Purposes and strategies of Johnson's Great Society program - Essay Example

Purposes and strategies of Johnson's Great Society program It is indeed important for humanity to call for freedom for all. What is good for geese is not good for gander notion cannot survive evolution of society. Societal evolution thus matured in expression of disgust for racial discrimination. In education, economy and racism strife, equality was demanded to answer the question of freedom, equality and justice. Throughout this transformation timeline one can see imposing personalities and protests expediting the process of change. From 1954 protests, which swelled to a congregation of around 70,000, to the emergence of Malcolm X are a few such examples that tell about the inevitability of the change. To serve aforementioned purpose it was important to form a strategy viable for people living in such a quagmire. During the years of Kennedy it was not explicit that the promised equality of 1863 could be served. Yet Johnsons’ era was indeed remarkable. Johnson being a proponent of equal rights enacted Civil Rights Act of 1964 right after 5 years of Kennedy’s assassination. This act was to ensure implementation of emancipation proclamation of 1863 in spirit. It is pertinent to mention that women rights and gender discrimination was an important agenda of the change. The act prohibited discrimination in institutions like hospitals, schools and public accommodations like hotels, theaters and restaurants. It helped in obliterating the discrimination in employment giving a big blow to economic injustice. It also banned gender discrimination which transformed the society in an entirely new way. The proposed strategy was governmental action to promote welfare. This ‘New Deal’ through Medicaid and Medicare and Equal employment Opportunity Commission, National Endowments and National Public Broadcast Network needed federal funds ultimately completed and extended the agenda. Vietnam War and Transformation of American Politics and Culture Contortions in status quo caused a well steered civil rights movements and awareness campaigns. Similarly women rights also instigated a social change which directly diffused into American Culture. The Vietnam Campaign caused serious blow to the political ideology that prolonged the war, in fact they surprised the military leader of the US. It was indeed important for Americans to respond to this international intervention through campaigns, laws and public opinion. The soldiers abroad were majorly the youth. This was one of the most important points for people back in the US to launch an antiwar campaign. Further the laws related to soldiers sacrificing their lives while on their way back to the US were imperative. Women rights during the war amassed the era of rights revolution. Discrimination at employment met the crisis with serious blow causing a puncture to biased social order. Role of women in this transformation and their induction became essential for the society to embrace. Also, the political crisis also nosedived in such a way that government was pressurized to formulate laws congealing to take up the challenge of racism and gender discrimination. Later it would be seen that opinion leaders which were in line with the rights revolution got fame and took up the challenge to lead Americans. American withdrawal from Vietnam can be transpired as its political defeat in the international arena. Domestic movements also added fuel to fire. Eric stated that the federal budgets that were doled out in Johnson’s era put pressure for implementation of the civil rights act. And the intensity of demand undermined focus of budged in Vietnam. Among cultural changes the anti-poverty efforts through the demonstration of Martin Luther King Jr. were the first step towards abolishing the existing class prejudice. It can be concluded that introspection became more important than international interventions which steered politics and the rights revolution to success. Sources and significance of the rights revolution of the late 1960s Rights revolution started in streets and it was actually a call for constitution blanket through the Supreme Court. It was also at the time when political and cultural changes were at their apex. The legislative and local majorities expedited the cause. While civil liberties were strengthened during 1930s they became a type of preamble for the civil rights. Also the NAAP v. Alabama in 1958 southern laws were struck down causing a big blow to anti-civil-rights organizations. Newspapers and other media modes were strengthened and finally during 1960s racial equality, economic justice, education and women rights came in lime light. An important act which was struck down was the interracial marriage which caused a detrimental effect to status quo. Then after continuous confrontation with the laws of the fore, Court finally paved way grass root issues for the implementation of the constitutional rights. The discrimination in rental and sale of housing and badges of slavery were forbidden fulfilling the promise for emancipation. The bill of rights was there for its implementation in letter and spirit but this time once and for all. Punishments which were cruel and unusual were for bidden and rights of poor were preserved with provision of attorneys. Thus the sources of the revolution were courts which were moved with the help of general public rising against discriminatory laws and norms. The Triumph of Conservatism 1969-88 Policies of the Nixon administration on social and economic issues Nixon offered New Federalism to the system which was readily accepted by conservatives. It offered block grants to the stated and was allowed to be spent as they saw fit. The dictations of Washington were no more there to steer their internal programs. This was indeed one of a good step towards financial liberalization. Rights revolution by its end caused a huge pressure over governmental policy on Vietnam. The Nixon administration in a fix started revising line of action over their engagement in Vietnam. Nixon’s administration could not take up the blame of their political failure in the international arena. Nixon challenged freedom of press which was rejected by the Supreme Court. Later Nixon’s powers for commitment of the US troops overseas were cut to size and were bound with approval of congress. As discussed, the central administration in Washington delegated the economic powers to the states. And the administrative swathe was cut to size and vested in congress, especially in engagement of the US troops overseas. After Watergate scandal American’s confidence in their government mitigated which increased the gap between public and their government. Social liberty was achieved when congress enacted restrictions on FBI and CIA to spy their citizens and conducting operations overseas without the knowledge of the lawmakers. Except decentralization (liberty) on economic programs of the states Nixon policies struggled with high