The 60’s had begun with multiple incidents and escalations such as The Bay of Pigs, The Cuban Missile Crisis, and The assassination of President John F. Kennedy. A new president came in and swiftly took over as President Lyndon Johnson initiated new policies with The Civil Rights Bill, The Voting Rights act, and The Great Society. Johnson easily won re-election in 1964 and the future of his administration looked bright. Then the gigantic problem of the War in Vietnam casted a shadow that Johnson’s administration would never be able to break. As a result, Lyndon Johnson’s presidency was finished before he could run again, the Democratic Party fell into chaos, and a new generation led an anti-war movement that divided the country. To start
…show more content…
The Gulf of Tonkin incident happened on August 2, 1964, when according to Eric Foner of Give Me Liberty, “North Vietnamese vessels encountered an American ship on a spy mission off its coast… North Vietnamese patrol boats fired on the American vessel” (p.996). After the incident occurred Johnson went on TV and said, “Hostile actions against US ships in the Gulf of Tonkin, have today required me to take action and reply” (Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and Vietnam War). Battles continued between the North Vietnamese and the United States. Eventually, Johnson asked Congress to pass a measure, “To support freedom and defend peace in Southeast Asia” (Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and Vietnam War). As a result, the American congress quickly responded and gave President Johnson the power to, “Take all necessary measures to repel armed attacks in Vietnam” (Foner, p.996). United States Military advisers had been in Vietnam, since the Truman Administration advising South Vietnam against the Communist North. Now with increased power Johnson was not going to simply add more advisers, instead, he would …show more content…
Robert Kennedy, Eugenie McCarthy, and Hubert Humphrey each looked to become the Democratic nominee. Two months prior to the convention, Robert Kennedy was assassinated during the California Democratic Primary. So, two candidates were left representing the Democratic Party. First, Eugenie McCarthy was a Senator from Minnesota and as a candidate ran on an anti-Vietnam War platform. Secondly, Hubert Humphrey was the other candidate who was Lyndon Johnson’s Vice President. Humphrey according to the video 1968 Democratic Convention, “Publicly supported LBJ’s policy in Vietnam but he tried to make his own.” As the convention was nearing, the War in Vietnam was dividing the country. In 1968, “200 G.I.’s were coming in body bags every week” (1968 Democratic Convention). The younger generations were angered by this war and set their eyes on the convention. Thousands of young college aged individuals made their way to Chicago, where the convention was being held. According to the video, “the demonstrators appeared at the convention and thought it would be a rubber stamp against Johnson’s war policies” (1968 Democratic Convention). A key leader of the demonstrators was David Dellinger, a Pacifist who spoke for non-violent marches. On the other side, were the Yippies who would do anything necessary to get their message across. The Yippies were led by Jerry Rubin in
The Gulf of Tonkin incident happened on August 2, 1964, when according to Eric Foner of Give Me Liberty, “North Vietnamese vessels encountered an American ship on a spy mission off its coast… North Vietnamese patrol boats fired on the American vessel” (p.996). After the incident occurred Johnson went on TV and said, “Hostile actions against US ships in the Gulf of Tonkin, have today required me to take action and reply” (Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and Vietnam War). Battles continued between the North Vietnamese and the United States. Eventually, Johnson asked Congress to pass a measure, “To support freedom and defend peace in Southeast Asia” (Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and Vietnam War). As a result, the American congress quickly responded and gave President Johnson the power to, “Take all necessary measures to repel armed attacks in Vietnam” (Foner, p.996). United States Military advisers had been in Vietnam, since the Truman Administration advising South Vietnam against the Communist North. Now with increased power Johnson was not going to simply add more advisers, instead, he would …show more content…
Robert Kennedy, Eugenie McCarthy, and Hubert Humphrey each looked to become the Democratic nominee. Two months prior to the convention, Robert Kennedy was assassinated during the California Democratic Primary. So, two candidates were left representing the Democratic Party. First, Eugenie McCarthy was a Senator from Minnesota and as a candidate ran on an anti-Vietnam War platform. Secondly, Hubert Humphrey was the other candidate who was Lyndon Johnson’s Vice President. Humphrey according to the video 1968 Democratic Convention, “Publicly supported LBJ’s policy in Vietnam but he tried to make his own.” As the convention was nearing, the War in Vietnam was dividing the country. In 1968, “200 G.I.’s were coming in body bags every week” (1968 Democratic Convention). The younger generations were angered by this war and set their eyes on the convention. Thousands of young college aged individuals made their way to Chicago, where the convention was being held. According to the video, “the demonstrators appeared at the convention and thought it would be a rubber stamp against Johnson’s war policies” (1968 Democratic Convention). A key leader of the demonstrators was David Dellinger, a Pacifist who spoke for non-violent marches. On the other side, were the Yippies who would do anything necessary to get their message across. The Yippies were led by Jerry Rubin in