Final answer:
The correct answer is option b. generated middle-class resentment that benefited the Republicans.
Step-by-step explanation:
In retrospect, Johnson's war on poverty did not practically eliminate poverty but it did make substantial strides in improving the lives of the poor in the United States. The creation of programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and the expansion of Social Security helped reduce the poverty rate. However, the resources allocated to the Vietnam War limited the extent of these programs, and the optimism of a Great Society arguably raised expectations too high. Additionally, middle-class resentment grew as some viewed the programs as fostering dependency on government aid and this sentiment ultimately provided political advantages to the Republican Party.
While the War on Poverty did not achieve the elimination of poverty in America, the Economic Opportunity Act and other initiatives did manage to decrease the percentage of Americans living in poverty. Nevertheless, the war on poverty generated criticism and some of the resentment did benefit the Republicans politically. Living in an era of increasing entitlement and the notion of a minimum standard of living as a right, conservative critics argued against the vast expansion of federal programs.
Ultimately, the war in Vietnam consumed funds that might have otherwise been directed toward domestic anti-poverty initiatives, thereby limiting their reach and efficacy.