1. LBJ - The Great Society Lyndon Baines Johnson Lyndon Baines Johnson Democrat from Texas Democrat from Texas U.S. Representative from 1937 to 1949 U.S. Representative from 1937 to 1949 U.S. Senator from 1949 to 1961 U.S. Senator from 1949 to 1961 – (that’s 24 years in congress!) JFK ’s vice-president JFK ’s vice-president succeeded Kennedy following the latter's assassination on November 22, 1963 succeeded Kennedy following the latter's assassination on November 22, 1963 Elected President in his own right in the 1964 election, winning by a large margin over Barry Goldwater. Elected President in his own right in the 1964 election, winning by a large margin over Barry Goldwater. He is one of only four people who served in both offices of the executive branch as well as both houses of Congress. He is one of only four people who served in both offices of the executive branch as well as both houses of Congress. He called his vision “The Great Society” The plan called for a War on Poverty which eventually helped millions of Americans rise above the poverty line during Johnson's presidency. Civil rights bills signed by Johnson banned racial discrimination in public facilities, interstate commerce, the workplace, and housing; and the voting rights act guaranteed full voting rights for citizens of all races. Created Medicare, Medicaid, increased environmental protection, increased government aid to education, the arts, urban and rural development Created Medicare, Medicaid, increased environmental protection, increased government aid to education, the arts, urban and rural development

2. Slide 2 VIETNAM, 1946-75 (the 10 000 Day War)

3. Slide 3 Phase One – War of Independence Vietnam - French Vietnam - French colony under the name of French Indochina (along with Cambodia and Laos) Vietnam fights for independence from France during WW II Vietnam fights for independence from France during WW II Vietnamese revolutionary leader was Ho Chi Minh, a Communist Vietnamese revolutionary leader was Ho Chi Minh, a Communist wanted to be the leader of wanted to be the leader of an independent, communist Vietnam; received support from both the USSR and “Red” China

4. Slide 4 French are defeated in 1954 at at Dien bien phu! French are defeated in 1954 at at Dien bien phu! peace conference in Geneva, Switzerland (attended by France, Vietnam, the US, and the USSR) peace conference in Geneva, Switzerland (attended by France, Vietnam, the US, and the USSR) Vietnam divided at the 17 th parallel. Communist north (Led by Ho) and democratic south (led by Ngo Dinh Diem Vietnam divided at the 17 th parallel. Communist north (Led by Ho) and democratic south (led by Ngo Dinh Diem Elections to be held in 1956 to end partition. Elections to be held in 1956 to end partition. U.S. sees Vietnam as a “Domino”. Determined to stop it falling according to the U.S. policy of “Containment” U.S. sees Vietnam as a “Domino”. Determined to stop it falling according to the U.S. policy of “Containment”

5. Slide 5 Estimated that 80% of Vietnamese would have voted for the communists –elections were never allowed to happen! Many ordinary Vietnamese viewed Diem as an “elite” who had cooperated with the French Many ordinary Vietnamese viewed Diem as an “elite” who had cooperated with the French Diem tortures and executes nearly 40,000 political prisoners Southern resistance increases as communist support grows – creation of National Liberation Front (NLF) Southern resistance increases as communist support grows – creation of National Liberation Front (NLF)

6. Slide 6 These Southern “freedom fighters” were also known as Vietcong

7. Slide 7 1963 With U.S. approval, South Vietnamese Army kills Diem! With U.S. approval, South Vietnamese Army kills Diem! …and of course, Kennedy is killed… …and of course, Kennedy is killed…

8. Slide 8 PHASE 2 – AMERICAN MILITARY INVOLVEMENT phase originated with phase originated with “Ike” and JFK but was intensified under Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Incident - 2 American destroyers “supposedly” fired upon by the North Vietnamese 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Incident - 2 American destroyers “supposedly” fired upon by the North Vietnamese Congress passes Gulf of Tonkin Resolutions Congress passes Gulf of Tonkin Resolutions - Congress gave LBJ their support in sending American personnel and materiel

