expanding the liberal state

Expanding the Liberal StateExpanding the Liberal State

Campaign of 1960 produced two young candidates Campaign of 1960 produced two young candidates who claimed to offer the nation active leadership, who claimed to offer the nation active leadership, Republican nomination went to Vice President Republican nomination went to Vice President Richard Nixon and Democrats choose John F. Richard Nixon and Democrats choose John F. Kennedy, Kennedy premised his campaign on the Kennedy, Kennedy premised his campaign on the assumption that “the American people are uneasy assumption that “the American people are uneasy at the present drift in our nation’s course”, he was at the present drift in our nation’s course”, he was able to overcome doubts about his young age of 43 able to overcome doubts about his young age of 43 and his Catholic religion to win the popular and and his Catholic religion to win the popular and electoral voteelectoral vote

Election of 1960Election of 1960


Kennedy campaigned on his program called the Kennedy campaigned on his program called the “New Frontier”, but a Congress dominated by a “New Frontier”, but a Congress dominated by a coalition of Republicans and conservative coalition of Republicans and conservative Democrats frustrated many of his hopes, did Democrats frustrated many of his hopes, did mange to win approval if a tariff reductions and mange to win approval if a tariff reductions and began to build an ambitious legislative agenda, began to build an ambitious legislative agenda, Kennedy made his own personality an integral Kennedy made his own personality an integral part of his presidency and a central focus of part of his presidency and a central focus of national attentionnational attention


On November 22,1963 Kennedy was shot in On November 22,1963 Kennedy was shot in twice and killed by Lee Harvey Oswald, twice and killed by Lee Harvey Oswald, Oswald was murdered two days later by a Oswald was murdered two days later by a nightclub owner John Ruby while he was nightclub owner John Ruby while he was being moved from one jail cell to another, being moved from one jail cell to another, Chief Justice Earl Warren was appointed to Chief Justice Earl Warren was appointed to investigate the assassination and found that investigate the assassination and found that Oswald and Ruby had acted alone and there Oswald and Ruby had acted alone and there was no larger conspiracywas no larger conspiracy


Johnson believed in the active use of Johnson believed in the active use of power, between 1963 and 1966 he power, between 1963 and 1966 he complied the most impressive legislative complied the most impressive legislative record of any president since Franklin record of any president since Franklin Roosevelt, aided by the large amount of Roosevelt, aided by the large amount of emotion that followed the death of emotion that followed the death of Kennedy, he was able to win support of Kennedy, he was able to win support of many of the New Frontier proposalsmany of the New Frontier proposals


Johnson made his own reform program, Johnson made his own reform program, which he called the “Great Society” which he called the “Great Society” Johnson considered himself as the Johnson considered himself as the “coalition builder” he wanted the support of “coalition builder” he wanted the support of everyone and for a time he nearly got it, in everyone and for a time he nearly got it, in the 1964 election Johnson received a the 1964 election Johnson received a larger plurality (over 61%) than any larger plurality (over 61%) than any candidate before or sincecandidate before or since


For the first time since the 1930s the For the first time since the 1930s the federal government took steps to create federal government took steps to create important new social welfare programs, important new social welfare programs, the most important being Medicare a the most important being Medicare a program to help aid the elderly for medical program to help aid the elderly for medical expenses, it shifted responsibility for expenses, it shifted responsibility for paying fees from the patient to the paying fees from the patient to the governmentgovernment


Medicaid was a program that extended Medicaid was a program that extended federal medical assistance to welfare federal medical assistance to welfare recipients and other indigent people of all recipients and other indigent people of all agesages


The centerpiece of the “war on poverty” was the The centerpiece of the “war on poverty” was the Office of Economic Opportunity that created an Office of Economic Opportunity that created an array of new educational, employment, housing array of new educational, employment, housing and health care programs, but the OEO was and health care programs, but the OEO was controversial because of its commitment to the controversial because of its commitment to the idea of Community Action which was an effort to idea of Community Action which was an effort to involve members of poor communities in the involve members of poor communities in the planning and administration of the programs planning and administration of the programs designed to help themdesigned to help them..


