1968 was a chaotic and turbulent year. Let's look at the main events.

1. 1968:
A Tumultuous Year
http://archives.ubalt.edu/bsr/archival-
resources/calendar_header.gif

2. Tet Offensive (Jan.)
http://www.vietnamwar.com/tetoffensive.jpg

3. Causes:
The Vietnam War dragged
on
The North Vietnamese
(both Vietminh and
Vietcong) attacked cities in
South Vietnam

4. Effects:
Military defeat for North
Vietnam
BUT . . .
 Americans’ opinions began
turning against the war b/c the
North was not quitting, as the
US gov’t. had said
 Tet became the

5. President Johnson's poor showing
in NH primary (March)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/v3/05-02-
2008.n1a_02Johnson1.1.G9N2D2Q4B.1.jpg

6. Causes:
Tet Offensive
Unpopularity of Johnson’s
Vietnam War policy
Growing peace movement:
Before Tet: 56% Hawks, 28%
Doves
After Tet: 40% Hawks, 40%
Doves

7. Effects:
Johnson announces he
will NOT run for reelection!
Robert Kennedy decides
he WILL run for President
as a Democrat
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lpT5VbPe0pc/SRTpjcyK3jI/AAAAAA
AAALw/4Bj0FtZXLxg/s400/Robert%2520Kennedy.jpg

8. Assassination of MLK (April)
http://myhero.com/images/guest/g189907/hero43238/g189907_u48364_marti
n.luther.king.jr.jpg
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2008/apr/01/1?picture=333340720

9. Causes:
Racism & hatred
Atmosphere of violence
in the US

10. Effects:
Feelings of anger
among his supporters
Violent riots in over
100 US cities,
including Washington,
DC
http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/world/gallery/2008/apr/01/1/GD6762906@This-aerial-view-show-
5518.jpg

11. Assassination of Robert Kennedy
(June)
Assassination of MLK
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/08/22/article-1047924-002A6D1700000258-

12. Causes:
Atmosphere of violence in
the US
Robert F. Kennedy’s support
of Israel (he was killed by a
radical Palestinian)

13. Effects
College Campus protests
Lack of a front-runner for
the Democrat Party

14. Disorder at the Democrat
National Convention (August)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2007-12/34472428.jpg

15. Causes
Division in the Party over
Vietnam (War? or Peace?)
10,000 demonstrators and
protestors
Chicago Police used mace
and nightsticks
http://www.columbia.edu/acis/history/1968/68-chicago.html

16. Effects
Yelling and screaming, inside
and outside the convention –
captured on TV!
Negative image for the
Democrat Party

17. Richard Nixon's victory in the
presidential election (November)
http://www.visitingdc.com/president/richard-nixon-picture.htm

18. Causes:
 Negative image of Democrats
 Desire of the “silent majority” for
domestic peace, law, and order, as
promised by Nixon
 Third party candidate in the race:
George C. Wallace, Gov. of
Alabama (segregationist)
http://shanghaijill.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/dc04.j

19. Effect:
http://rebelrhetoric.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/01nixon-
web-c.jpg