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Related Pieces
Piece Description
Many historians say the United States government of the nineteenth century did little to improve the lives of its citizens. But Brian Balogh (University of Virginia) argues the federal government was quite active even before the era of big government, and laid the groundwork for America to become a superpower in the twentieth century. Also: Chris Howard (William and Mary), in his book “The Hidden Welfare State,” makes the argument that through the tax code, the U.S. government subsidizes a wide range of housing, health, pension, and income support programs. The largest of these tax subsidies, costing hundreds of billions of dollars each year, go disproportionately to the more affluent members of society.
Transcript
(Music Bed - The Washington Post March)
(Lyndon Johnson Clip)
In May of 1964, President Lyndon Johnson outlined his goals for America to become a “Great Society” in this historic speech at the University of Michigan.
(More Johnson Clip)
Add Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal to Johnson’s “Great Society”, and the Twentieth Century was surely the era when America’s government grew to become the powerful and complex entity that we see now. So what was the federal government like in the 19th century? I’m Sarah McConnell and this is With Good Reason.
(more speech, applause fade and music fade)
Later on today’s show,
But first, in this era of government bailouts and town hall meetings over health care reform, it’s clear that many Americans oppose continued growth of the federal government, preferring it to be smaller and less intrusive, the way it was in the 19th century. Or WAS IT? H...
Read the full transcript
Timing and Cues
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