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Vietnam Divides the Nation

Vietnam Divides the Nation. Civil Rights and the Vietnam War Day 3 Notes. So we are in Vietnam…. And there is some crazy stuff going on…. The Credibility Gap. When American troops first entered Vietnam in 1965, many Americans supported the war.

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Vietnam Divides the Nation

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  1. Vietnam Divides the Nation Civil Rights and the Vietnam War Day 3 Notes

  2. So we are in Vietnam….

  3. And there is some crazy stuff going on…

  4. The Credibility Gap • When American troops first entered Vietnam in 1965, many Americans supported the war. • As the war dragged on, public support decreased. Americans began to question the government and believed a credibility gap had developed.

  5. Government Mistrust… • The credibility gap made it difficult to believe what Lyndon Johnson’s administration said about the war. • Government keeps reporting enemy is close to be defeated. News shows dead and wounded American soldiers every day.

  6. Key Question: Does a credibility gap exist in society today?

  7. Anti-War Movement Emerges • Many Americans, especially college students, began to publicly protest the war. • Example: faculty and students at the University of Michigan abandon classes in March 1965 for first teach-in, to voice opposition to the war. • Many more follow.

  8. Other forms of protest… • Many protest the draft system which exempted college students. Many minorities were forced to serve as a result. Many people moved to Canada to dodge draft. • Doves want the U.S. out of the war. • Hawks want the U.S. to stay and fight.

  9. Does the military still favor the privileged today? • In today's all-volunteer military, three of every five soldiers are white; two of every five are African-American, Hispanic or other (Asian, Native American or Pacific Islander). This force is not fully representative of America: proportionately, there are more African-American, Latinos, and working class people in the military than in American society. The wealthy and the very poor are underrepresented. (Statistics from the Department of Defense's Population Representation in the Military Services, as reported in the New York Times, 3/3/03.)

  10. 1968: The Pivotal Year In Vietnam • January 30, 1968, during Tet, the Vietnamese attack U.S. troops. Called the Tet Offensive. • Vietcong still get defeated. • Disastrous for U.S. leaders who keep claiming the North is very weak. • Lyndon Johnson does not seek re-election because of his low approval ratings. • Senator Robert Kennedy is running for Democratic nomination as a “dove” candidate.

  11. 1968: A Pivotal Year in the U.S. • In April, MLK is assassinated. Two months later, Robert Kennedy is also assassinated. • In August, protesters clash with police at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. • Richard Nixon benefits from the chaos, running a message of restoring order and ending the war in Vietnam. • He is elected president in November.

  12. Which was the most influential event of 1968? • Tet Offensive • MLK Assassinated • Robert Kennedy Assassinated • Riots at the Democratic National Convention • Richard Nixon elected President

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