1. U.S. Studies II (Periods 1, 3, & 6)
Take out your Vietnam Era Unit Plan, and turn to the page titled “Vietnam Era: A Time of Change” notes.

2. Vietnam Era: A Time of Change (1968-1972)

3. The Tet Offensive (1968) Celebration of Tet: Vietnamese New Year
Major offensive by NVA and VC units (Jan. ’68)
Strikes against cities and installations all over South Vietnam
Phases of the Battle:
General Offensive (preliminary attacks)
General Uprising (South Vietnamese would help)
Fierce battles for Saigon, Hue, and Khe Sanh

4. Effects of the Tet Offensive
Huge military victory for US and ARVN forces!
NVA / VC casualties: over 100,000
US / ARVN casualties: around 45,000
NVA / VCA gain no territory, uprising never occurs
HOWEVER: Psychological Victory for NVA and VC (mainly on U.S. homefront).
North/NLF are NOT surrendering
U.S. govt. is distorting “body count” numbers
NVA/VC could launch attacks ANYWHERE
TV broadcasts everything
Serious doubts about whether U.S. can win

5. “The New Pinocchio”

6. Tet’s Final Casualty: The End for LBJ
March 31, 1968: Johnson announces that he will not run for 2nd term.
Reasons for dropping out:
Vietnam War ruined approval.
Tet Offensive proves he has lied.
RFK entered the race (assassinated shortly after)

7. The 1968 Election
Riots in Chicago during Democratic National Convention
Hubert Humphrey (Dem.) vs. Richard Nixon (Rep.)
Nixon wins in a landslide.

8. Nixon’s Vietnam Strategy
Nixon’s campaign promise: “Peace with honor”
Vietnamization: withdrawing U.S. troops as the ARVN slowly takes over control
Pentagon Papers (1971): secret documents that proved Johnson had lied to the people
Nixon is a liar too, apparently:
Bombs Cambodia (1970)
Invades Laos (1971)
Operation Linebacker (1972): first major air attacks on major North cities
American public begins to doubt the war will ever end

9. College Protests—Spring 1970
Kent State Shooting, May 4, 1970

11. Vietnam II?

12. Video: Tet Offensive Declassified
Essential Question: How was the Tet Offensive both a victory AND a defeat for the U.S.?
Details and examples to answer that question in BCR format