USH2 UNIT 4:EQUALITY AND POWER

Lesson 4.5 = Anti-War protests and Watergate

Credibility Gap

Essential Question

How did the Vietnam War and Watergate impact American society?

Activate

What do you already know about the Cold War?

What do you know about the Korean and Vietnam Wars?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2IcmLkuhG0

Review- 5 amazing facts about Vietnam.

VIETNAM’S EFFECTS ON AMERICAN POLICY AND SOCIETY

MEDIA COVERAGE CONTRADICTED OPTIMISTIC STATEMENTS OF THE WHITEHOUSE = CREDIBILITY GAP

PRESS COVERAGE GAVE RISE TO A HUGE ANTIWAR MOVEMENT

HAWKS VS. DOVES MANY YOUNG MEN BURNED

THEIR DRAFT CARDS OR FLED TO CANADA

ANTI WAR PROTEST LEADS TO 26TH AMENDMENT

THE TURNING POINT

ON JANUARY 30, 1968, THE NVA AND THE VIETCONG LAUNCHED THE TET OFFENSIVE IN EVERY SINGLE CITY AND BASE IN SOUTH VIETNAM

THE ATTACK PROVED COMMUNIST FORCES WOULD NEVER STOP FIGHTING

AMERICANS GIVE UP HOPE THAT WAR COULD EVER BE WON

REALITY = VIETCONG WOULD NEVER BE AFFECTIVE AGAIN = POLITICAL DEFEAT BUT A MILITARY VICTORY

AP 1: Think Pair Share

How is the Tet Offensive considered a turning point regarding the war in Vietnam?

Richard Nixon and “Peace with Honor” SHORTLY AFTER TAKING

OFFICE, PRESIDENT NIXON MOVED TO END THE NATION’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE VIETNAM WAR. THE FINAL YEARS OF CONFLICT, HOWEVER, YIELDED MORE BLOODSHED AND TURMOIL, AS WELL AS GROWING CYNICISM IN THE MINDS OF AMERICANS ABOUT THE HONESTY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

PRESIDENT NIXON AND VIETNAM

NIXON ELECTED PRESIDENT IN 1968.

ANNOUNCES PLAN CALLED VIETNAMIZATION

LINKAGE = IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH USSR AND CHINA IN ORDER TO CONVINCE VIETNAM TO NEGOTIATE.

IN EARLY 1969 NIXON ORDERS BOMBING OF CAMBODIA. PUBLIC DOES NOT FIND OUT UNTIL 1970.

RESPONSE = WIDESPREAD PROTEST, AND CONGRESS WOULD REPEAL THE GULF OF TONKIN RESOLUTION

AP 2: 5 words

TURMOIL AT HOME CONTINUES

IN LATE 1969, THE “MASSACRE AT MY LAI” CONVINCED MANY THAT THE WAR WAS SENSELESS = BABY KILLERS

IN APRIL, 1970, NIXON ANNOUNCED THE INVASION OF CAMBODIA TO DESTROY VIET CONG BASES

UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY EXPLODED IN PROTEST = KENT STATE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oOU4lI50q4

Turmoil at Home

IN 1969, THE STORY OF THE MY LAI MASSACRE BROKE IN NEWSPAPERS

BECOMES APPARENT THAT WIDESPREAD FAILURES OF MILITARY LEADERSHIP WERE TAKING PLACE IN VIETNAM

AMERICAN ACROSS THE COUNTRY BEGIN A NEW WAVE OF ANTI WAR PROTESTS

STUDENT DEATHS AT KENT STATE AND MISSISSIPPI DEEPEN THE ROOTS OF ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT MOVEMENTS

The Credibility Gap

PENTAGON PAPERS PUBLISHED BY NEW YORK TIMES REVEALED A SERIES OF LIES BY THE WHITEHOUSE AND CONGRESS = CREDIBILITY GAP

FINALLY, “CHRISTMAS BOMBINGS” OF 1972 AND LINKAGE FORCE THE N. VIETNAMESE TO NEGOTATIATE A PEACE

PARIS PEACE ACCORDS ESTABLISHED THE FOLLOWING TERMS:

US WITHDRAW ALL TROOPS AND PERSONNEL

US WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO RECONSTRUCTION

PRISONERS OF WAR WOULD BE RELEASED AND SENT HOME

AP 4: Turmoil at Home / Word Splash

The Legacy

IN 1975, SAIGON FALLS TO COMMUNISTS. RENAME HO CHI MINH CITY

SOUTH VIETNAM SURRENDERS CONSEQUENCES: WAR KILLED MILLIONS IN VIETNAM AND

DESTROYED A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY MANY POW’S DID NOT RETURN HOME AMERICANS BECAME DEMORALIZED

AND LOST FAITH IN THEIR GOVERNMENT

AMERICA WOULD HAVE TO RE-EVALUATE FOREIGN POLICY

VETERANS WERE TREATED POOR 26TH AMENDMENT 1973, THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION

DECLARED THAT A PRESIDENT COULD ONLY COMMITT TROOPS TO A FOREIGN WAR FOR 60 DAYS BEFORE SEEKING CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL

AP

What is the Legacy of the Vietnam War?

The Counter Culture

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JecWJ_ndMBI

Many young people became disillusioned as a result of The Civil Rights movement and anger over the Vietnam War

These people began to challenge their parents traditional lives by using drugs, sex, and rock and roll to rebel against conformity

The movement was glamorized by Hollywood and the media

The reality was one of drug addiction, homelessness, and disease. True dat.

AP

How did the Counter Culture impact American Society?

Google Watergate

Watergate

The Watergate scandal was a major political scandal that occurred in the 1970s as a result of the June 17, 1972 break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., and the Nixon administration's attempted cover-up of its involvement. When the conspiracy was discovered and investigated by the US Congress, the Nixon administration's resistance to its probes led to a constitutional crisis. The term Watergate has come to encompass an array of clandestine and often illegal activities undertaken by members of the Nixon administration. Those activities included "dirty tricks" such as bugging the offices of political opponents and people of whom Nixon or his officials were suspicious. Nixon and his close aides ordered harassment of activist groups and political figures, using the FBI, CIA, and the Internal Revenue Service. The scandal led to the discovery of multiple abuses of power by the Nixon administration, articles of impeachment, and the resignation of Richard Nixon, the President of the United States, on August 9, 1974—the only resignation of a U.S. president to date.

The Legacy of the Vietnam War and Watergate Lack of faith in

government and in the presidency.

Low point in regard to morale for our nation.

Power of the presidency will be curbed.

AP 4 :

Activity

Create a Trifold presentation to include the following:

5 facts about the Vietnam War and picture /drawing that accurately depicts what we have learned.

5 facts about the Counter Culture and a picture / drawing

5 facts about Watergate and a picture / drawing

Learning Log

What impact did the Vietnam War and Watergate have on America?