Unit 8 part 2 Social Change and the Vietnam War Module 14 Lessons 1-2 Module 16 Lessons 1-5

I. The Kennedy Years A. Young, Idealistic, elected 1960 B I. The Kennedy Years A. Young, Idealistic, elected 1960 B. Promised a “New Frontier,” using federal power to solve problems at home and defend freedom abroad C. Space Program – competed with the Soviets

D. Brought attention to disabled persons President’s Council on Mental Retardation Special Olympics Set up federal commission to report on the status of women and signed the Equal Pay Act Other “New Frontier” reforms, involving taxes, housing, and civil rights, were halted in Congress.

Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald in November 1963. The Warren Commission concluded that Oswald acted alone in murdering the President.

A. Lyndon B. Johnson became President in 1963 II. The Johnson Years A. Lyndon B. Johnson became President in 1963 experienced manager of the Senate began by passing much of Kennedy’s reform legislation as a tribute Johnson called for a War on Poverty #spoiler alert: it wasn’t successful The Economic Opportunity Act established programs like: a. Job Corps to train youths b. VISTA – a domestic “peace corps”

Johnson won a landslide victory against Barry Goldwater in 1964, giving him control of Congress proposed his “Great Society” reform program, the most ambitious since the New Deal.

Medicare and Medicaid gave health insurance to seniors, the poor, children, pregnant women, and the disabled. These were the most enduring of all the “Great Society” programs. Federal money was given to education, like Project Head Start for low-income youths. The Housing and Urban Development Act gave federal aid to the poor areas of cities.

The Appalachian Regional Development Act gave aid to one of America’s poorest regions. The Immigrations Act of 1965 replaced the previous system based on national origins by establishing the same immigration quota for all countries. Other achievements included the creation of the National Foundation for the Arts and Humanities, a higher minimum wage, environmental reform, and the creation of PBS.

III. The Warren Court The Supreme Court under Earl Warren became an instrument of social change, expanding the rights of all Americans. Some Americans opposed such judicial activism. The Court made important decision on freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and rights for criminal suspects in cases like Yates v. United States, Baker v. Carr, Engel v. Vitale, Gideon v. Wainwright, and Miranda v. Arizona.

Background to the Vietnam War: the Struggle over Indochina Indochina was a French colony in the 19th century; it was then seized by Japan in 1940. Communist Ho Chi Minh led a nationalist resistance movement. After the war, he declared Vietnam to be independent. France refused to accept the new nation, leading to armed conflict for nine years.

B. In 1954, France surrendered. In the Geneva Accords, Laos and Cambodia became independent. Vietnam was divided between Communist North Vietnam and South Vietnam under the Vietnamese Emperor. Elections and reunification were supposed to occur in 1956.

The Vietnam War: Early American Involvement In the South, Prime Minister Ngo Dinh Diem deposed the Emperor. Diem refused to hold elections in 1956, and established an oppressive regime in the South.

South Vietnamese Communists formed a revolutionary army, the Vietcong, and began guerrilla warfare.

The U.S. supported South Vietnam for a number of reasons. It feared the “domino theory” (containment) had obligations under SEATO believed the Vietnam would benefit from democracy wanted to assure the “Free World” of its protection thought it could win the war easily.

American involvement began when President Kennedy sent military advisers to Diem. When both leaders were assassinated in 1963, President Johnson escalated involvement. After a supposed attack on American ships, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution giving Johnson extraordinary power of intervention. He sent the first troops to Vietnam in 1965.

VI. The Vietnam War: Escalation Johnson hoped to win the war with American technological superiority. Bombs including napalm which burned skin and everything else. Agent Orange – environmentally destructive Helicopters

B. Americans faced problems. not used to the environment Vietcong and guerilla attacks enemy hid among civilians , so American “search and destroy” missions destroyed whole villages. Many civilians fled to cities like Saigon, which became overcrowded and corrupt. The U.S. became increasingly unpopular

In 1968, the Vietcong launched the “Tet Offensive.” Although eventually driven out, the attack showed their strength and were not close to defeat. Johnson announced he would not run for another term as President.

The war dragged on because America did not want to surrender and seem weak to the world, but the Communists were committed to their cause and were aided by China and Russia. Nixon was elected President in 1968. His policy of “Vietnamization” replaced American troops with South Vietnamese. He also increased bombing in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.

In 1973, Dr. Henry Kissinger signed the Paris Peace Accords with North Vietnam. The US withdrew all troops but continued to send aid. South Vietnam fell to the Communists in 1975.

VII. A Divided Home Front As the war dragged on, the home front became divided. “Doves” thought the war was immoral and wanted the US to withdraw. “Hawks” wanted to continue the war to stop Communism.

B. The Vietnam War was the first televised war. The media covered it closely, but the government sometimes twisted the facts to impress the public. This led to a “credibility gap.” The media had a great impact Distrust in government grew, especially when Nixon tried to conceal the Pentagon Papers, a secret government war study.

The “Baby Boom” generation created a new , anti-conformist Youth Culture in the 60s. Some created radical groups like SDS; Others experimented with drugs like LSD Others became “hippies”

D. Many students became political They resented the draft and the war. In 1968, a protest at the Democratic National Convention turned violent. In 1970, National Guardsmen killed students at Kent State University. Government and police violence only increased resistance.

VIII. Consequences of the Vietnam War Vietnam suffered the most from the war. more than a million Vietnamese were killed villages, cities, and farmlands were destroyed. 58,000 American were killed. Others were badly injured and/or suffered psychological trauma. The Communist Vietnamese regime was repressive, and many fled. Almost two million came to the U.S.

In Cambodia, the “Khmer Rouge” won power and committed acts of genocide. In America, war expenses ended many of the “Great Society” programs. Americans lost faith in their government and in the power of the military. American youth were especially disillusioned. Congress passed the War Powers Act in 1973, limiting the President’s power to commit troops overseas without Congressional approval.