22.2: United States involvement & escalation in Vietnam 22.4 – 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

Involvement & Escalation War 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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