Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
Johnson’s Great Society, 1964–68: tackling poverty and unemployment;…
Full specification wording
Protest and reaction, 1963–72: Johnson’s Great Society, 1964–68: tackling poverty and unemployment; improving housing and education; Medicare and Medicaid; civil rights laws; Johnson’s achievements.
Johnson’s Great Society (1964–68) was a legislative programme tackling poverty and unemployment through the Economic Opportunity Act 1964, which created Job Corps and Head Start.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 3 of 4
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Johnson’s Great Society (1964–68) was a legislative programme tackling poverty and unemployment through the Economic Opportunity Act 1964, which created Job Corps and Head Start. Housing and education improved via the Housing and Urban Development Act 1965 and Elementary and Secondary Education Act 1965. Medicare and Medicaid (1965) provided health care for the elderly and poor. Civil rights laws included the Civil Rights Act 1964 and Voting Rights Act 1965. Achievements: poverty fell from 22% in 1960 to 13% in 1968, but Vietnam diverted funds. Assess its domestic impact and limitations.
What earns the marks
- Explains how the Economic Opportunity Act 1964 tackled poverty and unemployment through community action and training schemes.
- Analyses how the Housing and Urban Development Act 1965 and education acts improved housing and education.
- Assesses the significance of Medicare and Medicaid 1965 in providing health care for the elderly and poor.
- Evaluates the impact of civil rights laws such as the Civil Rights Act 1964 and Voting Rights Act 1965.
- Judges Johnson’s achievements, including poverty reduction and legislative success, against limitations like Vietnam and urban unrest.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing Medicare and Medicaid.
Put it right: Medicare for elderly, Medicaid for poor.
Claiming the Great Society ended poverty.
Put it right: It reduced poverty but did not eliminate it.
Ignoring the impact of Vietnam.
Put it right: Vietnam diverted funds and attention from domestic reforms.
Exam tips
- Use specific legislation and statistics to support arguments.
- Balance achievements with limitations such as Vietnam and urban riots.
- Link civil rights laws to their enforcement and outcomes.
Try the lesson
The start of the Protest and reaction, 1963–72: Johnson’s Great Society, 1964–68: tackling poverty and unemployment; improving housing and education; Medicare and Medicaid; civil rights laws; Johnson’s achievements. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which 1965 Great Society programme provided federal health insurance for Americans aged 65 and over?
Listen
Johnson’s Great Society (1964–68) was a legislative programme tackling poverty and unemployment through the Economic Opportunity Act 1964, which created Job Corps and Head Start. Housing and education improved via the Housing and Urban Development Act 1965 and Elementary and Secondary Education Act 1965. Medicare and Medicaid (1965) provided health care for the elderly and poor. Civil rights laws included the Civil Rights Act 1964 and Voting Rights Act 1965. Achievements: poverty fell from 22% in 1960 to 13% in 1968, but Vietnam diverted funds. Assess its domestic impact and limitations. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains how the Economic Opportunity Act 1964 tackled poverty and unemployment through community action and training schemes. Analyses how the Housing and Urban Development Act 1965 and education acts improved housing and education. Assesses the significance of Medicare and Medicaid 1965 in providing health care for the elderly and poor. Evaluates the impact of civil rights laws such as the Civil Rights Act 1964 and Voting Rights Act 1965. A common slip: confusing Medicare and Medicaid. Instead, Medicare for elderly, Medicaid for poor. Exam tip: Use specific legislation and statistics to support arguments.
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Economic Opportunity Act created Job Corps and Head Start
- 2. Poverty had fallen to thirteen per cent
- 3. Housing and Urban Development Act improved housing
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