1. American History Chapter 29-3 1968: A Turning Point

2. The Tet Offensive Tet Offensive: Series of coordinated attacks by the Vietcong in South Vietnam. – The Vietcong employed a 77 day siege against the U.S. military base at Khe Sanh to divert attention. – Tet is the Vietnamese New Year & there was usually a cease fire. – Using surprise, 84,000 Communist soldiers attacked 12 U.S. military bases & over 100 South Vietnamese cities. Effects: – Ended the hope for an end to the war with a U.S. victory. – Respected TV anchor, Walter Cronkite, criticized the effort, causing much concern for Americans.

3. Tet Offensive

4. Election of 1968 President Johnson chose not to run for re-election. – 75% of Americans disapproved of how he handled the war. – Division in the Democratic party. – Intense media criticisms of Johnson. Presidential candidate, Robert Kennedy, was assassinated in Los Angeles, Sirhan

5. 1968 Election Con’t. Protesters at the Democratic Convention tried to influence the candidates to reject Johnson’s war policies. – Chicago mayor, Richard Daley, had to dispatch 1000’s of police & National Guard to disperse the protesters. Dem. Hubert Humphrey, Rep. Richard Nixon, Ind. George Wallace.

6. Election Results