Contextualization

Lyndon B. Johnson, also known as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States. He was born on August 27, 1908, in Stonewall, Texas, and served as President from 1963 to 1969. LBJ's presidency was marked by profound changes in American society, including the civil rights movement, the escalation of the Vietnam War, and the creation of his ambitious domestic policy agenda, often referred to as the Great Society.

LBJ's presidency started under tragic circumstances. Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, Johnson was thrust into the role of President, inheriting a nation in mourning and facing numerous domestic and international challenges. Despite these challenges, LBJ was able to enact significant legislative achievements during his time in office.

One of LBJ's most significant achievements was the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a landmark piece of legislation that outlawed racial segregation in schools, public places, and employment. This legislation was a key victory for the Civil Rights Movement and marked a turning point in American history. LBJ also signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law, which aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote under the 15th Amendment.

However, LBJ's presidency was also marked by the escalation of the Vietnam War. Despite initially promising not to send American troops to Vietnam, by 1968, over half a million U.S. troops were deployed there. The war was highly controversial and deeply divided American society, leading to widespread protests and dissent.

In addition to his work on civil rights and the Vietnam War, LBJ was also known for his ambitious domestic policy agenda, which he called the Great Society. This included programs like Medicare, which provided health insurance to the elderly, and Medicaid, which provided health insurance to low-income individuals and families.

LBJ's presidency was a time of significant change and turmoil in American history. By studying his life and presidency, we can gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and triumphs of this era and how they continue to shape our world today.

For more information on LBJ and his presidency, you can refer to:

1. Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library
2. The American Presidency Project: Lyndon B. Johnson
3. History: Lyndon B. Johnson
4. PBS: The American Experience - Lyndon B. Johnson
5. Biography: Lyndon B. Johnson

Practical Activity

Activity Title:

"Lyndon B. Johnson: A Journey through History"

Objective of the Project:

The main objective of this project is to delve into the life and presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson, exploring his key policies and decisions and the impact they had on American society. By the end of the project, students should have a thorough understanding of LBJ's presidency and its significance in American history.

Detailed Description of the Project:

In this project, students will form groups of 3 to 5 members. Each group will be responsible for creating a multi-media presentation (can be a poster, a PowerPoint presentation, a video, or a website) that chronicles LBJ's life, presidency, and his key policies and decisions. The presentation should also explore the impact of LBJ's presidency on American society and its relevance to contemporary issues.

The project will be divided into three main phases:

1. Research Phase: Students will conduct thorough research about LBJ's life and presidency, using a variety of sources including books, websites, and documentaries. They should pay special attention to his key policies and decisions, their rationale, and their impact.

2. Creation Phase: Based on their research, students will create their multi-media presentation. The presentation should be engaging, informative, and visually appealing. It should include a timeline of LBJ's presidency, key events, images, and quotes. The students should also prepare a short oral presentation to accompany their multi-media presentation.

3. Reflection Phase: After completing their presentation, students will reflect on what they have learned and the skills they have developed throughout the project. They will also discuss the relevance of LBJ's presidency to contemporary issues and why it is important to study history.

Necessary Materials:

• Access to a library or internet for research
• Books, documentaries, and online resources about LBJ and his presidency
• Art supplies (if creating a poster)
• Computers and software for creating a PowerPoint presentation or website
• Video recording equipment (if creating a video)

Detailed Step-by-Step for Carrying out the Activity:

1. Form Groups: Divide the students into groups of 3 to 5 members. Each group should have a mix of skills and abilities to ensure a collaborative and productive team.

2. Assign Roles: Assign each group member a specific role or responsibility (e.g., researcher, writer, designer, presenter) to ensure that the workload is evenly distributed.

3. Research LBJ's Life and Presidency: The students should conduct thorough research about LBJ's life and presidency, using a variety of sources. They should take notes and keep track of their sources for their bibliography.

4. Create the Presentation: Based on their research, the students should create their multi-media presentation. This can be a poster, a PowerPoint presentation, a video, or a website. The presentation should be visually appealing and should include a timeline of LBJ's presidency, key events, images, and quotes. The students should also prepare a short oral presentation to accompany their multi-media presentation.

5. Practice the Presentation: Each group should practice their presentation to ensure that it flows smoothly and that everyone knows their part. They should also time their presentation to make sure it fits within the allotted time.

6. Present to the Class: Each group will present their project to the class. After each presentation, there should be time for questions and discussion.

7. Reflect and Write the Report: After completing their presentation, the students will reflect on what they have learned and the skills they have developed. They will then write their report based on the format provided.

Project Deliveries:

• Multi-media presentation (poster, PowerPoint, video, or website)
• Short oral presentation to accompany the multi-media presentation
• Written report

The report should contain the following sections:

1. Introduction: The students should provide a brief overview of LBJ's life and presidency, why they chose this topic, and what they hope to learn from the project.

2. Development: The students should detail the research they conducted, the key findings from their research, and how they used this information to create their multi-media presentation. They should also discuss the methodology they used and any challenges they faced during the project.

3. Conclusion: The students should conclude by revisiting the main points of their research and presentation, discussing what they have learned from the project, and drawing conclusions about the relevance of LBJ's presidency to contemporary issues.

4. Bibliography: The students should include a list of the sources they used for their research, formatted according to the appropriate citation style.