The Great Society was the name given to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s domestic policy initiative established in 1964 and 1965. The initiative was intended to address the various social and economic issues of the day, and claimed to be the continuation of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. The main goals of the Great Society were to promote economic growth and opportunity, civil rights, healthcare, education and environmental protection.

When Johnson declared the Great Society, the U.S. was on the verge of a period of social and economic growth. Johnson designed the Great Society to give aid to individuals and families, promote economic growth, create greater opportunities and provide civil rights, healthcare, education and environmental protection.

The Great Society included Medicare and Medicaid, which provided healthcare coverage to the elderly and the poor. The Older Americans Act, created in 1965, provided funding and services to the elderly. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 provided funding to help public schools meet the needs of low-income students. This provided free school lunch programs and established the Head Start Initiative to help children from low-income households get an early start on their education.

The Great Society also sought to promote greater civil and voting rights among minorities. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in areas of public accommodation and employment. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 outlawed literacy tests and other barriers to voting and extended federal authority to help ensure the ability of minority citizens to vote.

In addition to the economic agenda of the Great Society, Johnson focused on the environment and conservation. One of Johnson’s major initiatives was the establishment of the National Council on Environmental Quality in 1969, which created the foundation for much of the environmental legislation that followed.

Overall, The Great Society was a set of domestic initiatives designed to promote social and economic stability, civil and voting rights, greater environmental protection and increased aid to public schools. These initiatives greatly impacted the lives of many Americans, providing financial and social security as well as promoting equality and opportunity. Although President Johnson’s initiative was viewed as imperfect by some, it is viewed as an integral part of American history.