US Presidential election of 1968
The US Presidential Election of 1968 was held on November 5, 1968. Former vice-president Richard Nixon won the election against the former Vice-President Hubert Humphrey. This left the country under authority of the republican party. Nation's cities were torn by riots and crime, and Nixon's campaign promised to reinstate law and order
to the nation. This helped Nixon win the popular vote with 512,000 votes. He had 32 states with 301 electoral votes, compared to Humphrey's 13 states and 191 electoral
votes and Wallace's 5 states and 46 electoral votes. In 1972, 5 men were discovered breaking into the Democratic National Headquarters. Nixon tried to hide the crimes and ended up resigning rather than being impeached. His term in office lasted from January 20, 1969 - August 9, 1974. During his time in office Nixon opened relations with China
and escalated the war in Vietnam.
to the nation. This helped Nixon win the popular vote with 512,000 votes. He had 32 states with 301 electoral votes, compared to Humphrey's 13 states and 191 electoral
votes and Wallace's 5 states and 46 electoral votes. In 1972, 5 men were discovered breaking into the Democratic National Headquarters. Nixon tried to hide the crimes and ended up resigning rather than being impeached. His term in office lasted from January 20, 1969 - August 9, 1974. During his time in office Nixon opened relations with China
and escalated the war in Vietnam.
Tet Offensive (1968)
For the first three years of the war in Vietnam, much of the fighting was done in a manner that most United States troops were not accustomed to. The Viet Cong (people in South Vietnam who favored the north and communism) used guerrilla warfare to easily surprise and kill many US troops time and time again. Although the US had better weaponry, aircraft and hundreds of thousands of trained soldiers, for the most part they were powerless to these surprise attacks. They did fight back and end up killing many members of Viet Cong, but lost many troops themselves as well.
In early 1968, the leader of the North Vietnamese army, General Vo Nguyen Giap, decided that it was time for a major surprise attack on South Vietnam. This attack became known as the Tet Offensive, because it took place during a temporary ceasefire during the Vietnamese holiday of Tet.
Due to how surprising this was to the US and South Vietnam armies, the communists were able to attack about 100 major cities and towns. Although the communists originally planned on some of the populous rising up and joining them, they were instead met with heavy resistance. In some towns, they were pushed out within hours of the invasions, but in others it took nearly a month.
All in all, the communists did not succeed in maintaining control over any part of South Vietnam in this offensive, causing it to be known as a US victory. However, North Vietnam did succeed in showing the US what it was capable of and how quickly it could overtake us, showing their true strength and power.
In early 1968, the leader of the North Vietnamese army, General Vo Nguyen Giap, decided that it was time for a major surprise attack on South Vietnam. This attack became known as the Tet Offensive, because it took place during a temporary ceasefire during the Vietnamese holiday of Tet.
Due to how surprising this was to the US and South Vietnam armies, the communists were able to attack about 100 major cities and towns. Although the communists originally planned on some of the populous rising up and joining them, they were instead met with heavy resistance. In some towns, they were pushed out within hours of the invasions, but in others it took nearly a month.
All in all, the communists did not succeed in maintaining control over any part of South Vietnam in this offensive, causing it to be known as a US victory. However, North Vietnam did succeed in showing the US what it was capable of and how quickly it could overtake us, showing their true strength and power.
Guerrilla Warfare and Attrition Warfare
Guerrilla Warfare is an unusual way of fighting, which consisted of ambushes, raids, and sabotage. The fighters were mostly armed civilians or groups of soldiers. The fighters would be a small group of fighters who used hit-and-run tactics against a larger force.
This form of warfare was used by the North Vietnamese, the Vietcong. The fighters would use Vietnam's dense vegetation to their advantage. They would go up to the US army, attack, then leave before the risk of capture was too high. The Vietcong would also disguise themselves as farmers or civilians in towns, and when the US army passed through, they would attack.
The Guerrilla fighters would pick away at personnel and materials in order to distinguish the larger army they were fighting. This tactic would hopefully lead to the retreat or surrender of the larger, opposing army.
