<span>As he campaigned in 1964, Johnson declared a "war on poverty." He challenged Americans to build a "Great Society" that eliminated the troubles of the poor.</span>
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 increased life expectancy for African Americans, decreased infant mortality for African Americans, removed barriers to voting for African Americans, and introduced new educational opportunities and the idea of affirmative action.