TThe programs provided jobs and gave he programs provided jobs and gave them valuable experience in administrative them valuable experience in administrative and political work, but funding was and political work, but funding was inadequate from the beginning and the inadequate from the beginning and the weaknesses in the programs helped the weaknesses in the programs helped the program to dwindle as the years passedprogram to dwindle as the years passed


Housing Act of 1961 offered $4.9 billion in Housing Act of 1961 offered $4.9 billion in federal grants to cites for the preservations federal grants to cites for the preservations of open spaces, development of mass-of open spaces, development of mass-transit systems and the subsidization of transit systems and the subsidization of middle-income housingmiddle-income housing


Elementary and Secondary Education Act Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and a series of subsequent of 1965 and a series of subsequent measures extended aid to both private and measures extended aid to both private and parochial schools and based the aid on parochial schools and based the aid on the economic needs of the students, not the economic needs of the students, not the schoolsthe schools


Immigration Act of 1965 maintained a strict Immigration Act of 1965 maintained a strict limit on the number of newcomers limit on the number of newcomers admitted to the country each year admitted to the country each year (170,000) but eliminated the national (170,000) but eliminated the national origins system established in the 1920sorigins system established in the 1920s


In 1962 Johnson won passage of the In 1962 Johnson won passage of the $11.5 billion tax cut that Kennedy first $11.5 billion tax cut that Kennedy first proposed in 1962, the tax cut increased proposed in 1962, the tax cut increased the federal deficit but substantial economic the federal deficit but substantial economic growth over the next several years made growth over the next several years made up for much of the revenue initially lostup for much of the revenue initially lost


The high costs of the Great Society The high costs of the Great Society programs, deficiencies and failures of programs, deficiencies and failures of many of them and the inability of the many of them and the inability of the government to find revenues to pay for government to find revenues to pay for them contributed to the growing them contributed to the growing disillusionment in the later years with the disillusionment in the later years with the federal efforts to help social problemsfederal efforts to help social problems


But despites its many failures the Great But despites its many failures the Great Society significantly reduced hunger in the Society significantly reduced hunger in the US, made medical care available to US, made medical care available to millions of elderly and poor people and millions of elderly and poor people and contributed to the greatest reduction in contributed to the greatest reduction in poverty in American historypoverty in American history

The Battle for Racial EqualityThe Battle for Racial Equality

The nation’s most important domestic The nation’s most important domestic initiative in the 1960s was the effort to initiative in the 1960s was the effort to provide justice and equality to African provide justice and equality to African AmericansAmericans


Kennedy’s intervention in the 1960 Kennedy’s intervention in the 1960 campaign to get MLK out of jail helped him campaign to get MLK out of jail helped him win a large majority of the black vote, but win a large majority of the black vote, but he feared alienating southern Democratic he feared alienating southern Democratic voters and powerful southern Democrats voters and powerful southern Democrats in Congressin Congress


In February 1960, In February 1960, black college black college students in students in Greensboro, NC Greensboro, NC staged a sit-in at a staged a sit-in at a segregated lunch segregated lunch counter and in the counter and in the similar similar demonstrations demonstrations spread throughout spread throughout the Souththe South

The Battle for Racial EqualityThe Battle for Racial Equality Congress of Racial Congress of Racial

Equality (CORE) Equality (CORE) began freedom rides, began freedom rides, traveling by bus traveling by bus throughout the South, throughout the South, the freedom riders the freedom riders tried to force the tried to force the desegregation of bus desegregation of bus stations, Kennedy stations, Kennedy ordered the ordered the integration of all bus integration of all bus and train stationsand train stations


In October 19062, a federal court ordered In October 19062, a federal court ordered the University of Mississippi to enroll its the University of Mississippi to enroll its first black student, James Meredith, but first black student, James Meredith, but Governor Ross Barnett, a strident Governor Ross Barnett, a strident segregationist, refused to enforce the segregationist, refused to enforce the order, Kennedy sent federal troops over to order, Kennedy sent federal troops over to protect Meredith’s right to go to University protect Meredith’s right to go to University


