What landmark legislation aimed to reduce poverty and improve the standard of living in the 1960s?

The Economic Opportunity Act was a cornerstone of President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society initiative, which sought to combat poverty and enhance the quality of life for Americans in the 1960s. This legislation established various programs, including Job Corps, Head Start, and community action agencies, all designed to provide financial and educational assistance to low-income individuals and communities. By focusing on creating economic opportunities and improving access to education, the act aimed to empower people to lift themselves out of poverty rather than solely relying on government aid.

The Fair Housing Act, while significant in addressing housing discrimination, primarily focused on ending segregation and ensuring equal housing opportunities, rather than directly tackling poverty. The Social Security Act, established in 1935, laid the foundation for the welfare state by providing retirement and unemployment benefits, but it did not originate in the 1960s or primarily target poverty reduction in the way the Economic Opportunity Act did. The Civil Rights Act addressed discrimination and aimed to ensure civil rights protections, which were vital for social justice but did not focus on economic empowerment initiatives specifically aimed at poverty reduction.