1968
Leading Up To 1968
Peak of U.S. Forces in Vietnam was in 1968 and 1969, 2.5 Million U.S. Soldiers in Vietnam
Fulbright Hearings in Congress
http://www.c-span.org/video/?181065-1/vietnam-war-hearing-1971
The Tet Offensive
- No clear cut winner
- Increase in American forces to southeast Asia
- Viet Cong proved to be the guiding force in South Vietnam
- US tries "pacify" South Vietnam
- Opposition to war is beginning
Peak of U.S. Forces in Vietnam was in 1968 and 1969, 2.5 Million U.S. Soldiers in Vietnam
Fulbright Hearings in Congress
http://www.c-span.org/video/?181065-1/vietnam-war-hearing-1971
The Tet Offensive
- On January 31st of 1968, 70,000 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces launched the Tet Offensive, which was a series of attacks on over 100 towns and cities in Southern Vietnam
- It was an attempt by the leader or the Communist people's army of Vietnam to foment rebellion among the southern vietnamese and encourage the U.S. to stop supporting the Saigon regime
- They managed to hold off attacks from the PAVN, and the news coverage of the they offensive shocked and dismayed the people of America
- People began to strongly oppose the war and tried to get rid of support for it
- Spokesperson of America, very important figure
1968 pulitzer prize winning photograph is very powerful, and the winner refuses his award because two people died on that day- The man on the right, and the man on the left's career.
US involvement openly criticized new Defense secretary states that war seems unwinnable
Johnson Speaks about halting and bombing
Martin Luther King Jr. Is Assassinated
Robert Kennedy is Shot
Johnson Speaks about halting and bombing
Martin Luther King Jr. Is Assassinated
- Riots in over 100 cities
- US In a leadership vacuum
Robert Kennedy is Shot
- Bobby kennedy is the favorite to win the election, but is assassinated
1968 Olympics
- First time the Olympics were used for political protest
Richard Nixon wins the election. It was an extremely close election, and America was split.