In April MLK helped launch a series of non In April MLK helped launch a series of non violent demonstrations in Birmingham, violent demonstrations in Birmingham, Police Commissioner Connor personally Police Commissioner Connor personally supervised a brutal attack to break up the supervised a brutal attack to break up the peaceful marches, arresting hundreds of peaceful marches, arresting hundreds of demonstrators and using attack dogs, tear demonstrators and using attack dogs, tear gas, electric cattle, and fire hoses as much gas, electric cattle, and fire hoses as much of the nation watched on TVof the nation watched on TV


Governor George Wallace pledged to Governor George Wallace pledged to stand in the doorway of a building at the stand in the doorway of a building at the University of Alabama to prevent the court University of Alabama to prevent the court ordered enrollment of several blacks, only ordered enrollment of several blacks, only after the arrival of federal marshals and a after the arrival of federal marshals and a visit from the Attorney General did Wallace visit from the Attorney General did Wallace give awaygive away


Kennedy introduced a series of new Kennedy introduced a series of new legislative proposals prohibiting legislative proposals prohibiting segregation in public accommodations, segregation in public accommodations, barring discrimination in employment, barring discrimination in employment, increase the power of the government to increase the power of the government to file suits on behalf of school segregationfile suits on behalf of school segregation


March on Washington 200, 000 March on Washington 200, 000 demonstrators greatest civil rights demonstrators greatest civil rights demonstration in the nation’s history, MLK demonstration in the nation’s history, MLK gave his “I Have a Dream” speech, the gave his “I Have a Dream” speech, the march was the high mark of the peaceful, march was the high mark of the peaceful, interracial civil rights movementinterracial civil rights movement


1964 after Johnson applied both public 1964 after Johnson applied both public and private pressure, Senate finally and private pressure, Senate finally passed the most comprehensive civil passed the most comprehensive civil rights bill historyrights bill history


Freedom Summer was a campaign on Freedom Summer was a campaign on behalf of black voter registration and behalf of black voter registration and participation, produced a violent response participation, produced a violent response from the southern whites, three of the first from the southern whites, three of the first freedom workers to arrive in the South freedom workers to arrive in the South were brutally murdered by the Ku Klux were brutally murdered by the Ku Klux Klan with the support of the local police Klan with the support of the local police officers and othersofficers and others


Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) was an integrated alternative to (MFDP) was an integrated alternative to the regular state party organization, the regular state party organization, Fannie Lou Hammer challenged the Fannie Lou Hammer challenged the regular party’s right to its seats at the regular party’s right to its seats at the Democratic Convention, but the regular Democratic Convention, but the regular party retained its official standing party retained its official standing


In Selma, Alabama Jim Clark led local In Selma, Alabama Jim Clark led local police in a brutal attack on demonstrators, police in a brutal attack on demonstrators, the national coverage of the events helped the national coverage of the events helped push Lyndon Johnson to propose and win push Lyndon Johnson to propose and win the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1965 the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1965 which provided federal protection to blacks which provided federal protection to blacks attempting to voteattempting to vote


By the 1960s the problem of racial By the 1960s the problem of racial injustice was no longer primarily in the injustice was no longer primarily in the south, by 1966, 69% of American blacks south, by 1966, 69% of American blacks were living in metropolitan areas and 45% were living in metropolitan areas and 45% outside the south, poor urban communities outside the south, poor urban communities in which the black population was in which the black population was concentrated things were getting concentrated things were getting significantly worse.significantly worse.


HHalf of all American nonwhites lived in alf of all American nonwhites lived in poverty, and black unemployment was poverty, and black unemployment was twice that of whites, de jure segregation twice that of whites, de jure segregation was segregation by law while de facto was segregation by law while de facto segregation was segregation in practice, segregation was segregation in practice, through residential patterns through residential patterns


Affirmative Action: employers should not Affirmative Action: employers should not only abandon negative measure to deny only abandon negative measure to deny jobs to blacks, they should adopt positive jobs to blacks, they should adopt positive measures to recruit minorities, in the measures to recruit minorities, in the Chicago Campaign they hoped to direct Chicago Campaign they hoped to direct national attention to housing and national attention to housing and employment discrimination in northern employment discrimination in northern industrial cities, but it was a failureindustrial cities, but it was a failure


