1. US in Decline
Is Communism Winning?

2. Timelines US Vietnam 1919-Petition rejected in Treaty discussions
1954-French leave; US protector of South
1964-Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
1965-Operation Rolling Thunder
1965-First war protests: Teach- ins
1968-Tet Offensive
1968-Johnson not run/Nixon becomes President
1969-Vietnamization
1969-US learns of My Lai Massacre
1970-Invasion of Cambodia
1973-Peace Accord
1919-Petition rejected in Treaty discussions
1941-Groups organized to oppose Japanese
1954-Defeat of French
1956-Geneva Accord disregarded
1963-Overthrow of Diem
1968-Tet Offensive
1969-US troops start to leave
1972-Christmas Bombings
1973-Peace Accord
1975-Country Unified US
Vietnam

3. US Thesis
Despite overwhelming economic and military superiority and thirty years of effort, the US was not able to contain communism in Vietnam. The US ended up failing in its efforts due to the lack of a cohesive plan for victory and the American people’s growing disdain for the costs (economic and personal) of the Vietnam War. Despite the fall of Vietnam to communism, other countries in the region did not fall to communism (Domino Theory). However the US did fall into a period of economic problems partially attributable to the excessive cost of the war.

4. Vietnam Thesis
Through determination and willingness to withstand the military might of the French, the Japanese and the US, Vietnam was able to reunify its country in 1975 under a communist government. Although they could not match the economic or military power of the US, the North Vietnamese were able to win due to staying power, guerilla warfare and exploiting America’s increasing frustrations with the war.

5. Class Task
At your tables you have information that provides a summary of the important events from the 1970’s and 1980’s. Each table will be assigned the task of creating a list of the top ten events of one of the two decades. Your first task should be to determine a rationale for how you are creating the list. For the last 30 minutes of class, we will compare the lists and discuss how you decided what events were important. We will then compare your list with my list of events.

6. Vietnam
Led to massive protests in US-especially on college campuses: Kent State killings
Paris Peace Accord January 27, 1973
South Vietnam Falls April 29, 1975

7. Economic Arab Oil Embargo
Recession of 1974GDP-Real (Adjusted) United States
Stagflation-high unemployment and high inflation Historical Inflation data from to the present
U.S. Unemployment Rate: SA, Percent

8. Presidency Nixon Re-elected in 1972 in a landslide
Silent Majority YouTube - Richard Nixon 1969 Great Silent Majority
Watergate
Nixon resigns YouTube - Nixon resignation
Ford
Carter- What is the appeal of Jimmy Carter?

9. Iranian Hostage Crisis
State sponsored terrorism
YouTube - The Iranian Hostage Crisis

10. Other Notable Events Nixon visits Mao in China
Richard Nixon on the benefits of his visit:
"This was the week that changed the world, as what we have said in that Communique is not nearly as important as what we will do in the years ahead to build a bridge across 16,000 miles and 22 years of hostilities which have divided us in the past. And what we have said today is that we shall build that bridge.”
In 1979, we established full diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China
What has this visit led to? What are our current relations with China?

11. Other Notable Events
Roe v Wade YouTube - Roe v. Wade in PBS' The Supreme Court
3 Mile Island NRC: Fact Sheet on the Three Mile Island Accident
Secretariat YouTube - Secretariat - Belmont Stakes 1973
Dodgers Lose World Series Three Times

12. Class Top Ten Events
I would like you to get in groups of 4 and develop a consensus on the top 10 events from the 1970’s.
We will then compare those to my list.

13. My Top Ten Events 1970’s 10. Earth Day 9. 3 Mile Island
8. Paris Peace Accords
7. Nixon Resigns
6. Camp David Peace Accords
5. Roe v Wade Court Decision
4. Iranian Hostage Crisis
3. Arab Oil Embargo
2. Nixon visits China
1. Microprocessor Age

14. My Top Ten Events 1980’s 10 Miracle on Ice 9 S&L Bailout
8 Nuclear Treaty with Russia
7 Tax Cuts
6 Amnesty for Immigrants
5 Terrorist Bomb in Beirut
4 Iran Contra
3 Reagan Gorbachev Meeting
2 IBM PC
1 Berlin Wall Falls