home front and consequences

Background

-By the mid-1960s, U.S. involvement had escalated rapidly

-Gulf of Tonkin Resolution gave president broad military power

-Hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops deployed under President Johnson

-U.S. leaders believed containment required staying the course

-This War was expected to be short and winnable

The Growing “Credibility Gap”

-Government officials repeatedly claimed American progress in the early part of the War

-Military leaders assured Americans that victory was near

-But the reality on the ground did not match the official statements

-Gap between what Americans were told and what they saw became known as the “credibility gap”

The Tet Offensive (January 1968)

-Coordinated surprise attacks by North Vietnam and Vietcong

-Occurred during Tet, the Vietnamese New Year

-Attacks took place in cities and towns across South Vietnam

-Even the U.S. Embassy in Saigon was attacked

-This event shocked U.S. military and civilians at home

Why Tet Was a Turning Point

-Militarily, the U.S. and South Vietnam repelled the attacks

-The communist forces suffered heavy casualties

-Psychologically, Tet was a major blow to U.S. confidence

-Contradicted claims that the communist enemy was near defeat

-Tet marked a shift in public opinion - had been supportive of the war, but now much of the public shifted to being against the war

Media Coverage & Public Perception

-Vietnam was the first televised war

-Nightly news showed combat film, number of casualties, and extent of destruction

-Journalists reported directly from the battlefield

-Images challenged official government optimism

-Americans increasingly trusted journalists over politicians

Influential Media Voices

-Walter Cronkite questioned whether the war could be won

-Known as “the most trusted man in America”

-His skepticism reflected growing public doubts

-Signaled that support for the war was eroding across society

Rise of the Antiwar Movement

-College students led early protests

-Teach-ins questioned morality and purpose of war

-Marches, sit-ins, and draft resistance increased

-Movement spread beyond campuses

-War became a deeply divisive national issue

Teach-ins

-public forum, often on a college campus, featuring experts, discussions, and audience participation to educate and mobilize action on complex political or social issues

The Draft & Social Inequality

-Selective Service required young men to serve

• Approximately 2.2 million American men were drafted into military service during the Vietnam War era (1964-1973)

• In comparison: over 10 million American men were drafted into military service during WWII (1940-1947)

-Draft deferments favored college students and the wealthy

• Deferments were legal ways to postpone or be exempted from mandatory military service

-Working-class and minority Americans drafted at higher rates

-Fueled anger and resentment toward the government

-Increased belief that the war was unfair

Government Response to Protest

-Some leaders labeled protesters unpatriotic

-Police and the National Guard used force at demonstrations

-Kent State shootings (1970) killed four students

-Symbolized deep divisions between citizens and government

Kent State Shootings (1970)

-Student protests erupted after President Nixon announced expansion of the Vietnam War into Cambodia

-Ohio National Guard were called in to control demonstrations, and guardsmen opened fire on unarmed students

-Four students killed, nine wounded

-Images and reports shocked the nation

-Increased public outrage and distrust toward the government

Was Vietnam “Really” a War?

-Congress never issued a formal declaration of war

-Military action was authorized per the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

-President gained expanded power over war decisions

-Raised constitutional concerns - questioned if checks and balances were unbalanced

-Increased fears of unchecked executive power

Long-Term Political Consequences

-Loss of trust in government institutions

-Increased skepticism toward presidential authority

-Congress sought to reassert its role

-Vietnam reshaped how Americans viewed foreign intervention

War Powers Act (1973)

-Passed in response to Vietnam

-Limited president’s ability to send troops abroad

-Required congressional approval after 60 days

-Attempt to prevent future undeclared wars

Key Takeaways

-Tet Offensive exposed credibility gap

-Media coverage transformed public opinion

-Protests reflected broader distrust and division

-Vietnam permanently altered relationship between citizens and government

-Set the stage for 1968 election and Nixon