Lyndon B. Johnson’s accomplishments non including the Civil Rights or the Cold War( Asia has the rest)
During his term in office, Lyndon B. Johnson had many accomplishments. One of his first accomplishments was the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965(Hart-Cellar Act). This act abolished the national origins quota system that had been set up in the 1920’s. This act replaced the quota system and replaced it with a preference system that’s main focus was the skills of the immigrants, and the immigrants’ relationships with family or friends who were residents of the United States. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 also made it so the United States could only give out 3000,000 visas per year, but this did not include immigrants that had relatives that were residents in the United States, or spouses of a United States citizen. Also, the Western Hemisphere had a limit of no more than 120,000 immigrants. This bill also stated that countries could have no more than 20,000 immigrants come to the United States. By 1968, the annual limitation changed, it was decided that the Western Hemisphere had a limit of 120,000 immigrants. The visas were given out on a first-come first serve basis, and the number of family reunification visas was still unlimited. Overall, the Nationality Act of 1965 opened many doors for immigrants, especially immigrants from Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. On the negative side, by 1990, one- third of the United States’ growth was illegal immigrants, mostly from Latin America (Mexico). In my opinion, I think was need to do more to prevent illegal immigrants from Mexico. Though I do sympathize to those in Mexico who are coming here for a better life, I think that it is unfair to all the other immigrants. For instance, my “cousin,” is from India. He came here four years ago on a visa. He got this visa, because he worked very hard in school, and is very smart. He is currently working at Iowa State to create a cure for HIV AIDS. There are also many others out there who are working hard to come to the United States, who can benefit our country. There are also those who don’t do anything but climb a fence to get to the United States.
On January 1965, Johnson announced the Great Society program. The two main goals of this program were to eliminate poverty and racial injustice. The program also addressed Medicare, Medicaid Urban renewal, conservation, beautification, development of depressed regional, prevention of crime and the right to vote. This was the first time that a person who was not elderly or disabled could receive aid from the United States government. One of Lyndon Johnson’s many beliefs was that education was the cure for ignorance and poverty. He also thought it was essential to achieve the American dream, especially for the people who did not have a lot of money. In 1965, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act was made. This act gave public schools large amounts of money. The act also focused on giving more money to schools who educated students who came from poor families. Private schools also received money for libraries and other educational supplies. Later, researchers found out that a families background and neighborhood conditions had more to do with poverty, rather than the education a child received. Studies also showed that at first there were improvements for a poor child who got more education, but later studies showed that the child was only a little better off than a poor child who did not get much education. After finding this out, Johnson started the Higher Education Act of 1965. The main goal of this act was to give money to students with not a lot money. It gave the students grants, work-study money, and government loans. Johnson also started the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts. These acts supported the humanist and artists in the United States. Also, in 1967, President Johnson created the Public Broadcasting Act, which created educational television programs. I think that it is great that we have educational television programs. Just the other day I was watching Elmo with Rex and Kenzie Swanson. During one point in the show, Elmo and Ernie started singing about where all the body parts are and what they do. It amazed me how Rex sang along with them, and pointed to the body part that Elmo and Ernie said. I think It is so cool what little kids can learn from just watching T.V.
During the Vietnam War, Johnson withdrew 1,000 military personnel by the end of 1963. He also expanded the numbers and roles of the American military after the Gulf of Tonkin Incident. I can’t really say that these were accomplishments during the war, but Lyndon B. Johnson did focus on the American military effort in Vietnam a lot. I put this in here, because I thought that it was important to show that he was trying his best during a hard time. Also, the Vietnam War was a very major event during his term in office.
I think that President Johnson did a lot of great thinks during his term of Presidency. I especially like how he worked on helping children who came from poor family get a better education. Just think of how many lives he changed by helping out these kids came from families who basically had nothing. Not only did he help those kids, but he also helped the future generation of those kid’s families. Which overall helps thousands of people. I also like how he opened a door of opportunity for immigrants to come to America. This gave many people a new start, and maybe even a better life. Even though we lost many in the Vietnam War, I still think that Lyndon Johnson did a lot to better America. He tried his best to do what he thought would help our people, and overall he helped many American’s achieve a better life.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon_B._Johnson
http://us-presidents.findthedata.org/l/43/Lyndon-B-Johnson
Comments
Excellent job Jenna!!