Final answer:
Military spending on the Vietnam War significantly impeded the goals of President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society by diverting funds from domestic social programs to support the war, leading to reduced funding for initiatives aimed at combating poverty and social injustice.
Step-by-step explanation:
Military spending during the Vietnam War had significant effects on President Lyndon Johnson's plans for the Great Society. The financial burden of the escalating conflict meant that funds were diverted from domestic programs aimed at alleviating poverty and social inequality to support the war effort. The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, for instance, was designed to end poverty by creating job and educational programs. However, as the war grew more expensive, inflation rates increased nearly threefold by 1969, which strained the national economy and reduced funding available for these initiatives. Johnson faced a difficult decision: withdraw from Vietnam and face international repercussions, or continue funding the war at the expense of the Great Society. Ultimately, his insistence on financing both the war and domestic reforms led conservatives in Congress to demand budget cuts to the Great Society programs as a condition for a tax increase to support the war effort.