Standard Addressed: 11.9 Students analyze U.S. foreign policy since World War II. Lesson Objectives: Section : A Tumultuous Year 1. Describe the Tet offensive and its effect on the American public. 2. Explain the domestic turbulence of Describe the 1968 presidential election.

NEXT Section : A Tumultuous Year An enemy attack in Vietnam, two assassinations, and a chaotic political convention make 1968 an explosive year.

NEXT The Tet Offensive Turns the War A Surprise Attack 1968 villagers go to cities to celebrate Tet (Vietnamese new year) Vietcong among crowd attack over 100 towns, 12 U.S. air bases Tet offensive lasts 1 month before U.S., S. Vietnam regain control Westmoreland declares attacks are military defeat for Vietcong 1968: A Tumultuous Year 4 SECTION Continued...

A Surprise Attack: TET OFFENSIVE Jan. 30 th in the Vietnamese equivalent to New Years –During this time, safe travel was allowed between N and S Vietnam Northern Vietnamese sent the coffins of dead soldiers back to S Vietnam –Inside the coffins were the bodies, but also weapons –In the month to follow, the Vietcong would use thee weapons to take over 100 cities in S Vietnam The Vietcong also attack the US Embassy in Saigon (killing 5 Americans) This month long surge would be called the Tet Offensive

Tet Offensive: Military Defeat & Propaganda Victory "In all honesty, we didn't achieve our main objective, which was to spur uprisings throughout the South. Still, we inflicted heavy casualties on the Americans and their puppets, and this was a big gain for us. As for making an impact in the United States, it had not been our intention—but it turned out to be a fortunate result". Hanoi had in no way anticipated the political and psychological effect the offensive would have on the leadership and population of the U.S. When the northern leadership saw how the U.S. was reacting to the offensive, they began to propagandize their "victory". A Viet Cong guerrilla awaits interrogation following his capture in the attacks on Saigon.

Guided Reading: CAUSEEVENTS of 1968EFFECTS The Vietnam War; The Vietcong’s push to capture cities in South Vietnam 1.Tet OffensiveA military defeat for the Vietcong; a dramatic fall in the popularity of Johnson on the war; Johnson’s decision to change his Vietnam policy and not seek reelection.

NEXT 4 SECTION Tet Changes Public Opinion Before Tet, most Americans hawks; after Tet, hawks, doves both 40% Mainstream media openly criticizes war LBJ appoints Clark Clifford as new Secretary of Defense After studying situation, Clifford concludes war is unwinnable LBJ’s popularity drops; 60% disapprove his handling of the war continued The Tet Offensive Turns the War

Tet Changes Public Opinion: This offensive changed public opinion very quickly The media now openly criticized the war Clark Clifford filled McNamara’s spot as Sec. of Def. – he also believed that the war was unwinnable Johnson’s popularity started to plummet to record lows (the media reinforced this)

NEXT 4 SECTION Johnson Withdraws Senator Eugene McCarthy runs for Democratic nomination as dove Senator Robert Kennedy enters race after LBJ’s poor showing in NH LBJ announces will seek peace talks, will not run for reelection Days of Loss and Rage

Johnson Withdraws: The Democratic Party was looking for someone to challenge Johnson in the 1968 primary and end the war Eugene McCarthy declared that he would run against Johnson and end the war Johnson decided to drop out of the race after McCarthy gained almost as many votes Johnson stated –“The war killed the lady I really loved – The Great Society”

Guided Reading: CAUSEEVENTS of 1968EFFECTS The Tet Offensive; The unpopularity of his Vietnam policy; The growing popularity of Eugene McCarthy’s antiwar message 2.Johnson’s poor showing in the New Hampshire primary Robert Kennedy’s decision to run for president; Johnson’s decision not to run for reelection

NEXT 4 SECTION Days of Loss and Rage Violence and Protest Grip the Nation Riots rock over 100 cities after Martin Luther King, Jr. is killed Kennedy wins CA primary; is fatally shot for supporting Israel Major demonstrations on over 100 college campuses

Violence and Protest Grip the Nation: Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on Thursday, April 4, 1968, at the age of 39. James Earl Ray entered a plea of guilty and was sentenced to 99 years in the Tennessee State Penitentiary. Violent protests and riots swept the nation in over 100 cities

Guided Reading: CAUSEEVENTS of 1968EFFECTS Racism Hatred Intolerance An atmosphere of violence 3.Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Feelings of anger and despair among his followers; Violent riots in more than cities

Violence and Protest Grip the Nation: The assassination of Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy, a United States Senator, took place shortly after midnight on June 5, 1968, in Los Angeles, California, during the campaign season for the United States Presidential election, –After winning the California primary elections for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. –Sirhan Sirhan, a 24-year-old Palestinian/Jordanian immigrant, was convicted and is serving a life sentence for the crime. Many campus protests began to turn violent People were losing control and the government wasn’t sure just what to do

Guided Reading: CAUSEEVENTS of 1968EFFECTS Hatred; An atmosphere of violence in the country 4.Assassination of Robert Kennedy Feelings of despair and hopelessness among his followers

NEXT 4 SECTION Turmoil in Chicago Vice-president Hubert Humphrey wins Democratic nomination Over 10,000 demonstrators go to Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley mobilizes police, National Guard Protesters try to march to convention; police beat them; rioting Delegates to convention bitterly debate antiwar plank A Turbulent Race for President Continued...

Turmoil in Chicago: The Democratic National Convention was in Chicago in 1968 Eugene McCarthy and Hubert Humphrey were both pitted against one another 10,000 protesters arrived and 12,000 Chicago police and 5,000 National Guard were sent in Before long things got ugly – rioters were sprayed with pepper spray and beaten with nightsticks

Guided Reading: CAUSEEVENTS of 1968EFFECTS Disagreements among Democrats over Vietnam; The presence of 10,000 demonstrators with differing goals; Daley’s handling of the situation; The poor judgment and brutality of the Chicago police 5.Disorder at the Democratic National Convention The negative image of the Democratic party; A Republican presidential victory

NEXT 4 SECTION Nixon Triumphs Nixon works for party for years, wins 1968 Republican nomination Campaign promises: restore law and order, end war in Vietnam Governor George Wallace is third-party candidate Champions segregation, states’ rights; attracts protest-weary whites Nixon wins presidency continued A Turbulent Race for President

Nixon Triumphs: In 1968, Richard Nixon announced his candidacy for president and won the party’s nomination He campaigned on returning law and order He also promised to end the war in Vietnam He would win the presidency and eventually create even more protest and uproar within the country

Guided Reading: CAUSEEVENTS of 1968EFFECTS The negative image of the Democratic party; The desire for the peace, law, and order that Nixon had promised; The entry of Wallace into the presidential race 6.Richard M. Nixon’s presidential election victory Republicans control the White House.

MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS A – Why American support for the war change after the Tet offensive? –The enemy seemed much stronger and more numerous that Americans had thought.

MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS B – Why did President Johnson decide not to run again? –He believed that seeking a second term would cause further turmoil and divisiveness within the Democratic Party.

MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS C – Why was 1968 characterized as a year of “lost control” in America? –Antiwar demonstrations, student takeovers of universities, and the assassination of two of the country’s leaders were unprecedented; –People did not know how to control such events.

MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS D – What were the reasons protesters demonstrated in Chicago? –Some wanted to pressure Democrats to adopt an antiwar platform, –others were displeased with Humphrey’s nomination, –and Yippies (YIP) came to provoke violence to discredit the Democratic Party.