1968: A Tumultuous Year

1. Standard Addressed: 11.9 Students analyze U.S. foreign policy since World War II. Lesson Objectives: CHAPTER 22: Section 4 - 1968: A Tumultuous Year 1. Describe the Tet offensive and its effect on the American public. 2. Explain the domestic turbulence of 1968. 3. Describe the 1968 presidential election.

2. QUIZ! Fill in your ID NUMBER! First & Last Name CH-22-4

3. A BULLDOG ALWAYS Commitment Attitude CARES Respect Encouragement Safety

4. 1968: A Tumultuous Year An enemy attack in Vietnam, two assassinations, and a chaotic political convention make 1968 an explosive year. NEXT

5. A Surprise Attack: TET OFFENSIVE • Jan. 30th in the Vietnamese equivalent to New Years • 1968 villagers go to cities to celebrate Tet • During this time, safe travel was allowed between N and S Vietnam

6. A Surprise Attack: TET OFFENSIVE • Northern Vietnamese sent the coffins of dead soldiers back to S Vietnam • Inside the coffins were the bodies, but also weapons • In the month to follow, the Vietcong would use thee weapons to take over 100 cities in S Vietnam

7. A Surprise Attack: TET OFFENSIVE • The Vietcong also attack the US Embassy in Saigon (killing 5 Americans) • This month long surge would be called the Tet Offensive The Tet Offensive Turns the War

8. A Surprise Attack: TET OFFENSIVE • It takes the US 1 month to regain control • Westmoreland declares attacks are military defeat for Vietcong

9. Tet Offensive:Military Defeat & Propaganda Victory • "In all honesty, we didn't achieve our main objective, which was to spur uprisings throughout the South. • Hanoi had in no way anticipated the political and psychological effect the offensive would have on the leadership and population of the U.S. • When the northern leadership saw how the U.S. was reacting to the offensive, they began to propagandize their "victory". A Viet Cong guerrilla awaits interrogation following his capture in the attacks on Saigon.

10. Guided Reading:

11. Tet Changes Public Opinion • Before Tet, most Americans hawks; after Tet, hawks, doves both 40% • Mainstream media openly criticizes war • After studying situation, Clifford concludes war is unwinnable • LBJ’s popularity drops; 60% disapprove his handling of the war NEXT

12. Tet Changes Public Opinion: • This offensive changed public opinion very quickly • The media now openly criticized the war

13. Tet Changes Public Opinion: • McNamara -believed that the war was unwinnable • LBJ appoints Clark Clifford as new Secretary of Defense -believed that the war was unwinnable • Johnson’s popularity started to plummet to record lows (the media reinforced this)

14. Tet Offensive:Military Defeat & Propaganda Victory:American Press Despair

15. A – Why American support for the war change after the Tet offensive? The enemy seemed much stronger and more numerous that Americans had thought. MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS

16. In 1968 the Democratic Party was looking for someone to challenge Johnson and end the war Eugene McCarthy declared that he would run against Johnson and end the war • Senator Robert Kennedy enters race after LBJ’s poor showing in NH • Senator Eugene McCarthy runs for Democratic nomination as dove

17. Johnson Withdraws: • Johnson decided to drop out of the race after McCarthy gained almost as many votes • LBJ announces will seek peace talks, will not run for reelection • Johnson stated • “The war killed the lady I really loved – The Great Society”

18. B – Why did President Johnson decide not to run again? He believed that seeking a second term would cause further turmoil and divisiveness within the Democratic Party. MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS

19. Guided Reading:

20. Violence and Protest Grip the Nation: • Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King, Jr.was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on Thursday, April 4, 1968, at the age of 39. • Martin Luther King, Jr.Spoke against the war. • James Earl Ray entered a plea of guilty and was sentenced to 99 years in the Tennessee State Penitentiary. • Violent protests and riots swept the nation in over 100 cities

23. 1968

25. Guided Reading:

26. Violence and Protest Grip the Nation: • The assassination of Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy, a United States Senator, took place shortly after midnight on June 5, 1968, in Los Angeles, California, during the campaign season for the United States Presidential election, 1968. • After winning the California primary elections for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. • Sirhan Sirhan, a 24-year-old Palestinian/Jordanian immigrant, was convicted and is serving a life sentence for the crime. • Many campus protests began to turn violent • People were losing control and the government wasn’t sure just what to do

27. An atmosphere of violence in the country • Feelings of despair and hopelessness among his followers

28. Guided Reading:

29. C – Why was 1968 characterized as a year of “lost control” in America? Antiwar demonstrations, student takeovers of universities, and the assassination of two of the country’s leaders were unprecedented; People did not know how to control such events. MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS

30. SECTION 4 A Turbulent Race for President • Turmoil in Chicago • Vice-president Hubert Humphrey wins Democratic nomination • Over 10,000 demonstrators go to Chicago • Mayor Richard J. Daley mobilizes police, National Guard • Protesters try to march to convention; police beat them; rioting • Delegates to convention bitterly debate antiwar plank Continued . . . NEXT

31. The Democratic National Convention was in Chicago in 1968 • Eugene McCarthy and Hubert Humphrey were both pitted against one another • Vice-president Hubert Humphreywins Democratic nomination

32. Mayor Richard J. Daley mobilizes the police and National Guard

33. Turmoil in Chicago: • 10,000 protesters arrived; • 12,000 Chicago police and 5,000 National Guard were sent in • Before long things got ugly – rioters were sprayed with pepper spray and beaten with nightsticks

34. Guided Reading:

35. D – What were the reasons protesters demonstrated in Chicago? Some wanted to pressure Democrats to adopt an antiwar platform, others were displeased with Humphrey’s nomination, and Yippies (YIP) came to provoke violence to discredit the Democratic Party. MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS

36. SECTION 4 continued A Turbulent Race for President • Nixon Triumphs • Nixon works for party for years, wins 1968 Republican nomination • Campaign promises: restore law and order, end war in Vietnam • Governor George Wallace is third-party candidate • Champions segregation, • states’ rights; • attracts protest-weary whites • Nixon wins presidency NEXT

37. Nixon Triumphs: • In 1968, Richard Nixon announced his candidacy for president and won the party’s nomination • He campaigned on returning law and order • He also promised to end the war in Vietnam • He would win the presidency and eventually create even more protest and uproar within the country

38. Governor George Wallace • Governor George Wallace is third-party candidate • Champions segregation, • states’ rights; • attracts protest-weary white

39. Guided Reading:

40. QUIZ! Fill in your ID NUMBER! First & Last Name CH-22-4