20 th Century US History

1. 20th Century US History UNIT SEVEN – Americans in Vietnam, Part 1

2. UNIT 7, LESSON 11 AGENDA • Submit outlines • Work on outlines if incomplete • QUACK Chapter 7, finish for HW

3. UNIT 7, LESSON 12 AGENDA • Do Now – Reading Quiz, Chapter 7 • Honors/Warnings • Group Read – “For Further Consideration” • HW: Revise Outlines

4. Chapter 7 – Reading Quiz • What happened in My Lai on March 16th, 1968? • Only one American was hurt during the event. What was his injury? • How did the American public find out about the events at My Lai? • What was Lt. Calley’s main defense in the trial that followed My Lai? • Do you consider him guilty of violating the Geneva Convention (International Rules of War)?

5. Honors/Warnings • Cody • John • Caroline • Sam • Lukas • Adam

6. UNIT 7, LESSON 13 AGENDA • Do Now – Binder Check, Do you have….?? • Notes on Chapter 5, “The Gulf of Tonkin Incident” • Quiz 7.2 • Research Paper Outlines • Lecture – Chap 8, “The Tet Offensive & Domestic Policies” • Note Check • Research Paper Discussion • Who needs help?? • HW: QUACK Chapter 9

7. The Tet Offensive & Domestic Policies • Tet Offensive – surprise attack by the Vietcong on Saigon and 103 Vietnamese cities & towns, Jan. 30, 1968 • As a result, anti-war protesters claimed that: • 1. The US was engaged in an immoral war • 2. The US was supporting a corrupt and unpopular gov’t • 3. Amercans were killing the people they were supposed to be protecting (My Lai, air strikes, etc.)

8. The Tet Offensive & Domestic Policies • American Claims • By 1967, people see too little progress in Vietnam • LBJ’s response – reports saying… • 1. There was a decrease in attacks by the VC • 2. Hamlets were being “pacified” • 3. Fewer soldiers from the North were coming to the South • 4. The enemy was being killed in large numbers in battle • Wanted to reverse the public’s attitude towards the war • Did a better job fooling Americans than fooling the VC

9. The Tet Offensive & Domestic Policies • North Vietnamese Strategy • General Vo Nguyen Giap • Wants a dramatic attack to persuade the American public to end the war • Similar to the victory over the French at Dienbienphu • The timing • Tet – lunar New Year, longest and most important Vietnamese holiday • Good time for a surprise attack • Just before the New Hampshire presidential primary, 1968

10. The Tet Offensive & Domestic Policies • Preparations for the Tet Offensive • Massive movement of men (67k) and supplies over hundreds of miles of jungle • No plans, tanks, trucks, etc. • Completed right under the noses of Americans and South Vietnamese, but unknown • Saigon • American embassy nearly taken • Took weeks to remove all of the VC invaders • In the process Americans destroyed whole sections of Saigon • Shock to the American public, why??

11. The Tet Offensive & Domestic Policies • Counterattacks in Hue • City taken by the VC for a month • 10,000 soldiers and civilians killed in the fighting • The VC arrested and murdered 3,000 civilians for cooperating with Americans • Some Americans use this as justification for staying in the war • Overall • 165,000 Vietnamese civilians killed • 2,000,000 homes destroyed • American troops increased from 500,000 to 700,000 • VC badly beaten, but can they take it??

12. The Tet Offensive & Domestic Policies • Meanwhile…. The 1968 Election • Anti-war Democrat – Eugene McCarthy • Incumbent President – Lyndon Johnson • Popular Democratic Challenger – Robert Kennedy • Moderate Democratic Nominee – Hubert Humphrey • “Peace with Honor” Republican – Richard Nixon • Anti-Integrationist – Wallace

13. 1968 – Who is who??

14. The Tet Offensive & Domestic Policies • Review: • What happened during the Tet Offensive? • Why did it have a powerful effect on the American Public? • What are three points made by anti-war protesters?