1968

WHY WAS 1968 SUCH A TURNING POINT IN THE VIETNAM ERA?

1968 No clear cut winner of the war Increase of American troops in SE Asia Viet Cong proved to be the guiding force in South Vietnam

LBJ Remained Determined Optimistic reports are sent back McNamara sees "a light at the end of the tunnel" Public still supported American in Vietnam

TET OFFENSIVE Attacks on US strongholds throughout Southern Vietnam by the VC Eventually a US victory American people shaken up by the idea that the Communists could wage an attack like this when they thought the VC were near defeat. The new Defense Secretary says that the war is unwinnable The nation turns on Johnson Johnson decides to halt bombing Johnson decides not to run for President again

Dr. King is Assassinated Racial tension everywhere / violence Bobby Kennedy assassinated

1968 Election Hubert Humphrey - Democrat Richard Nixon / Spiro Agnew - Republican George Wallace - Independent Nixon wins election by a large electoral vote margin but a much smaller popular vote margin

Americans were divided Hawks - Increase US Military power in Vietnam quickly Doves - against war - Pull out now!

WHAT THE AMERICANS WERE: The New Left : Growing youth movement - SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) Free Speech Movement Counter Culture - didn't protest as much as they just dropped out of society Returning veterans - some asked US to stop war Some US officials question our involvement in war

WHY WERE AMERICANS PROTESTING? INVOLVEMENT: Should the US be involved in another country's civil war? Was it winnable? American fatalities were increasing EXPENSE: As US forces escalated in Vietnam, so did the price tag Johnson asked for a tax increase in 1967 to stop inflation but lost some of his "Great Society" programs LIVING ROOM WAR: People could see the devastation first hand from the nightly news on their televisions. The news reports contradicted the optimistic reports out of Washington. CREDIBILITY GAP: Body count figures were published Gen. Westmorland said that the war was within our grasp Critics stated that there was a gap between what was said about the war and what was really happening THE DRAFT: Became a working-class war The Draft system could be manipulated - medical deferments, college deferments, change of residence, move out of country AMERICAN ACTIONS: Search and Destroy missions My Lai Napalm Americans disgusted by devastation caused by our actions

WHERE DID AMERICANS PROTEST? College campuses Major cities Washington DC / Pentagon / Lincoln Memorial

HOW WERE AMERICANS PROTESTING? Marches Buttons Rallies Burning Draft Cards Pamphlets and Posters Music! Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Country Joe, Crosby Stills Nash & Young