1968+Ethan

**__Leading up to 1968__**

 * No clear cut winner in the war
 * increase in American forces in SE Asia
 * Viet Cong proved to be the guiding force in South Vietnam
 * US tries to "pacify" South Vietnam
 * McNamara sees "a light at the end of the tunnel"
 * Overall, public still supported America in Vietnam

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**__The Tet Offensive__**
tet offensive famous Pulitzer prize image of a south Vietnamese about to shoot a Viet Cong murdurer
 * an attack on U.S. strongholds throughout Southern Vietnam by the VC (Viet Cong)
 * Americans were stunned by the attack, especially because it was aired on television
 * Tet offensive failed, but went on for months
 * turning point of war
 * made Americans think that they had to get out of Vietnam
 * Eventually developed into a U.S. victory
 * made Americans dislike the conflict

media type="youtube" key="sL7N-aCtlLo" height="315" width="420"

__**LBJ Struggles**__
media type="youtube" key="vOs7BjZrgqY" height="315" width="420"LBJ says he will not run fatalities increasing throughout the war (peak:1968)
 * Congress cuts Johnson's great society budget
 * US involvement in war is openly criticized
 * new Defense Secretary states that the war seems unwinnable
 * public opinion changes for LBJ (Lyndon B. Johnson)
 * LBJ says that he will not run again for president
 * the nation turns on Johnson
 * Johnson speaks about halting bombing and....

__**April 4**__
this is the balcony that MLK was assassinated onriots riots
 * Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated in Memphis Tennessee
 * riots break out
 * cities burn

__**RFK**__

 * Bobby Kennedy gains support after giving a speech for MLK's death
 * Bobby runs for president

__**DNC**__

 * Democratic conference
 * chaos breaks out
 * candidates screaming at each other
 * arguing
 * Humphrey gets the democrat nomination

election chaos

__1968 Election__
election map
 * Nixon gets republican nomination
 * Election Results: Nixon wins the election
 * election is VERY CLOSE