Some of the most significant post World War II social legislation occurred in the 1960s. Major new federal entitlements and policies were passed including the Medicare, Medicaid health service programs, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In addition, America launched its “War on Poverty”. A lasting impact of the War was the development of the ” Poverty Line ” which established a standard by which the country gauges how many Americans live in poverty.
In these interviews with two Maryland social workers, Mark Battle and Nathaniel Branson, we explore the influences of the War on Poverty and the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964.
Additional Reading:
- Lyndon B. Johnson’s Special Message to Congress, March 16, 1964
- The Joint Center for Poverty Research
- Great Debates: Did the United States lose the war on poverty?
- Presidential Documents Series: THE WAR ON POVERTY, 1964–1968
