The Economic Opportunity Act was enacted in 1964 as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society initiative. Its primary goal was to combat poverty in the United States by providing various programs and resources aimed at improving economic conditions for low-income individuals and families. The Act established the Office of Economic Opportunity to oversee these initiatives. Key programs created under the Act included Job Corps, which offered vocational training for young people, and Head Start, which provided early childhood education for disadvantaged children. The Economic Opportunity Act aimed to empower individuals through education, job training, and community development, ultimately fostering self-sufficiency and economic growth.