9. Slide 9

10. Slide 10 1965 – Operation Rolling Thunder Sustained American bombing raids of North Vietnam 864,000 tons of bombs dropped on North Vietnam (503,000 tons in the Pacific theater during the Second World War) 4 Objectives: 4 Objectives: –Boost the Morale of South Vietnam –Persuade North Vietnam to stop supporting rebels in the South –Destroy North Vietnamese industry and air defenses –Cease the flow of men and material along the Ho Chi Minh Trail – –Operation runs for nearly four years! (none of the objectives are met…)

11. Slide 11 US ground forces sent to Vietnam – over 200,000 by the year’s end Danang: The first American combat troops, the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, arrive in Vietnam to defend the US airfield at Danang Danang: The first American combat troops, the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, arrive in Vietnam to defend the US airfield at Danang

12. Slide 12

13. Slide 13 La Drang Valley Heavy Fighting at Ia Drang Valley: The first conventional battle of the Vietnam war takes place as American forces clash with North Vietnamese units in the Ia Drang Valley. - heavy casualties are reported on both sides. Heavy Fighting at Ia Drang Valley: The first conventional battle of the Vietnam war takes place as American forces clash with North Vietnamese units in the Ia Drang Valley. - heavy casualties are reported on both sides.

14. Slide 14 Escalation! in spite of ongoing escalation (an increase in troop levels and $ spent on fighting the war) throughout the 1960s, the US experienced a lack of success against the Vietnamese forces in S. Vietnam (the Vietcong) as the US Army was unprepared for their tactics (Guerilla Warfare! ) and their revolutionary mentality in spite of ongoing escalation (an increase in troop levels and $ spent on fighting the war) throughout the 1960s, the US experienced a lack of success against the Vietnamese forces in S. Vietnam (the Vietcong) as the US Army was unprepared for their tactics (Guerilla Warfare! ) and their revolutionary mentality

15. Slide 15

16. Slide 16  The US was never entirely successful in shutting down the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a supply line that ran between North and South Vietnam down the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a supply line that ran between North and South Vietnam difficult jungle terrain, difficult jungle terrain, often underground and through neighboring nations like Cambodia and Laos

17. Slide 17

18. Ho Chi Minh Trail The U.S. tries to destroy the trail but the Vietnamese just go around it!

19. Slide 19 1968 – an awful year… In January, the Vietnamese launch the Tet Offensive, a surprise offensive on a major Vietnamese holiday that saw attacks all over the country, including in Saigon itself In January, the Vietnamese launch the Tet Offensive, a surprise offensive on a major Vietnamese holiday that saw attacks all over the country, including in Saigon itself A Vietnamese defeat, but many in the U.S. now saw the war as unwinnable A Vietnamese defeat, but many in the U.S. now saw the war as unwinnable ongoing US casualties and led to an increase in antiwar sentiment on the American Home Front ongoing US casualties and led to an increase in antiwar sentiment on the American Home Front in large part because Vietnam was a TV War where American audiences saw the brutality of war firsthand

20. Slide 20

21. Slide 21

22. Slide 22

23. Slide 23 Americans witnessed the usage of weapons like napalm and Agent Orange, which devastated the people and environment of Vietnam Americans witnessed the usage of weapons like napalm and Agent Orange, which devastated the people and environment of Vietnam

24. Slide 24 My Lai Who is the enemy? Who is the enemy? How do you “find and eliminate the enemy” if you can’t tell which side anyone is on? How do you “find and eliminate the enemy” if you can’t tell which side anyone is on? "Who is my enemy? Anybody that was running from us, hiding from us, or appeared to be the enemy. If a man was running, shoot him, sometimes even if a woman with a rifle was running, shoot her.“ – Captain Ernest Medina Between 350 and 500 raped, tortured and murdered

25. Slide 25 26 US soldiers initially charged with criminal offenses 26 US soldiers initially charged with criminal offenses Only Second Lieutenant William Calley, a platoon leader was convicted. Only Second Lieutenant William Calley, a platoon leader was convicted. Found guilty of killing 22 villagers, he was originally given a life sentence, but only served three and a half years under house arrest. Found guilty of killing 22 villagers, he was originally given a life sentence, but only served three and a half years under house arrest. I was … getting orders from my commander and I followed them- foolishly I guess

26. Slide 26

27. Slide 27Hippies! hippies inherited the values of the 1950s Beatniks, created their own communities, listened to psychedelic rock, embraced the sexual revolution, and some used drugs such as cannabis, LSD and magic mushrooms to explore altered states of consciousness. hippies inherited the values of the 1950s Beatniks, created their own communities, listened to psychedelic rock, embraced the sexual revolution, and some used drugs such as cannabis, LSD and magic mushrooms to explore altered states of consciousness.

