1968



I could probabaly spend an entire week (or more) on 1968, and still leave out some important information about his key year in American history. Create a page on your notebook called "1968" and take some notes today focussing on this key question - Why was 1968 such a turning point in the Vietnam Era? As and after you take notes, make them powerful, engaging, interactive, and hyper by adding relative images, maps, and links. At the end of the notes, come up with some questions - both about the information discussed in class and questions about what will happen in the next few years!

Your notes will be evaluated ...

Do you have complete and detailed information?

Are your notes organized, with main topics identified and set apart from each other?

Did you add relevant images and links to support the information?

Did you pose some questions?

Leading up....

 * No clear cut winner in the war
 * Increase in American forces in SE Asia
 * Viet Cong proved to be guiding force in South VIetnam
 * US tries to pacify South Vietnam (be democratic)
 * Optimistic reports sent back so public still supported America in Vietnam
 * Mc Namara sees "a light at the end of the tunnel"

Tet Offensive

 * Attack on US strongholds throughout Southern Vietnam by the VC
 * War is televised
 * It failed, US won every battle, but shattered US support/ public opinion
 * Walter Cronkite, news reporter like a brother
 * How can we support this guy? [[image:http://www.lzcenter.com/Images/Nguyen%20Ngoc%20Loan%20executes%20Viet%20Cong%20Captain%20Nguyen%20Van%20Lem%20February%201%201968.jpg width="170" height="129"]]
 * LBJ struggles, Congress cuts his Great Society budget
 * US involvement is openly criticized
 * new Defense Secretary states that the war seems unwinnable

[]

LBJ says

 * March 31 he calls a partial stoppage of bombing in Vietnam
 * He's not running again in 1968

April 4

 * MLK is shot
 * Riots in every major city break out
 * Violence, looting, vandalism, the US is burning

RFK

 * Bobby Kennedy stands up in place of him
 * In June Bobby Kennedy is assassinated
 * [[image:http://bobby-kennedy.com/photos/amb/rfk-death.jpg width="203" height="165"]]
 * media type="youtube" key="JAIGQzVUnOs" height="283" width="378"

DNC

 * Democratic conference
 * Election is chaos
 * Fights break out
 * Mayor of Chicago orders police to beat the protestors, all was televised

68 Election

 * Chaos at the convention
 * All of it is televised
 * Nixon becomes President
 * PEACE AND HONOR is his slogan