Watts Los Angeles Race Riot: storm of Watts Los Angeles Race Riot: storm of anger and a week of violence triggered by anger and a week of violence triggered by a police officer striking a protesting black a police officer striking a protesting black bystander, eventually National Guard was bystander, eventually National Guard was called in, in the end 34 people died and as called in, in the end 34 people died and as many as 10,000 people were thought to be many as 10,000 people were thought to be involvedinvolved


In the summer of 1966, there were 43 In the summer of 1966, there were 43 additional outbreaks, the most serious of additional outbreaks, the most serious of them in Cleveland and Chicago, them in Cleveland and Chicago, Commission on Civil Disorders: created by Commission on Civil Disorders: created by the president in response to the the president in response to the disturbances, recommended massive disturbances, recommended massive spending to eliminate the abysmal spending to eliminate the abysmal conditions of the ghettos conditions of the ghettos


Black Power: moving away from interracial Black Power: moving away from interracial cooperation toward increased awareness of cooperation toward increased awareness of racial distinctiveness, instilling racial pride in racial distinctiveness, instilling racial pride in African Americans, encouraged education, African Americans, encouraged education, literary and artistic movements, new interest in literary and artistic movements, new interest in roots, led to rejection by some blacks of certain roots, led to rejection by some blacks of certain cultural practices borrowed from white society, cultural practices borrowed from white society, traditional black organizations that emphasized traditional black organizations that emphasized cooperation with sympathetic whites were facing cooperation with sympathetic whites were facing competition from more radical groups competition from more radical groups


The Black Panther Party promised to The Black Panther Party promised to defend black rights even if that required defend black rights even if that required violence, wore weapons openly, the Nation violence, wore weapons openly, the Nation of Islam taught blacks to take of Islam taught blacks to take responsibility for their own lives, to be responsibility for their own lives, to be disciplined, live by strict codes of behavior, disciplined, live by strict codes of behavior, reject dependence on whitesreject dependence on whites..

Malcolm X was the most celebrated black Malcolm X was the most celebrated black Muslim, opposed all forms of racism and Muslim, opposed all forms of racism and oppression, blacks had the right to defend oppression, blacks had the right to defend themselves, Malcolm died in 1965 when themselves, Malcolm died in 1965 when black gunman, presumably under orders black gunman, presumably under orders from rivals within the Nation of Islam, from rivals within the Nation of Islam, assassinated him in New Yorkassassinated him in New York


““Flexible Response” and the Flexible Response” and the Cold WarCold War

The Kennedy administration entered office The Kennedy administration entered office convinced the US needed to be able to counter convinced the US needed to be able to counter communist in other ways than atomic weapons, communist in other ways than atomic weapons, Kennedy supported expansion of Special Forces Kennedy supported expansion of Special Forces (green berets) who were soldiers trained (green berets) who were soldiers trained specifically to fight guerrilla conflicts and other specifically to fight guerrilla conflicts and other limited wars limited wars

“Communist domination in this hemisphere can never be negotiated”

John F. Kennedy


Alliance for Progress was a series of Alliance for Progress was a series of projects for peaceful development and projects for peaceful development and stabilization of the nations in Latin America, stabilization of the nations in Latin America, the Agency for International Development the Agency for International Development (AID) was to coordinate foreign aid, (AID) was to coordinate foreign aid, Kennedy established the Peace Corps, Kennedy established the Peace Corps, which was young American volunteers which was young American volunteers aboard to work in developing countries aboard to work in developing countries


The Eisenhower administration had The Eisenhower administration had started the project and by the time started the project and by the time Kennedy took office, the CIA had been Kennedy took office, the CIA had been working for months to train a small army of working for months to train a small army of anti-Castro Cuban exiles Central America anti-Castro Cuban exiles Central America


1961: 2,000 armed exiles landed at the 1961: 2,000 armed exiles landed at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba expecting American Bay of Pigs in Cuba expecting American air support and than a spontaneous air support and than a spontaneous uprising by the Cuban people-at the last uprising by the Cuban people-at the last minute Kennedy withdrew air support and minute Kennedy withdrew air support and within 2 days the entire mission collapsedwithin 2 days the entire mission collapsed


