Vietnam+1968



I could probabaly spend an entire week (or more) on 1968, and still leave out some important information about his key year in American history. Create a page on your notebook called "1968" and take some notes today focussing on this key question - Why was 1968 such a turning point in the Vietnam Era? As and after you take notes, make them powerful, engaging, interactive, and hyper by adding relative images, maps, and links. At the end of the notes, come up with some questions - both about the information discussed in class and questions about what will happen in the next few years!

Your notes will be evaluated ...

Do you have complete and detailed information? Are your notes organized, with main topics identified and set apart from each other? Did you add relevant images and links to support the information? Did you pose some questions? Leading up to 1968 LBJ Remained Determined http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_McNamara
 * No clear cut winner in the war
 * Increase in American forces in SE Asia
 * Viet Cong proved to be the guiding for in South Vietnam
 * No one could identify the Viet Cong because they look like average people
 * US tries to "pacify" South Vietnam and say "be democratic"
 * Optomistic reports are sent back
 * McNamara sees "a light at the end of the tunnel"
 * Overall, the public still supported America in Vietman

The Tet Offensive
 * US won everyone of the battles, but lost moralIf Cronkhite was gone, so were the American peopleAn attack on U.S. strongholds throughout Southern Vietnam by Viet CongLBJ struggles and Congress cuts his Great Society BudgetUS involvement in the war is openly criticizedNew Defense Secretary of State states the war is unwinnable

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tet_Offensive LBJ Says
 * Public Opinion changes
 * LBJ will not accept the nomination for President because of being under too much stress
 * The nation turns on Johnson
 * Johnson speaks about halting bombs and leaves a bombshell of himself

April 4th
 * Everybody watches Cronkite
 * Announces that Martin Luther King is assassinated
 * Riots were produced and cities were burned because of anger
 * Kennedy tries to calm the people
 * Most likely to win the nomination, then was assassinated

DNC > Either Eugene McCarthy or Hubert Humphrey > Democratic party in chaos > Humphrey gets nomination >
 * Protesters went to Chicago to protest



'68 Election
 * Nixon came back from being politically dead
 * Nixon wins, but George Wallace wins 5 states after saying segregation forever
 * Promises peace forever