Similar to the Guerrilla Warfare, Attrition Warfare used the hit-and-run tactic as well. It was used for picking away continuous personnel and materials until the opposing army surrendered. In most cases, the army with the most resources won the battle. If both of the armies are evenly matched, it may cause a Pyrrhic victory – or a victory despite all of the devastating losses.
This form of warfare was used by the North Vietnamese, the Vietcong. The fighters would use Vietnam's dense vegetation to their advantage. They would go up to the US army, attack, then leave before the risk of capture was too high. The Vietcong would also disguise themselves as farmers or civilians in towns, and when the US army passed through, they would attack.
The Guerrilla fighters would pick away at personnel and materials in order to distinguish the larger army they were fighting. This tactic would hopefully lead to the retreat or surrender of the larger, opposing army.
Similar to the Guerrilla Warfare, Attrition Warfare used the hit-and-run tactic as well. It was used for picking away continuous personnel and materials until the opposing army surrendered. In most cases, the army with the most resources won the battle. If both of the armies are evenly matched, it may cause a Pyrrhic victory – or a victory despite all of the devastating losses.
Napalm
Napalm has been used before Vietnam in the Korean War and World War II, but the most widespread use was by the US Air Force during the Vietnam War. About 388,000 tons of US napalm bombs were used during the Vietnam War. There are 2 different kinds of napalm, regular napalm and Napalm B, Napalm B is less volatile and doesn’t combust near open flames or cigarettes.
Napalm was a destructive and important weapon for 2 reasons, it burned holes in the thick jungle, and it was lowering morale of the Viet Cong. The method of delivering the payload was thru missiles dropped by planes, or by flame throwers. When napalm hits something it sticks to it and burns, for up to ten minutes. Many American people thought that the use of napalm was inhumane and should stop, but the US Army found it to invaluable to give up because of its effectiveness.
Napalm was a destructive and important weapon for 2 reasons, it burned holes in the thick jungle, and it was lowering morale of the Viet Cong. The method of delivering the payload was thru missiles dropped by planes, or by flame throwers. When napalm hits something it sticks to it and burns, for up to ten minutes. Many American people thought that the use of napalm was inhumane and should stop, but the US Army found it to invaluable to give up because of its effectiveness.
Cambodian Invasion (1970)
Towards the end of the Vietnam War, it was announced by President Nixon that US Military troops would join the South Vietnamese People’s Army in invading Cambodia. The announcement from Nixon was televised and broadcasted across America. Cambodia, at the start of the war, declared neutrality but when the Viet Cong forced their way into the eastern portion of the country, the United States had to take action. If the US hadn’t taken action, it would have given the Viet Cong a stronghold that was not attackable. The turning point, which made it possible for the US to take military action, was the removal of Prince Norodom Sihanouk, who was replaced with pro us Lon Nol. The Cambodian Campaign was focused in eastern Cambodia. The main objective of this military action was to defeat some 40,000 Viet Kong soldiers that were stationed in eastern Cambodia and the US forces were also looking for the headquarters of the Viet Kong, which was not found.
Kent State Shooting (1970)
On May 4, 1970 the Ohio National Guard shot at unarmed college students. This incident was known as the Kent State Shooting. The students were protesting the invasion into Cambodia launched by President Richard Nixon. After that announcement, universities all over America broke out in protest.
On May 1, the students at Kent State organized a protest that had roughly 500 students attending. It dispersed at 1pm for the classes, but the students planned on continuing it May 4. That night, the students went around town vandalizing it by throwing beer bottles at police cars and breaking windows to store fronts in downtown. The police arrived to a crowd of 120 people, both students and townsfolk. The police had to use tear gas to disperse the crowd.
On May 2, the people who owned the stores downtown received threats, and heard rumors that Kent would be destroyed. The mayor met with city officials and one of the representatives for the Ohio National Guard. The mayor requested the National Guard to come to Kent, and it was granted. There was a huge demonstration was already in progress. One of the buildings on the campus was on fire, with nearly one thousand protesters surrounding it. The firemen arrived to extinguish the fire, but several of them were struck by rocks and other hard objects. More fire companies had to be called in due to the students dragging the fire hose to the Commons and cutting it up. The National Guard were called in, and had to use tear gas to disperse the crowd.
