1960年代中期林登·约翰逊的“向贫困宣战”运动就反映了当时的风貌，全国上下都弥漫着乐观情绪，相信整个社会必须联合行动来解决贫困，污染和医疗卫生这类宏观问题，还执行了一系列贫民区重建，改善空气和水污染以及老年人医疗保障的项目。
Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty in the mid-1960’s reflected an era of national optimism and the belief that society should make collective efforts to solve common problems, such as poverty, pollution, and health care. America in the 1960’s enacted programs to rebuild poor communities, to fight air and water pollution, and to ensure health care for the elderly.