Liberalism and Vietnam in the 1960s

1. Liberalism and Vietnam in the 1960s

2. John F. Kennedy and the New Frontier • Election of 1960 was close • JFK more concerned with foreign policy • Peace Corps • Aid to education • Health care for the elderly • Investment in transportation • Congressional opposition got in the way

3. The Election of 1964 • Lyndon Johnson v. Barry Goldwater • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbIfVEboAzg • Johnson won in a landslide—mandate • Cracks in the “solid south”

4. Lyndon B. Johnson and the Great Society • Complete what JFK couldn’t • Medicare/Medicaid • Civil Rights Act • The Great Society—” war on poverty” • VISTA • Head Start • Job Corps • Upward bound • Housing and Urban Development • NEA/NEH • President of all the people

5. The Second (Third?) Wave of the Women’s Movement • Feminists’ dreams kept alive by working women • Child care • Equal pay for equal work • Betty Freidan’s The Feminine Mystique • Women learn lessons from Civil Rights Movement • Second Wave of Feminism—two main camps of feminist action—all rejected return to “feminine mystique” • Revival of feminism • Radical feminism

6. 1960—Kennedy’s Vietnam Policy • Sends in green berets in 1961 to advise • Between ‘55 and ‘61 650 advisors • Kennedy increases to 15,500 between ‘61 and ‘63 • 1963--US instigated a coup in South Vietnam • Diem and friends killed • Generals become leaders

7. 1963-1965 • Johnson listens to military advisors telling him to resist communism • 1964--Tonkin Gulf Resolution • Allows president to take all necessary measures to prevent further aggression • response to an unprovoked attack by the North on American destroyers

8. Escalation • 500,000 troops sent to Vietnam • Johnson continues bombing • War becomes unpopular • TV helps Americans form opinions of the war • The “credibility gap” develops

9. 1968: A Watershed Year • Tet Offensive • An attack on US strongholds in the South by VC • Turned into a victory for US • TV coverage stirred antiwar sentiment and tarnished Johnson • My Lai Massacre • Happened in 1967 but revealed in 1968

10. Nixon • We can’t win the war—Peace with Honor • Vietnamization • training and equipping the South Vietnamese • withdrawing American troops • by ‘72 only 24,000 troops remained • Troops reduced in Vietnam but bombing continued • Nixon orders secret bombing of Cambodia • This action sparks protest

11. Paris Accords • End the Vietnam War • Cease fire and release of POWs • Provisions did not preclude a communist Vietnam • Fall of Saigon • Laos and Cambodia

12. The Media, The Draft and Vietnam • First “television” war • Increased the “Credibility Gap” • Be drafted or go to jail • Deferments • College • Service profession • Peace Corps or VISTA • Avoiding the draft

13. The New Left • New Left: young radical political activists • Often associated with the Civil Rights movement • Free Speech Movement (1964) • Pursued the rights of students to engage in political activity • UC Berkeley and SF State • Teach-ins: University of Michigan • Used to discuss the moral political aspects of the Vietnam War

14. The New Left • Anti-War Movement gains control of the New Left • Stimulated by the end of automatic deferments in 1966 • Draft card burnings • Draft evasion • Kent State University • May 4, 1970 • Four students die

15. Counter-Culture • Disliked society • Choose alternative lifestyle • Marked by drug use, liberated sex and long hair • Hippies: followed the behavior of the counter-culture • Major event: Woodstock—1969 • Impact • Changed fashion • Films and TV dealt with social issues • Message through music • Lines between the 2 blurred

16. The Tumultuous Late-60s • Politics • (“Credibility Gap”, Anti-War Movement & 1968 Election) • Diplomatic • (Vietnam Quagmire, Tet Offensive) • Social • (Race & Gender Relations become more militant & diverse) • Cultural • (“Counter Culture” grows as shown in music, art, drugs, etc.)

17. 1968—A Watershed Year • The Democratic Convention • The “alternative” convention • Richard Nixon—Republican nominee • The Silent Majority • The Tet Offensive • My Lai Massacre (revealed in 1968) • Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

18. The Shift to the Right • Disillusionment of the left • Government did not change society • Great Society--War on Poverty • Vietnam • Watergate • Growth of Christianity (similar to the Great Awakening) • More emphasis on social and cultural issues

19. Nixon as President • Build a conservative coalition • Smaller government • Undermine the liberal elite • Cut Federal programs while silencing the liberals • NEA/NEH • Housing

20. Nixon’s Foreign Policy • Détente • Vietnamization • Relations with China • SALT Talks

21. Watergate • Election of 1972 • CREEP • Break-in • Cover-up • Reporters and the tapes • Saturday Night Massacre • Resignation

22. Turning Inward • Focus on improving themselves and their community--Me decade • Self-help becomes popular • Yoga • Exercise • Religion--both Christian and non-Christian • Self Awareness • Move from equality to multiculturalism

23. The Right Merges • Oppose the breakdown of cultural norms • Turn to faith • Success of liberals galvanize the right • Roe vs. Wade • Big government is bad • Communism • Fascism

24. Impact • Religious Right gains power • Return to family values • Stop ERA • Anti Roe vs. Wade • Moral Majority • Various conservative groups are bound together • Small government with Religious right

25. The Energy Crisis • US dependent on foreign oil • American support of Israel  Oil embargo 1973 • The US struggled to meet demand • 55 mph speed limit • Fuel efficient cars • Purchase of American cars dropped off • Inflation made the problem worse

26. The Carter Presidency • Intelligent • Graduated near the top of his class at the Naval Academy • Identified with the common person—Washington outsider • Born again Christian • Inexperience led to difficulties in working with Congress • Struggled throughout his presidency with a poor economy

27. Economic Problems of the 1970s • Reduce unemployment through Keynesian economic policy • Appointed Paul Volcker to head the Fed—raised interest rates • 1979 fuel shortage • Stagflation • De-industrialization • Declines for labor • Tax revolt

28. Foreign Policy: A Human Rights Approach • Carter used human rights as a basis for his foreign policy • He created the State Department Office of Human Rights • Economic and military aid was withdrawn from countries that violated human rights • Carter spoke out against Soviet policy • 1980 Olympic boycott in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

29. Camp David Accords • In 1977 Anwar el Sadat visited Israel at the invitation of Menachem Begin • Sadat declared the Egypt would recognize Israel • Summit at Camp David to facilitate negotiations • Developed framework for a peace agreement • The talks postponed any decision about the Palestinian people • Treaty signed in 1979 • Major foreign policy achievement of the Carter administration

30. The Hostage Crisis • Fundamentalist revolution in Iran led the Shah to leave the country • US allowed the Shah to enter the US for cancer treatment • A mob took US personnel hostage and ordered the return of the Shah • Carter’s responses • Economic sanctions • Rescue attempt • Negotiations • Hostages released after Reagan’s inauguration

31. The Century: America’s Time:Starting Over • Consider watching this documentary in preparation for Friday’s test. Here is the link for part one of the film: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0jiB8N101g