War on Poverty

War on Poverty

War on Poverty (1964-1968) was a campaign of legislation and social services, aimed at reducing or eliminating poverty in the United States of America. The term was first introduced by Lyndon B. Johnson during his State of the Union address on January 8, 1964. The legislation was designed in response to the poverty affecting over 35 million Americans.

The campaign yielded the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 which was signed on August 20, 1964.

On July 30, 1965 Johnson advanced the "war" by signing the Social Security Act of 1965 into law, which established Medicare and Medicaid in the United States.

"This administration today, here and now, declares unconditional war on poverty in America." - Lyndon Johnson