On May 3, the Governor of Ohio held a press conference, and claimed the students were 'un-American'. Rhodes threatened to call a state of emergency in Ohio, but he never went through. Some of the students went downtown to help clean up, which surprised the business owners. The mayor ordered a curfew in response to the frightened civilians. At 8 pm the students held another rally on campus, but had the National Guard disperse them no more than 45 minutes later. They reconvened later in order to hold a sit-in in order to meet with the Mayor and President White. At 11 pm, the National Guard said the curfew was in effect, and forced the students back to the dorms.
On May 4, the protest that had been scheduled three days prior began. Officials from the university handed out nearly 12,000 papers saying the protest was canceled. Despite their best efforts, the protest was still in effect. Nearly 2,000 people arrived. One member of the National Guard drove up in a Jeep, telling the crowd to disperse. The students threw rocks, forcing the Jeep to retreat. The Guard tried once again, and seeing that the crowd would not disperse, they started to use tear gas. The students were unaffected due to the wind, and threw the tear gas back at the Guard. The Guard then attached bayonets to their guns, and advanced towards the students. They retreated farther back into the campus, but did not disperse. Near noon, the guard formed a huddle. After about ten minutes, they walked back the way they came. At 12:24, however, Sgt. Myron Pryor started to fire at the students with his pistol. Several of the guardsmen near the Sgt. began firing their rifles as well. It was said to last almost 13 seconds, but a reporter from New York Times claimed it lasted for a minute, or slightly longer. The Guard wounded 9 students, and killed 4. The reasoning behind the shooting is still unknown.
On May 1, the students at Kent State organized a protest that had roughly 500 students attending. It dispersed at 1pm for the classes, but the students planned on continuing it May 4. That night, the students went around town vandalizing it by throwing beer bottles at police cars and breaking windows to store fronts in downtown. The police arrived to a crowd of 120 people, both students and townsfolk. The police had to use tear gas to disperse the crowd.
On May 2, the people who owned the stores downtown received threats, and heard rumors that Kent would be destroyed. The mayor met with city officials and one of the representatives for the Ohio National Guard. The mayor requested the National Guard to come to Kent, and it was granted. There was a huge demonstration was already in progress. One of the buildings on the campus was on fire, with nearly one thousand protesters surrounding it. The firemen arrived to extinguish the fire, but several of them were struck by rocks and other hard objects. More fire companies had to be called in due to the students dragging the fire hose to the Commons and cutting it up. The National Guard were called in, and had to use tear gas to disperse the crowd.
On May 3, the Governor of Ohio held a press conference, and claimed the students were 'un-American'. Rhodes threatened to call a state of emergency in Ohio, but he never went through. Some of the students went downtown to help clean up, which surprised the business owners. The mayor ordered a curfew in response to the frightened civilians. At 8 pm the students held another rally on campus, but had the National Guard disperse them no more than 45 minutes later. They reconvened later in order to hold a sit-in in order to meet with the Mayor and President White. At 11 pm, the National Guard said the curfew was in effect, and forced the students back to the dorms.
On May 4, the protest that had been scheduled three days prior began. Officials from the university handed out nearly 12,000 papers saying the protest was canceled. Despite their best efforts, the protest was still in effect. Nearly 2,000 people arrived. One member of the National Guard drove up in a Jeep, telling the crowd to disperse. The students threw rocks, forcing the Jeep to retreat. The Guard tried once again, and seeing that the crowd would not disperse, they started to use tear gas. The students were unaffected due to the wind, and threw the tear gas back at the Guard. The Guard then attached bayonets to their guns, and advanced towards the students. They retreated farther back into the campus, but did not disperse. Near noon, the guard formed a huddle. After about ten minutes, they walked back the way they came. At 12:24, however, Sgt. Myron Pryor started to fire at the students with his pistol. Several of the guardsmen near the Sgt. began firing their rifles as well. It was said to last almost 13 seconds, but a reporter from New York Times claimed it lasted for a minute, or slightly longer. The Guard wounded 9 students, and killed 4. The reasoning behind the shooting is still unknown.