23.1968

=1968= why was 1968 such a turning point in Vietnam Era?

leading up to 1968: President LBJ remained determined- always pushed for a great society The Tet Offensive: a holiday
 * no clear winner of the war
 * increase in american forces in the SE Asia
 * Viet Cong proved to be the guiding force in south vietnam
 * us tries to "pacify" south vietnam
 * optimistic reports are sent back
 * MacNamara sees the end of the war
 * overall, the pubic still supported America in Vietnam
 * an attack on US strong holds throughout southern vietnam by the VC
 * super different than every other war- it is televised! everyone back in the US is seeing the war
 * north vietnam attacks several american places in south vietnam
 * 70,000 soldiers attacked the US soldiers
 * eventually developed in to a US victory! cuz they had flame throwing tanks
 * shook the public, who thought the enemy was close to defeat- thought war was almost over
 * LBJ blamed for the war not being almost over and we look like the bad guys
 * Americans are looking like the bad guys cuz the south vietnamese soldiers are terrible and we r fighting for them
 * congress cutes LBJs great society budget
 * LBJ is struggling!
 * Public opinion changes
 * us involvement in the war is openly criticized
 * new defense secretary states that the war seems unwinnable
 * the nation turns on johnson
 * johnson speaks about halting bombing and peace talks- says that he is done and wont run for president
 * 4 days later MLK is assassinated!- causing violence and riots in every city of the US! cities are burning!
 * John Kennedy steps up and he runs for president! He helps united the nation
 * KENNEDY IS ASSASSINATED! - he would have won!
 * now it is McCarthy vs. Humphrey
 * the 1968 election: RIOTS AND POLICE AND BEATING AND YELLING AND SWEARING! - all on tv!!!
 * Humphrey (democrat) gets the vote and Nixon (republican) gets the nomination, wallace gets the third party
 * olympics! black power
 * NIXON WINS wins by less than a million votes
 * nixon: peace and honor!!!
 * important: public view of war is going down!