28. Slide 28 Protest increases at home! Hippies led the Counterculture movement Hippies led the Counterculture movement Protests became widespread and began to polarize the nation Protests became widespread and began to polarize the nation

29. Slide 29

30. Slide 30

31. Slide 31

32. Slide 32 Not just hippies! Not just hippies!

33. Slide 33

34. Slide 34 250,000!

35. Slide 35

36. Slide 36

37. Slide 37

38. Slide 38 LBJ chooses not to run for reelection in 1968 LBJ chooses not to run for reelection in 1968 Polls show that over half of the country does not agree with the handling of the war

39. Slide 39 increasingly the American people came to perceive the “Credibility Gap”, i.e. they no longer increasingly the American people came to perceive the “Credibility Gap”, i.e. they no longer believed that LBJ was telling them the truth about events in the war  Republican Richard M. Nixon was elected on a platform of “Peace with Honor”

40. Slide 40 Nixon wanted the South Vietnamese to play a greater role in the war, a policy he labeled Vietnamization Nixon wanted the South Vietnamese to play a greater role in the war, a policy he labeled Vietnamization in spite of that, he continues carpet bombing Hanoi and orders a secret invasion of Cambodia in spite of that, he continues carpet bombing Hanoi and orders a secret invasion of Cambodia Seen as a further widening of the war! American’s feel deceived and protests erupt. Seen as a further widening of the war! American’s feel deceived and protests erupt.

41. Slide 41 Kent State - May 1970 Kent State University (Ohio) Kent State University (Ohio) Students protest turns deadly when National Guard troops open fire on the students! Students protest turns deadly when National Guard troops open fire on the students! 4 Students Dead 4 Students Dead

42. Slide 42 Tinker vs DeMoines Mary Beth Tinker Mary Beth Tinker 13-year-old junior high school student 13-year-old junior high school student she and others wear black armbands to school to protest the war in Vietnam. she and others wear black armbands to school to protest the war in Vietnam. 5 students suspended 5 students suspended 1969 – Supreme Court rules that students do not "shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.”

43. Slide 43 Pentagon Papers Classified documents stolen from the Pentagon Classified documents stolen from the Pentagon Exposed Government knowledge that war would cost more lives than the public was being told Exposed Government knowledge that war would cost more lives than the public was being told Public told war was ending but escalation was happening Public told war was ending but escalation was happening Government censures the information but Supreme Court says NO! Government censures the information but Supreme Court says NO! PUBLIC DISTRUST OF GOVERNMENT! PUBLIC DISTRUST OF GOVERNMENT!

44. Slide 44 the US agrees to remove troops on Jan. 27, 1973

45. Slide 45 PHASE 3 – VIETNAMESE CIVIL WAR, 1973-75 the NVA easily defeated the South by 1975 the NVA easily defeated the South by 1975 1975 – the US abandoned its embassy in Saigon, which was renamed 1975 – the US abandoned its embassy in Saigon, which was renamed Ho Chi Minh City in the newly unified and communist Vietnam

46. Slide 46 War Powers Act 1973 the President can send U.S. armed forces into action abroad only by authorization of Congress or in case of "a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces." the President can send U.S. armed forces into action abroad only by authorization of Congress or in case of "a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces." The War Powers Resolution requires the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action and forbids armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days, with a further 30 day withdrawal period, without an authorization of the use of military force or a declaration of war. The resolution was passed by two-thirds of Congress, overriding a presidential veto. The War Powers Resolution requires the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action and forbids armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days, with a further 30 day withdrawal period, without an authorization of the use of military force or a declaration of war. The resolution was passed by two-thirds of Congress, overriding a presidential veto.

47. Slide 47 Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon)

48. Slide 48