that he could help conquer over communism in Vietnam. He did have an excuse for war when the American base in Vietnam was attacked. He sent over thousands of troops and the amount of deaths shot up. His stubbornness to continue American influence in Vietnam caused issues for later administrations when they have to deal with the war. There was never a formal declaration of war. The Vietnam war also caused trouble at home with anti-war protests. Johnson did stop bombing North Vietnam in order to help Hubert Humphrey’s campaign in the next election.
 * Negative Decision **

Johnson’s decisions during the war in Vietnam received heavy criticism from the rest of the world. His want to continue the flow of troops into the middle east and the bombings of North Vietnam showed not only that the U.S. was willing to fight communism expansion but also that they were willing to defend their own bases. When Johnson did realize that his strategy did not result in the enemy surrendering he began to withdraw. In the future it would show that Johnson’s placement of thousands of soldiers in Vietnam would cause in issue. His decisions did add into the victory of communism in Vietnam.
 * Influential Decision **

Lyndon Johnson was a decent president who fought for the rights of his people. His influence in Vietnam showed that he was willing to fight for democracy and his push for Civil Rights showed that he valued the voices of all the people. His Great Society did help tremendously domestically and helped the poor and undervalued. The country was better off with him as president mainly because of the Civil Rights movement and the War on Poverty helping those who needed it the most. Though he helped the country flourish domestically, his decisions regarding the war diminished his reputation and resulted in him receiving a grade of a B.
 * Conclusion **

"The Civil Rights Act of 1964." //The Civil Rights Act of 1964//. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2013. "Civil Rights Act of 1964." //Wikipedia//. Wikimedia Foundation, 01 Mar. 2012. Web. 06 Jan. 2013. DeGregorio, William A. //The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents//. Fort Lee, NJ: Barricade, 2005. Print. "Voting Rights Act of 1965." //Voting Rights Act of 1965//. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2013.