22.2: United States involvement & escalation in Vietnam 22.4 – 1968: Tumultuous Year

1. 22.2: United States involvement & escalation in Vietnam22.4 – 1968: Tumultuous Year Predications Describe the meaning of the term “home field advantage” in sports. Let’s apply it to war . . . Let’s predict – advantages and disadvantages each side had in Vietnam The United States Vietnam – North & South

2. Involvement & EscalationWar of Attrition • U.S. strategy against Vietcong – destroy their morale • Wear them down by continuous harassment • Both countries viewed conflict differently • U.S. saw it as strictly a military struggle • Vietcong it was a battle for existence – would pay any price for victory

3. U.S. winning hearts & minds • To keep the Vietcong from winning South Vietnam support • Win the people over – no place for communists to hide • Use of napalm, Agent Orange • Search and destroy missions • Displaced 3 million South Vietnamese civilians • Destroying towns in order to save them

4. U.S. morale sinks • Conditions took toll on U.S. troops • Soldiers turned to alcohol, marijuana, other drugs to cope • The war had become the “living room” war – shown on t.v. • Contradicted the governments optimistic scenario

5. 1968 – A tumultuous year An explosive year • Tet Offensive • Assassinations • Political chaos

6. Tet Offensive – stuns American public • Credibility gap – told America is winning the war • Surprise attacks by Vietcong & North Vietnamese army • Ends in military defeat for the North Vietnamese • Outrages the American public

7. Johnson’s Presidency lost • LBJ’s popularity plummets • February 1968 – 60% of Americans disapproved of his handling of the war • Over half the country thought sending troops to Vietnam had been a mistake

8. Democrats Divided • Johnson would not run for re-election • Two candidates – Robert F. Kennedy, Eugene McCarthy • Democratic party had become a house divided

9. Assassinations rock our nation • April 4th – Martin Luther King Jr. • June 5th – Robert F. Kennedy