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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
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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
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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
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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
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1968 – A tumultuous year An explosive year Tet Offensive Assassinations Political chaos
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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
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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
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Democrats Divided Johnson would not run for re-election Two candidates – Robert F. Kennedy, Eugene McCarthy Democratic party had become a house divided
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Assassinations rock our nation April 4 th – Martin Luther King Jr. June 5 th – Robert F. Kennedy
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