1. Lesson Objectives: CHAPTER 22: Section 4 - 1968: A Tumultuous Year
Standard Addressed: Students analyze U.S. foreign policy since World War II.
Lesson Objectives: CHAPTER 22: Section : A Tumultuous Year
1. Describe the Tet offensive and its effect on the American public.
2. Explain the domestic turbulence of 1968.
3. Describe the 1968 presidential election.

2. QUIZ!
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ID NUMBER!
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CH-22-4

3. A BULLDOG ALWAYS
CARES
Commitment
Attitude
Respect
Encouragement
Safety

4. 1968: A Tumultuous Year
An enemy attack in Vietnam, two assassinations, and a chaotic political convention make 1968 an explosive year.
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5. A Surprise Attack: TET OFFENSIVE
Jan. 30th in the Vietnamese equivalent to New Years
1968 villagers go to cities to celebrate Tet
During this time, safe travel was allowed between N and S Vietnam

6. A Surprise Attack: TET OFFENSIVE
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

7. A Surprise Attack: TET OFFENSIVE
The Vietcong also attack the US Embassy in Saigon (killing 5 Americans)
This month long surge would be called the Tet Offensive
The Tet Offensive Turns the War

8. A Surprise Attack: TET OFFENSIVE
It takes the US 1 month to regain control
Westmoreland declares attacks are military defeat for Vietcong

9. Tet Offensive: Military Defeat & Propaganda Victory
"In all honesty, we didn't achieve our main objective, which was to spur uprisings throughout the South.
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.

10. Guided Reading: The Vietnam War;
CAUSE
EVENTS of 1968
EFFECTS
The Vietnam War;
The Vietcong’s push to capture cities in South Vietnam
Tet Offensive
A 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.

11. Tet Changes Public Opinion
Before Tet, most Americans hawks; after Tet, hawks, doves both 40%
Mainstream media openly criticizes war
After studying situation, Clifford concludes war is unwinnable
LBJ’s popularity drops; 60% disapprove his handling of the war
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12. Tet Changes Public Opinion:
This offensive changed public opinion very quickly
The media now openly criticized the war

13. Tet Changes Public Opinion:
McNamara -believed that the war was unwinnable
LBJ appoints Clark Clifford as new Secretary of Defense -believed that the war was unwinnable
Johnson’s popularity started to plummet to record lows (the media reinforced this)

14. Tet Offensive: Military Defeat & Propaganda Victory: American Press Despair

15. 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.

16. In 1968 the Democratic Party was looking for someone to challenge Johnson and end the war
Eugene McCarthy declared that he would run against Johnson and end the war
Senator Eugene McCarthy runs for Democratic nomination as dove
Senator Robert Kennedy enters race after LBJ’s poor showing in NH

17. Johnson Withdraws:
Johnson decided to drop out of the race after McCarthy gained almost as many votes
LBJ announces will seek peace talks, will not run for reelection
Johnson stated
“The war killed the lady I really loved – The Great Society”

18. 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.

19. Guided Reading: The Tet Offensive;
CAUSE
EVENTS of 1968
EFFECTS
The Tet Offensive;
The unpopularity of his Vietnam policy;
The growing popularity of Eugene McCarthy’s antiwar message
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

20. 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.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Spoke against the war.
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

23. 1968

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

26. 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, 1968.
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

27. An atmosphere of violence in the country
Feelings of despair and hopelessness among his followers

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

29. 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.

30. A Turbulent Race for President4
SECTION
A Turbulent Race for President
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
Continued . . .
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31. The Democratic National Convention was in Chicago in 1968
Eugene McCarthy and Hubert Humphrey were both pitted against one another
Vice-president Hubert Humphrey wins Democratic nomination

32. Mayor Richard J. Daley mobilizes the police and National Guard

33. Turmoil in Chicago: 10,000 protesters arrived;
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

34. Guided Reading: Disagreements among Democrats over Vietnam;
CAUSE
EVENTS of 1968
EFFECTS
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
Disorder at the Democratic National Convention
The negative image of the Democratic party;
A Republican presidential victory

35. 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.

36. 4
SECTION
continued A Turbulent Race for President
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
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37. 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

38. Governor George Wallace
Governor George Wallace is third-party candidate
Champions segregation,
states’ rights;
attracts protest-weary white

39. Guided Reading: The negative image of the Democratic party;
CAUSE
EVENTS of 1968
EFFECTS
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
Richard M. Nixon’s presidential election victory
Republicans control the White House.

40. QUIZ!
Fill in your
ID NUMBER!
First & Last Name
CH-22-4