Khrushchev was unhappy about the mass Khrushchev was unhappy about the mass exodus of residents of East Germany to exodus of residents of East Germany to the West- constructed a wall between East the West- constructed a wall between East and West Berlin, for nearly 30 years the and West Berlin, for nearly 30 years the Berlin Wall served as the most potent Berlin Wall served as the most potent physical symbol of the conflict between the physical symbol of the conflict between the communist and noncommunist worldscommunist and noncommunist worlds


Aerial reconnaissance photos produced Aerial reconnaissance photos produced evidence that the Soviet Union was evidence that the Soviet Union was constructing sites on the island of Cuba for constructing sites on the island of Cuba for offensive nuclear weapons, Kennedy offensive nuclear weapons, Kennedy ordered a naval and air blockade around ordered a naval and air blockade around Cuba, Crisis ended when soviets agreed Cuba, Crisis ended when soviets agreed to remove the missilesto remove the missiles


Lyndon Johnson entered the presidency Lyndon Johnson entered the presidency lacking even Kennedy’s limited prior lacking even Kennedy’s limited prior experience with international affairs, he experience with international affairs, he wanted to prove quickly that he too was a wanted to prove quickly that he too was a strong and forceful leader strong and forceful leader


Internal rebellion in the Dominican Internal rebellion in the Dominican Republic was caused by an assassination Republic was caused by an assassination of repressive dictatorship of Trujillo, of repressive dictatorship of Trujillo, Johnson argued that Bosch planned to Johnson argued that Bosch planned to establish a pro-Castro communist regime, establish a pro-Castro communist regime, troops sent to quell the disorder troops sent to quell the disorder

The Agony of VietnamThe Agony of Vietnam

George Kennan who helped write the George Kennan who helped write the document that who send the US into the document that who send the US into the war with Vietnam once called the conflict war with Vietnam once called the conflict “the most disastrous of all American’s “the most disastrous of all American’s undertakings over the whole 200 years of undertakings over the whole 200 years of its history” its history”

The War in Vietnam and Indochina


After WWII French wanted to reassert their After WWII French wanted to reassert their control over Vietnam, powerful nationalist control over Vietnam, powerful nationalist movement within Vietnam committed to movement within Vietnam committed to creating independent nation challenged them, creating independent nation challenged them, Vietminh was a nationalist political party led Vietminh was a nationalist political party led by Ho Chi Minh, had fought against Japan by Ho Chi Minh, had fought against Japan throughout World War II, Ho Chi Minh began throughout World War II, Ho Chi Minh began asking Truman for support in his struggle asking Truman for support in his struggle against the French- the US did nothing to stop against the French- the US did nothing to stop the Frenchthe French


At first the French had little difficulty At first the French had little difficulty reestablishing control, but the Vietminh reestablishing control, but the Vietminh continued to challenge the French continued to challenge the French dominated regime and slowly increased its dominated regime and slowly increased its control over large areas of the countryside, control over large areas of the countryside, in 1950 Truman administration formally in 1950 Truman administration formally recognized the Bao Dai regime, agreed to recognized the Bao Dai regime, agreed to provide it with direct military economic aid provide it with direct military economic aid


First Indochina war- the US continued to First Indochina war- the US continued to support the French military, the US was support the French military, the US was paying 80% of France’s war costs, French paying 80% of France’s war costs, French lost at Dien Bien Phu, at the Geneva lost at Dien Bien Phu, at the Geneva Conference an agreement was produced to Conference an agreement was produced to end the Vietnam conflict, cease-fire in the end the Vietnam conflict, cease-fire in the war, Vietnam partitioned along the 17war, Vietnam partitioned along the 17 thth parallel, Vietminh in control of North Vietnam, parallel, Vietminh in control of North Vietnam, pro-Western regime in control of the Southpro-Western regime in control of the South


Vietminh was the heart of traditional Vietminh was the heart of traditional Vietnamese society, traditional villages, Vietnamese society, traditional villages, poorest region, famine, committed to the poorest region, famine, committed to the unification of the nation, South Vietnam unification of the nation, South Vietnam recently settled, plentiful land, highly recently settled, plentiful land, highly fractionalized religiously, politically and fractionalized religiously, politically and ethnically, prosperous, fertile, much less ethnically, prosperous, fertile, much less fervent commitment to national unificationfervent commitment to national unification..


