LBJ Notes

Tet Offensive

• 1968• One of the largest offensives in VN war• North (Viet Cong) uses surprise attacks against the south• US and South Vietnamese tactical victory• North Vietnamese propaganda, political, and strategic victory.• Turning point of the war, due largely to U.S. public opinion.• http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-hi

story/videos/tet-offensive-surprises-americans

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

• 1964• LBJ asks congress for more ground troops and

any measure he deems “necessary”• NOT a formal declaration of war• Rapid escalation of US involvement in VN• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nbm2Ny

sG-SQ

My Lai

• 3/16/68• American troops responsible for massacre

that killed over 500 civilians including women and children (and the elderly)

• Only court-marshal was Lt. James Calley– “following orders”

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSKA_Ce4lBg

Civil Rights Act

• 1964• outlawed discrimination based on race, color,

religion, sex, or national origin• http://www.history.com/topics/black-

history/civil-rights-act/videos/civil-rights-act-of-1964

Medicare / Great Society

• GS - set of domestic programs whose main goal was the elimination of poverty and racial injustice.

• MC – Health insurance for elderly Americans• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuuEFTg

odc8• http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/

johnson-signs-medicare-into-law

Silent Spring

• Book written by Rachel Carson (actually in 62’) about the environmental impact of pesticides

• Leads to the banning of DDT and an increasing concern over man made environmental destruction

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ipbc-6IvMQI

Agent Orange/ Napalm

• Defoliants used during Vietnam – “Search and Destroy”

• Victims (including US soldiers) exposed to these chemicals– Health, environmental, and societal effects:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_Orange#Health_effects

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at2AcXii-YQ• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev2dEqrN4i0

Surgeon General’s Warning

• 1964• http://www.cbsnews.com/news/almanac-

cigarette-package-warnings/

Assassinations• MLK– 4/4/68– Memphis motel; standing on balcony

• MX– 2/21/65– NYC; giving speech at Audubon Ballroom

• RFK– 6/6/68– Los Angeles, CA; after democratic convention

24th and 25th Amendment

• 24th – no poll taxes

• 25th – presidential succession

• See Youtube