The Great Society and the War on Poverty: An Economic Legacy in Essays and Documents

An ideal resource for students as well as general readers, this book comprehensively examines the Great Society era and identifies the effects of its legacy to the present day.• Documents the evolution of key issues addressed in the Great Society―such as civil rights, immigration, and the chasm between rich and poor―that are still challenging us today• Shows how young people were able to influence massive political and social change―in a time without the benefit of instant communication and social media• Includes dozens of primary documents, including Lyndon B. Johnson's 1964 State of the Union Address; the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Lyndon B. Johnson's "Stepping Up the War on Poverty" address; "Where Do We Go From Here?," delivered by Martin Luther King Jr. at the SCLC Convention Atlanta, GA; and remarks given by President Obama at the Civil Rights Summit at the LBJ Presidential Library in April 2014• Includes content related to the themes of the National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies and the Common Core requirements for primary documents and critical thinking exercises