War on Poverty Day 2024: Date, history and 5 things you should know about war and poverty

War on Poverty Day 2024: Every year on January 8, people commemorate War on Poverty Day, a time to consider the effects of laws initially proposed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. These laws increased economic opportunity by implementing employment, health, education, and anti-poverty initiatives. According to recent surveys, up to 18% of people live in poverty in the poorest states.

Anyone can become impoverished. Over 40 million Americans battle poverty daily, whether it is through large families having to put food on the table, elders grappling with mounting healthcare costs, or students who rely on scholarships to assert their right to an education.

War History On Poverty Day

Every year on January 8, people mark an unofficial holiday known as “War on Poverty Day” to consider the effects of the Economic Opportunity Act and other programs that President Lyndon B. Johnson implemented in response to the nation’s then-rising rate of poverty.

The term “War on Poverty” primarily refers to several programs put forth by the Johnson administration and approved by Congress to increase economic opportunity through the application of employment, health, education, and anti-poverty policies. President Johnson said, “Our aim is not only to relieve the symptoms of poverty, but to cure it and, above all, to prevent it,” in his State of the Union speech. The 1962 exposé “The Other America,” which proved that poverty in America was far more frequent than previously thought and effectively focused public discourse on the issue, is said to have influenced President Johnson’s program.

Soon after winning the 1964 election with a landslide, President Johnson issued the proclamation that set the foundation for the War on Poverty Day. This came about following President Kennedy’s assassination on November 22, 1963, when he took office. President Johnson’s statement prompted Congress to approve the equally significant Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the bipartisan Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, which established the legal framework that served as the basis for many of the nation’s present social welfare initiatives. The American safety net services of today, such as Medicare, Medicaid, food stamp benefits, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and many more, were made possible by the War on Poverty, which was carried out throughout the Johnson administration.

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty: Date, Background, Facts

Methods For Celebrating this Day

Study up on its effects.

Learn about the effects of the 1964 Economic Opportunity Act, which established the Office of Economic Opportunity, as you observe War on Poverty Day. You can also learn about the Economic Opportunity Act’s foundation and the present welfare programs in the United States by conducting research on them.

Encourage policies aimed at decreasing poverty

Give your support to reforms aimed at fortifying the current welfare programs in the United States, which are all derived from the Economic Opportunity Act.

Post your thoughts on social media.

Use the hashtag #WarOnPovertyDay to promote awareness of the day and to initiate conversations on the programs that led to the United States’ launch of its War on Poverty.

5 things you should know about war and poverty

It affected SNAP and established Medicare.

The Social Security Act, which Johnson signed into law in 1965, created Medicare and Medicaid, which considerably raised seniors’ incomes by lowering their out-of-pocket medical costs.

Food Stamps

The Food Stamp Act of 1964, which established the pilot Food Stamps Program permanently, is one of the initiatives of the War on Poverty.

More fair distribution of school financing

As part of the War on Poverty strategy, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act was enacted in 1965 and gave federal financing for professional development, instructional materials, and resources to support educational programs to primary and secondary schools.

King Jr., Martin Luther, condemned it.

Martin Luther King Jr. criticized Johnson’s War on Poverty in 1967 for “being too piecemeal.”

President Johnson launched the War on Poverty

Following his ascension to the presidency on November 22, 1963

Why This Day Is Important

It makes us appreciate the welfare programs of today.

The day serves to highlight the significance of programs like Medicaid and SNAP in our lives, as the majority of the nation’s welfare systems now have their origins in the policies of the War on Poverty.

It brings to light the effects of the policies.

Although laws have the potential to raise living standards, their effects are frequently overlooked. War on Poverty Day encourages us to either support or oppose our senators by serving as a reminder of the potential effects of their activities in the Senate on us.

We are recommitted to societal good.

Recommitting to the fight to eradicate poverty in the United States is arguably the main goal of War on Poverty Day. Today is a chance to make the kind of progress that will be necessary to genuinely eradicate poverty: sustained efforts.

WAR ON POVERTY DAY DATES