8.9 Lyndon Johnson's Great Society
Use the excerpt from President Lyndon Johnson's speech to Congress to answer the following questions.
"I never thought then, in 1928, that I would be standing here in 1965. It never even occurred to me in my fondest dreams that I might have the chance to help the sons and daughters of those students and to help people like them all over this country. But now I do have that chance—and I'll let you in on a secret—I mean to use it. And I hope that you will use it with me.
"This is the richest and most powerful country which ever occupied the globe. The might of past empires is little compared to ours. But I do not want to be the President who built empires, or sought grandeur, or extended dominion.
"I want to be the President who educated young children to the wonders of their world.
"I want to be the President who helped to feed the hungry and to prepare them to be taxpayers instead of taxeaters.
"I want to be the President who helped the poor to find their own way and who protected the right of every citizen to vote in every election.
"I want to be the President who helped to end hatred among his fellow men and who promoted love among the people of all races and all regions and all parties. "
EXCERPT FROM LYNDON B. JOHNSON, “THE AMERICAN PROMISE,” SPECIAL MESSAGE TO CONGRESS DELIVERED ON MARCH 15, 1965
Question 1
CONTEXT (1 POINT) Describe what President Johnson hopes to accomplish based on this excerpt.
Question 2
CONTEXT Give several examples that describe and explain what this excerpt tells you about life in the United States at the time Johnson delivered it.
Question 3
POINT OF VIEW What does Johnson mean when he says he wants to turn “taxeaters” into “taxpayers”?
Question 4
PURPOSE Describe and explain several major examples of what Johnson proposed to Congress and then accomplished based on this speech.
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