1968+The+Turning+Point


 * __1968 The Turning Point__**

__1968__ __Leading up to 1968__
 * Election year
 * Olympic year
 * Turing point for the Vietnam war
 * No clear cut winner in the war
 * increase in american forces in SE Asia
 * Viet Cong proved to be the guide force in South Vietnam
 * U.S tries to "pacify" South Vietnam
 * Optimistic reports are sent back
 * Mcnamara see "a light at the end of the tunnel"
 * Overall, the public still supported america in vietnam

__The Tet Offensive__
 * An attack on US strongholds tthroughout souther vietnam (15) by the Viet Cong
 * All events were broadcasted on TV
 * Walter Cronkite was voice of American people-he thought the war was unwinnable
 * Eventually developed into a U.S. victory
 * Shook the public
 * LBJ struggles- congress cuts his great society budget
 * US invovment in the war is openly criticized
 * New Defense Secretary states that the war seems unwinnable

__Public opionion changes__
 * The nation turns on Johnson
 * Johnson speaks about halting bombing
 * People are worried about US fetilities
 * April 4th, 1968- Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated
 * Riots develope in every major cities in U.S
 * Robert Kenney will run for the democratic party- he is anti-war and wants to unite the nation again
 * After winning California primary election, Robert Kennedy is shot and dies 26 hours later
 * 1968 Election- Democratic candidates are Eugene McCarthy and Hubert H. Humphrey
 * National TV broadcasts Chicago convention riots
 * Richard Nixon vs Hubert Humphrey (republican) vs Geoge Wallace (alabama governor, dixicrat) american independent
 * Close election
 * Nixon promises peace and honor