President London B. Johnson's Unconditional War On Poverty

The American Civil war lasted from 1861 until 1865 and changed this nation considerably in many ways. We are all aware that the conclusion of this war determined the federal government as the leading force of the nation over the state. However, since the end of this war, there are other ways in which the federal government has also evolved. One of the major factors in how the government has emerged since then is President London B. Johnson’s “Unconditional War on Poverty”.
The “War on Poverty” refers to President Johnsons set of federal initiatives that he would focus on to attack poverty at its core. In his own words, he claimed with these new programs his intention is, “not only to relieve the symptoms but to also cure and prevent poverty”

(Johnson, 1964). The nation’s leader was mainly concerned with four problem areas, feeding the hungry, providing health insurance for elderly and disable persons, by implementing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and equipping underprivileged people with job training,
To combat the war on poverty, President London B Johnson signed into law on August 31, 1964, “The Food Stamp Act of 1964”.

This was an extension of the program that was actually introduced on a pilot basis in 1962. The purpose of this federal and state program is to provide nutrition by giving people with low or no income money for food and commodities. This federally supported welfare programs goal was to improve the health of low-income citizens by putting a stop to hunger, as well as bettering their social conditions. The idea was providing nutrition to these poverty stricken individuals would avoid and prevent some illness. This was accomplished by, upon approval, administering stamps that could only be redeemed for consumable nutritional commodities. The basis of this successful program is still in effect today and is currently known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or

(SNAP).
Another effective program that was introduced to battle problems of the poor was the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. This particular issue was of high importance to President London B. Johnson as he was a former teacher. This bill allocated large amounts of money and resources to provide a better education system to areas that were populated with underprivileged children from low-income families. In addition, it provided, “Head Start”, which is an educational curriculum for pre-school aged children. His belief was this plan would drastically change the percentage of poor children from dropping out of school to becoming graduates.
Equally as important to the President’s agenda is the Social Security Act of 1965, which was signed into law on July 30, 1965.

This act actually amended the Social Security Act of 1935 to include the initiation of health insurance programs for the elderly called Medicare, as well as for the poor, which is called Medicare. This would shelter the over 65 aged individual and the disabled or indigent person from the expense of hospitals and similar medical care procedures. What was originated to assist the most vulnerable citizens has bettered our health care in other ways too. For example, it has raised the life expectancy of all people higher. It has improved the services received by all patients in medical facilities. Also, children that were on Medicare grew up as healthier teenagers and adults alike. It would be safe to assume that the healthier the individual is the more probability of success the person

has.
Finally, another plan that was enabled, by President London B. Johnson, in the fight against the poverty of these low-and-no-income families is the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. This act quite possibly was the most imperative attempt, and the focal point of the war on poverty. The concept was to avoid the difficulties of being poor all together by teaching a trade or skill, such as Job Corps, as well as loan money to companies and rural families The textbook states that it, “launched a domestic version of the Peace Corps, known as VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America)” (Davidson, Delay, Herman, Lytle, Stoff, pg. 822). This, in turn, could thwart off any hardship beforehand, by promoting self-sufficiency. It’s like the old and very popular and brilliant quote, “Give a Man a Fish, and You Feed Him for a Day. Teach a Man To Fish, and You Feed Him for a Lifetime”. On the signing of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, the president was quick to point out that every dollar spent on this bill will result in saving taxpayers many more by way of reduced crime, welfare, of health and in the lack of need for police protection (Johnson, 1964).
In conclusion, many people wonder if the war on poverty actually did accomplish what it intended to. I believe so. That would be evident by the fact that many of these programs are still in effect today such as SNAP, Medicare, Medicaid, Job Corps and VISTA. These and other programs that dissented from the War on Poverty have sustained millions of families from becoming poor, made college education within reach, and mad the American Dream possible for anyone who really wanted it.