Diem led the south, American government Diem led the south, American government supported him, the US poured military and supported him, the US poured military and economic aid into South Vietnam, by 1956 economic aid into South Vietnam, by 1956 it was the second largest recipient of it was the second largest recipient of American military aid in the world after American military aid in the world after KoreaKorea


National Liberation Front known to many National Liberation Front known to many Americans as Viet Cong, organization Americans as Viet Cong, organization closely allied with the North Vietnamese closely allied with the North Vietnamese government, committed to overthrowing government, committed to overthrowing the “puppet regime” of Diem and reuniting the “puppet regime” of Diem and reuniting the nationthe nation..


TThe NLF began military operations in the he NLF began military operations in the South, were very successful at South, were very successful at destabilizing the Diem regime, they were destabilizing the Diem regime, they were killing over 4,000 government officials a killing over 4,000 government officials a year and establishing effective control over year and establishing effective control over the countryside, marked the beginning of the countryside, marked the beginning of the Second Indochina War, Diem tried to the Second Indochina War, Diem tried to suppress Buddhists, and convert them to suppress Buddhists, and convert them to CatholicismCatholicism


Kennedy approved a plot to topple Diem, Kennedy approved a plot to topple Diem, assassinated-established new governments, these assassinated-established new governments, these governments however were even less stable then governments however were even less stable then the one they had overthrown, Lyndon Johnson the one they had overthrown, Lyndon Johnson expanded US military involvement in the war, he expanded US military involvement in the war, he faced many pressures to expand American faced many pressures to expand American involvement in the war and very few to limit it, involvement in the war and very few to limit it, policy advisors believed US had an obligation to policy advisors believed US had an obligation to resist communism in Vietnam, it was a test of resist communism in Vietnam, it was a test of American willingness to fight communist aggressionAmerican willingness to fight communist aggression


At the Gulf of Tokin American destroyers At the Gulf of Tokin American destroyers supposedly attacked by North Vietnamese supposedly attacked by North Vietnamese torpedoes, the Gulf of Tokin Resolution torpedoes, the Gulf of Tokin Resolution authorized the president to take all necessary authorized the president to take all necessary measures to protect American forces and measures to protect American forces and prevent further aggression, the air war prevent further aggression, the air war intensified, 180,000 troops sent, 4,000 intensified, 180,000 troops sent, 4,000 Americans killed by 1966, ultimately the tonnage Americans killed by 1966, ultimately the tonnage of bombs dropped on North Vietnam would of bombs dropped on North Vietnam would exceed that in all theaters during World War IIexceed that in all theaters during World War II


In 1965 US created a reasonably stable In 1965 US created a reasonably stable government in the south under General government in the south under General Nguyen Van Thieu, but they were no less Nguyen Van Thieu, but they were no less corrupt or brutal then its predecessors and corrupt or brutal then its predecessors and no more able than they to establish its no more able than they to establish its authority in its own countryside, the Viet authority in its own countryside, the Viet Cong not the Thieu controlled the majority Cong not the Thieu controlled the majority of South Vietnam’s villages and hamletsof South Vietnam’s villages and hamlets


For more then 7 years American combat forces For more then 7 years American combat forces remained in a war that the US was never able to remained in a war that the US was never able to either win or fully understand, Secretary of either win or fully understand, Secretary of Defense McNamara seemed optimistic, attrition Defense McNamara seemed optimistic, attrition was the strategy premised on the belief that the was the strategy premised on the belief that the US could inflict so many casualties and so much US could inflict so many casualties and so much damage on the enemy that eventually they would damage on the enemy that eventually they would be unable and unwilling to continue the struggle, be unable and unwilling to continue the struggle, but this failed because the North Vietnamese but this failed because the North Vietnamese proved willing to commit many more soldiers than proved willing to commit many more soldiers than the US had expectedthe US had expected


Bombed North Vietnam factories and Bombed North Vietnam factories and railroads, the Ho Chi Minh Trail was railroads, the Ho Chi Minh Trail was infiltration routes by which Hanoi sent infiltration routes by which Hanoi sent troops and supplies into the South, the troops and supplies into the South, the bombings badly damaged the North bombings badly damaged the North Vietnamese economy, killed many soldiers Vietnamese economy, killed many soldiers and civilians, but the bombings did not and civilians, but the bombings did not weaken North Vietnam’s will to continue to weaken North Vietnam’s will to continue to fightfight


