1. 30-4: 1968: A tumultuous Year

2. TET OFFENSIVE Causes:  The Vietnam War  The Vietcong’s push to capture cities in South Vietnam Effects:  A military defeat for the Vietcong  Dramatic fall in the popularity of the war  Johnson decides not to seek reelection On Back: Clark Clifford, Johnson’s Secretary of Defense, after the Tet Offensive decides that the U.S can not win the war

3. Video Clip: Tet Offensive

4. Johnson’s poor showing in the New Hampshire primary Causes:  Tet Offensive  The unpopularity of the Vietnam policy  The growing popularity of Eugene McCarthy’s anti-war message Effects:  Johnson decides not to seek reelection  Robert Kennedy decides to run for president

5. Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Causes:  Racism  Hatred  Intolerence  Atmosphere of violence in the country Effects:  Feelings of anger and despair among his followers  Violent riots in 130 U.S. cities

6. Assassination of Robert Kennedy Causes:  Hatred  Atmosphere of violence in the country Effects:  Feelings of anger and despair among his followers

7. 1968 Election (notes)  Richard Nixon: republican nominee for President who ran on a peace, law and order platform  Incumbent President: Johnson (Dem) withdraws from the election  Eugene McCarthy (Dem) runs on antiwar platform  Robert Kennedy (Dem) also runs- this divides the Democratic party, but he is assassinated  Eugene McCarthy Becomes the Democratic presidential nominee after Kennedy Assassination  George Wallace: 3rd party candidate in the election (takes votes from the Democratic party)

8. Disorder at the Democratic National Convention Causes:  Disagreements among Democrats over Vietnam  Poor judgment and brutality of the Chicago police  Demonstrators had differing goals Effects:  Led to a negative image of the Democratic party  Led to a Republican presidential victory (Nixon)

9. Disorder at the Democratic National Convention Causes:  Disagreements among Democrats over Vietnam  Poor judgment and brutality of the Chicago police  Demonstrators had differing goals Effects:  Led to a negative image of the Democratic party  Led to a Republican presidential victory (Nixon)

10. Richard M. Nixon’s presidential election victory Cause:  The negative image of the democratic party  Desire for peace, law and order that Nixon promised  The entry of George Wallace into the race (took votes away from the Dem. candidate)