The 1960’s and the War in Vietnam

Presidential Policies JFK New Frontier: John F. Kennedy’s plan to lead the United States into a new age of technology through exploration of space, culminating in a man landing on the moon. Alliance for Progress: A plan urging Latin American countries to improve the lives of its people, in return, the United States would provide aid to build schools, and hospitals and improve farming and sanitation services. Organization of American States: The method of promoting economic progress in the Americas by investing in transportation and industry. Lyndon Johnson The Great Society: A program aimed at creating a decent standard of living for every American. Officially declaring a war on poverty. Programs included Medicare, Medicaid, and job training programs for the unemployed. Loans were available for needy farmers, as well as businesses in poor areas. Programs were available to help build low and middle income housing. This program helped to aid the poor, but cost taxpayers a great deal of money. The Government grew in size and became more involved in the lives of people. Corruption also existed in many of these programs.

The History of Vietnam History of Vietnam The United States became involved in Vietnam slowly, over time after World War 2. The Country began as a French Colony the 1800’s. During the 1940’s Ho Chi Minh, a nationalist and Communist led a fight for independence and finally defeated the French in A peace conference divided the Country of Vietnam into two countries. Ho Chi Minh led the Communist North Vietnam, while Ngo Dinh Diem was the Non- Communist leader of South Vietnam. In the Cold War, the North would be supported by the Soviet Union, while the South was supported by the United States.

Causes of the War in Vietnam Diem (Leader of the south) quickly lost the support of the people, as many believed he favored the wealthy. As this fear of corruption grew, many peasants joined the Vietcong (Groups of South Vietnamese who did not wear uniforms and fought using Guerilla Warfare). In time the North Vietnamese supported the Vietcong Communists, and their influence spread throughout the south. The Growing success of the Vietcong worried American leaders. They believed that if the South fell to Communism, a domino theory would follow, and most of South Asia would fall to Communism. The United States decided to intervene to stop South Vietnam from falling. In the 1950’s and early 1960’s, The United States began to send financial and military aid to South Vietnam, as well as train soldiers. In November, 1963, both President Kennedy and Diem were assassinated.

The War Expands When Johnson is sworn in as president, he increases aid to Vietnam by sending guns and advisors, yet the Vietcong grew stronger. In August 1964, President Johnson announced that North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacked American ships. In response, at Johnson’s orders, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. The resolution allowed Johnson to take any necessary measures to prevent further aggression in Vietnam. He also used this to justify bombing North Vietnam, and areas in the south controlled by Vietcong. With this resolution, America’s role changed from military advisors to active fighters. By 1968, more than 500,000 troops were sent to fight in Vietnam.

Movements at Home Throughout the Cold War Period and the Vietnam War, new movements at home were changing the face of America. As a result of the Civil Rights Movement, The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed by President Johnson. This protected the right of all citizens to vote. It also outlawed discrimination in hiring and ended segregation in public places. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 allowed federal officials to register voters in state practicing discrimination. It also ended literacy tests for African-Americans and allowed tens of thousands of African-Americans to vote for the first time. Despite these changes a Black Power movement emerged. The Black Panthers and other radical groups told African-Americans to arm themselves to protect themselves and fight for their rights. Black Muslims such as Malcolm X argued that African Americans could only succeed if they separated from white society. Before his assassination however, he changed his views to a more moderate viewpoint in which he pushed for a white-black brotherhood. ( Photo source:

Results of the Movement By the 1970’s African-Americans began to win public offices in many cities. In 1967, Edward Brooke became the first black senator since Reconstruction. Affirmative Action was adopted by many businesses and Universities. The goal of these programs was to hire and promote minorities, women, and others who had faced discrimination. P Photo Source: Schoolworkhelper.net

The Women’s Rights Movement Women had spent centuries fighting for equality, but their drive for equal rights in the 1960’s has been known as the Women’s Rights Movement. In 1966 Betty Friedan helped to set up NOW or the National Organization for Women. This organization worked to help women gained equal education and pay. It also brought cases of discrimination against women to court. It encouraged women to be more politically active and even led protest marches. Equal Pay Act: Passed in 1963, this act demanded equal pay for equal work. Equal Rights Amendment: Passed by Congress in It banned discrimination based on gender, but unfortunately also meant women could be drafted into the Military, and many worried it would destroy the traditional family. Source: for-our-rights/the-women-s-rights-movement

Equality for All As an increase in Latin- American immigration took place, so to did an increase in the need for equal rights for this group. By the end of the 1970’s nearly 10 million Latinos lived in the United States. Many of these new immigrants worked as migrant workers, traveling from farm to farm, making low wages and facing harsh conditions. Mexican-Americans were often banned from better paying jobs, and nicer neighborhoods. Facing language barriers, many also found it difficult to gain an education. Lead by Cesar Chaves, many Latinos began to organize and gathered to register voters and elect more Latinos to promote their interests. Bilingual Elections were even held providing ballots in two languages. The Bilingual Education Acts of 1968 and 1973, promoted bilingual programs in public schools with Spanish-speaking and Asian students.