level of concentration of powers. Liberals therefore celebrated with the downfall of Nixon. Roots of the rise of conservatism in the 1970s Rise of conservatism during 1970s can be attributed to national and international challenges the US faced. Low confidence on government caused anxiety among the citizens which gave birth to new political opportunities. Economic problems for lower taxes and reduction in regulations and social spending were highlighted the era. Similarly on social grounds it was known that a tacit approval of conservatives existed in abandoning the idea of racial justice. Direct confrontation among the antagonists and proponents rose the temperature among the general population. The power of federal government was then challenged in this backdrop. Freedom and movements that highlighted implementation of equality and justice was transforming the society and the US culture. Eric opines that civil rights and labor movements caused conservatives to organize themselves at the grass root level in the wake of afore mentioned challenges. The conservative doctrine was spread and the candidate ran for offices desperately and changes in their policies swarmed to the top. This not only helped transformation in conservatism but also helped them to come in line with the demands of general populace. Reagan presidency and Americans at home and abroad Reagan ascent to presidency was unusual. A new deal democrat and head of screen actors’ guild he emerged and talked extensively about unregulated capitalism. It was his administration which helped conservatism to be known as progressive. National agenda was reshaped and political language and rhetoric were his strengths. At home people were assured of self-interest free government and freedom of public debate. Economic freedom brought curtailing of unions and deregulations with reduction of taxes. The reduction on taxes helped the gains of wealthiest. Also downsizing of workforce shifter population overseas and advance technology changed the margins of profitability. Critics dubbed the administration policies during his era as Reaganomics. Yet it is known to historians that his policies expanded the economy more than expectations. The US citizen got opportunity in an increasing number to expand their business internationally. This brought the US government directly in an engagement with its people outside US. In international arena Reagan helped the US to gain an imposing presence world over. Military was made powerful and it was his dealing power which helped the US to secure its international presence. A pro-Cuban government was ousted and in Libya operation made the world realize that the US can effectively help in peacekeeping missions abroad. Globalization and its Discontents 1989-2000 Major international initiatives by Clinton administration- aftermath of the Cold War George H. W. Bush and B Clinton though from different political ideologies remained proponent of single global free market. One of the most important move, the US took, was globalization in the wake of post-cold war scenario. Sudden shift of world disposition towards unipolar world was an interesting event in the history of the US. Bush spoke of new world order but its characteristics were unclear. Major foreign policy actions were in the making as Russian power waned dramatically. It was actually a bigger scene where the US had unprecedented say in the World. Its intervention policy seemed to remain but with more power. The government in Panama was overthrown in 1989 due to Antonio Noriega’s alleged involvement in international drug trade. Later the US intervened in Gulf war and took work of democracy to international latitudes. These events paved way for a democrat like Bill Clinton who remained less interventionist. This helped the US in regaining its image. In addition to these measures introspective measures took US to more stability inside. Blacks and Women were appointed in his cabinet and certain rights were again allowed. Inside military don’t ask don’t tell policy again got weight causing more liberty in US society. Forces that drove the economic resurgence of the 1990s Clinton in office was an era of economic resurgence. The passion of previous government was shared by Clinton which took up the cause of free trade. NAFTA in 1993 approved by congress was negotiated by Bush and later trade with Canada and Mexico was also liberalized. New economy which was boosted by computer and internet technologies ushered a new era. The manufacturing, production and sales boosted. These technologies were late exported with the help of free trade policy of the Clinton administration. Space program also stride a long way and commercialization of flights also took place. The US helped different nations in transfer of technology. Microchip system and miniaturization of parts took major international markets. This was indeed a major area of economic development of the US. During early 2000 stock market boomed and saw a vibrant business inside the US. The dot com companies were the new rising structures in US economy. De-regularization in real-estate, telecommunication and stock trading helped in gaining huge markets and profits which breathed success in local and international markets. In a nut shell economic model of free trade and deregulation appeared unprecedented and extremely successful. Cultural conflicts that emerged in the 1990s Once again the US saw rapid economic gains within a certain businessmen. This was proportional to the boom and bust of technologies, business offers and local-international market demands. Certain business got busted while at the same time certain businesses which offered high wages caused good boom in economic health of families. This again caused difference in social contact with economy. Again social inequality was given birth due to unrestrained profiteering and gains. As culture relies right on top of society, cultural conflicts were seen. Agrarian systems and highly mechanized systems, their manpower and societies contrasted each other markedly. Non-white faced problems due to their low skills level and under-development stage. Again a feeling of left alone or set aside prevailed. Renewed sense of group identity due to economic and social differentiation appeared. Declining power of nation-state and the rising notion of globalization caused this conflict sprawl over the whole world. Thus ethnicity and religious antagonism appeared in a very stark appearance. Immigrants who reached the US were indeed unable to establish themselves causing millions of people live in a pitiful condition. Asians and people from Middle East caused huge momentum in the immigration era of the US. Then the rural and urban culture also conflicted due to the differentiated acceptance of socio-economic order. Immigrants and the poor moved to the sub-urban areas while their opportunities remained concentrated in urban areas. Reference Eric F. Give Me Liberty! An American History Chapter 25-27 Read More