1963-1969

The Great SocietySocial Security Act changed

Included Medicare (elderly) & Medicaid (poor & disabled)Elementary & Secondary Education Act – 1965

Improved school libraries, learning centers, language labsIncreased funding for Indian, Hispanic and Inner city

schoolsProject Head Start

Federal $ for preschool for underprivileged childrenThe Environment

Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring Raised concerns about environment

Ralph Nader’s Unsafe at Any Speed National Traffic & Motor Vehicle Safety Act - 1966

Water Quality Act – 1965; Clean Water Restoration Act – 1966 Improve water and air standards

The Lasting Legacy of the Great SocietyHUD Housing and Urban Development

Provides affordable housing for the poorPoverty rates & infant mortality rates declineMedical care to millionsNational Endowment of the Arts and Humanities

1965Provided assistance for artists and scholars

Wanted everyone to benefit from American wealth

Created multi generational families who are dependent on government aid

The Activist Warren CourtMapp v. Ohio

Evidence obtained illegally cannot be used in court

Violated 4th AmendmentGideon v. Wainwright

Accused criminals have the right to a lawyer no matter if they can pay

Escobedo v. IllinoisRight to a lawyer before questioning

Miranda v. ArizonaArrested individuals need to be advised of 4th and

6th Amendment rights

All together = rights of the accused

1963-1973

How did we get involved?SEATOGeneva AccordsNorth vs. South

North ruled by Ho Chi MinhSouth ruled by Ngo Dinh Diem – backed by US

National Liberation Front AKA VietcongChallenged Diem

Kennedy sent “advisers” to help train South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) Special Forces

Johnson Increases US TroopsUS destroyer “innocently” floating in Gulf of

TonkinUSS Maddox

North Vietnamese boat shot a torpedoUSS Maddox fired backJohnson ordered air strikesGULF OF TONKIN RESOLUTION

Congress gave “broad military powers” to the president

Congress gave away power to declare warNo official declaration of warIt was a POLICE ACTION

An Unclear EnemyWho’s the Vietcong?

How do you tell them from the rest of the South Vietnamese?

Guerilla WarfareUnsophisticated weaponsUnderground networks

A Different Police ActionGeneral Wm. Westmorland

Head of US troops in VietnamWar of Attrition

Wear down the Vietcong; no clear objectivesSearch and destroyNapalm – jelly used to shoot flamesAgent Orange – defoliant; used in the jungles

Low Morale & Low SupportSoldiers in country were upset/depressed

Body counts became a method for rewardGreat Society spending reduced ability to pay

for VietnamLiving Room War

Americans come home from work and watch the war on TV

Credibility GapWhat Americans see on TV different from what

Johnson says

Opposition on the Home FrontHawks

Want Johnson to be MORE aggressiveDoves

Felt like it wasn’t a huge fight to stop the spread of communism

Wanted Johnson to withdrawCollege Campuses

Deferments given to college kidsWorking class boys went in higher numbersMinorities went in higher numbers

Avoiding the DraftContinue to go to collegeJoin the National Guard or Coast GuardJoin another branch of the service

My Uncle & Dad joined the NavyEscape to Canada, Mexico or other foreign

countryFake illnesses

Student ProtestsStudents for a Democratic Society

SDSFirst organized to aid with Civil Rights

StruggleNew leaders; more radical

Most college campuses had a chapter of the SDS

Old enough to be drafted – not old enough to voteTalk of amending the Constitution