The Pacification program intended to push The Pacification program intended to push the Viet Cong form particular regions and the Viet Cong form particular regions and pacify those regionspacify those regions


As war dragged on and its futility began to As war dragged on and its futility began to become apparent, political support it become apparent, political support it began to erode, teach-ins sparked a began to erode, teach-ins sparked a national debate over the war before such a national debate over the war before such a debate developed inside the government, debate developed inside the government, enormous peace marches in New York, enormous peace marches in New York, Washington DC and other cities drew Washington DC and other cities drew broad public attention to the antiwar broad public attention to the antiwar movement movement


Senator J. William Fulbright chairman of t Senator J. William Fulbright chairman of t he Senate Foreign relations Committee he Senate Foreign relations Committee turned against the war, highly publicized turned against the war, highly publicized and occasionally televised congressional and occasionally televised congressional hearings to air criticism of it, Robert hearings to air criticism of it, Robert McNamara quietly left the government, McNamara quietly left the government, disillusioned, the promise of guns and disillusioned, the promise of guns and butter proved impossible to maintain-butter proved impossible to maintain-inflation rate rose, War tax: 10% surchargeinflation rate rose, War tax: 10% surcharge

The Traumas of 1968The Traumas of 1968 Tet Offensive: communist forces launched Tet Offensive: communist forces launched

an enormous concerted attack on an enormous concerted attack on American strongholds throughout South American strongholds throughout South Vietnam, Hue fell to communistsVietnam, Hue fell to communists

PPermanently depleted the ranks of the ermanently depleted the ranks of the NLF and forced the North Vietnamese NLF and forced the North Vietnamese troops to take on a much larger share of troops to take on a much larger share of the subsequent fightingthe subsequent fighting..

The Traumas of 1968The Traumas of 1968

MMay have been a ay have been a military victory for the military victory for the US but it was a US but it was a political defeat for the political defeat for the administration, a administration, a defeat from which they defeat from which they would never recover, would never recover, opposition to the war opposition to the war grewgrew


Senator Eugene McCarthy nearly defeated Senator Eugene McCarthy nearly defeated the president, anti-war Democratic the president, anti-war Democratic candidate, Robert Kennedy was the candidate, Robert Kennedy was the champion of the Democratic primaries, champion of the Democratic primaries, Johnson withdrew from the presidential Johnson withdrew from the presidential election, Hubert Humphrey was the vice election, Hubert Humphrey was the vice president who began to attract the support president who began to attract the support of party leadersof party leaders


April 4, 1968 - Martin Luther King Jr. was April 4, 1968 - Martin Luther King Jr. was killed by James Earl Ray in Memphis, killed by James Earl Ray in Memphis, major riots broke out, 43 people died, major riots broke out, 43 people died, more then 3,000 injuries and as many as more then 3,000 injuries and as many as 27,000 people were arrested27,000 people were arrested

Robert Kennedy was shot in the head by Robert Kennedy was shot in the head by Sirhan Sirhan Sirhan Sirhan


The Kennedy Legacy was fervent The Kennedy Legacy was fervent commitment to using government to help commitment to using government to help the powerless the powerless

At the Democratic National Convention At the Democratic National Convention demonstrators and police clashed in a demonstrators and police clashed in a bloody riot in the streets of Chicago, Huber bloody riot in the streets of Chicago, Huber Humphrey received the nomination Humphrey received the nomination


George Wallace was the leading George Wallace was the leading spokesman for the defense of segregation spokesman for the defense of segregation became a third party candidate for became a third party candidate for presidentpresident


Nixon offered a vision of stability and law Nixon offered a vision of stability and law and order, captured the republican and order, captured the republican presidential nomination with help from the presidential nomination with help from the Silent Majority Silent Majority

Nixon won the election, American electoral Nixon won the election, American electoral more interested in restoring than in more interested in restoring than in promoting social change promoting social change

The Election of 1968

expanding the liberal state

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