Shaping the World as we Know it
The Cold War During the 1960s
The Election of 1960
In November, 1960 Kennedy won against Esienhower by about 119,900 votes. During Kennedy's term he put a great amount of energy into the Cold War. He belived that the spreading of communism had to stop, and that it was wrong for it to spread to Cuba.
Redifining the Military
President Kennedy did not want to take the route of only using nuclear wepons as a basis to scare other countries. As a result President Kennedy and his team developed a technique called flexible response. Which basically meant that they would not use nuclear wepons they would try to find other medthods around it. President Kennedy raised the military fund, in order to fund for other things other than just nuclear bombs. He raised funds for ships, artillery etc.
The Cuban Dilemma
Fidal Castro a revolutionary leader of cuba gainedpower by promising democracy. Castro lead a guerilla movement to get rid of dictator, Fulgencio Batista. In about 1959 he won control over Cuba. The U.S. grew suspicious of Castro and as time went on their suspicions proved correct. Castro took control over three American oil refineries. He also broke commericla farms up which would then be worked by landless peasents, which was 75% of the land in cuba for farm work put up by the U.S government to help Cuba. In addition Castro relied in Soviet aid As a result about 10% of Cuba's population went mostly into exile to the U.S..
The bay of Pigs
In Marcg of 1960, president Esienower gave the CIa to secretely teach and train exiles from Cuba for an invasion of Cuba. They did this of hope to trigger an uprising that would overthrow Cuba leader, Castro. Only 9 days after president Kennedy's election he learned of thier plans and accepted it, although he doubted it wold work. On April 17, 1961, 1,300-1,500 Cuban exiles marched back into the southern coast of Bahia de Cochhinos, the bay of the pigs with the support of the U.S military. Kennedy's attempts failed misrebly. He payed $53 million in food and supplies for surving commandos. In a speech president Kennedy promised that he would return a free havena for the exiles. Je eneded his speech warnng Castro that he would not let Communism spread to the western hemisphere.
The Cuban Missile Crisis
The leader of Cuba, Castro had a powerful ally in Moscow, Russia. Preimeir Niita Khruschev promised to defend Cuba with the Soviet army. This included nuclear missiles. President Kennedy warned Cuba that he would not tolerate nay threats angaisnt the U.S. Later pictures if Soviet Misile babses un Cuba ready to launch were found. Presdient Kenedy later wanred the citizens of this and that if anything were to happen they would declare war agisnt the Soviet Union.
Crisis Over Berlin
In 1961, Berlin sufured a great turmoil. Since the Berin Airlift started 11 years before, about 20% of East Germany's population fled to West Germany. This was about 3 million people, they did this because it was free from comunist rule. This greatly weakend East Germany's economy.
Race to the Moon
On April 12, 1961, Soveit cosmonaut Yuri A. Gargarin was the first human to enter space. America intimidated by Soviet superiority constructed a new NASA facilty in Cape Canaveral, Florida and a mission control center in Houston, Texas. Seven years, on July 20, 1969 later the U.S sent the first man, Neil Armstrong to the moon.
Assassination of President Kennedy
On Novemebr 22, 1963, the president and his wife came to Dallas, Texas to fix ploiticak fences with the Democratic party. On his way to the Texas School Book Depository in an airlift limousine shots fired out and president was shot in the head. He was rushed to the hospital, sadly he didn't make it.
The Election of 1964
In 1964, the Republicans nominated senator Barry Gladwater of Arizona for presidency. Gladwater believed that the government should have no interfernce with social and econimc issues. However, during that time many Americans believd that the Government should help the citiznes, so they sided with other candidate, Johnson, who was part of the Democratic Party. In 1964 Lyndon B. Johnson was elected as president.
Kennedy and Veitnam
In 1961 the Kennedy administartion entered the white hisue, they chose to "swim" with Ngo Dinh Deim the oresident of Southern Veitnam. He was strongly agisnt communism unlike Nothern Veitnsam. President Kennedy aided Southern Vietnam and sent thousands of military advisors to help and train Deim's soliders. By the end of 1963, about 16,00 U.S. military personal were located in southern Vietnam. In Veitnam, Deim's popularity weakend due to the ongoing corruption and his lack of land reform. In order to repir this Deim and his administartion cretaed a program which would move villigaers to protected areas. In addition Deim had ahatered for Buddhism, he killed and destriyed Buddhist temples. Americanoffcials outraged by Deim pleaded with him to stop, but he refused. As a result he was assassinated, on November 1, 1963, his regime was toppled.
Johnson Expands Conflict in Veitnam
With Lyndon B. Johnson as president war in Veitnam escalted. After the death of former leader of southern Veitnam, Deim an outburst of choas broke out. Military forces tried to control them but it was stillas unstable as with Deim being leader. The communist influence from the north began to influence the countryside. Johnson believed if communist forces take over it would result in a disaster. On August 2, 1964, a North Veitnamese patrol boat fired a torpedo at the USS Maddox, which was an American ship. It was patrolling the Gold of Tonkin. The Veitnamese patrol boat missed it's target but the Maddox returned with heavy fire. Two days later, this again happened wit another patrol boat. The attcks on U.S. ships forced President Johnson to declare war on North Veitnam. They launched bombing strikes, and president Johnson requested neccary military precations from congress. Congress approved his request, whcih resulted in the Tonkin Gold Resoltion on August 7th. In Feburary 1965, Johnson used his approval to bomb Veitcong for killing 8 Americans. In march American troops were being launched to Veitcong. About 50,000 U.S. Soliders had settled there in June.
The Veitnam War Divids the Nation
During 1967, the Veitnam war contributed to major divid of Americans. Americans that strongly disaproved of the war were known as doves. Although, some Americans believed the U.S. should unleash whatever military force to win the war, and they were known as hawks. Many Americans protested against the war in Veitnam.
Tet Offensive
On January 30, the Vietnamese New years arrived, which was known as Tet. On that day in 1968 Southern Vietnemes villiagers celebrated in the streets, but there were mnay funerls being held on that day too. The coffins in the funerals were in fact carrying Veitcong weapons. They launched an attack on about 100 towns in Southern Vietnam. This became known as Tet Offensive and lasted for almost a month. This resulted in the loss of 32,000 Veitcong soliders.
United States Involvment Increases
By the end of 1965 about 180,000 soliders had been sent to Veitnam. The American general in South Veitnam, William Westermoreland continued to request American troops. The American general was fascinated by Southern Veitnams fighting power. However he reqested more American troops and by 1967, about 500,000 American troops were fighting in Veitnam.
The Draft
During the Veitnam War, many of the soliders who fought were picked by the Selective Service Sytem, which also known as a draft. All males who were of 18 years had to registor with the draft. Men ages 18 to 26 were called to war unless they had a medical condition.
President Johnson's Determination
Through out the whole war, president Johnson stuck with his view on the war. Johnson disliked both groups, the doves and the hawks. The doves for not withdrawing and the hawks for not increasing military fast enough. As a result by 1967, Johnsons policy began to cause tension within his own administration.
Johnson Withdraws
In November, 1967, the senator of Minnesota, Eugene McCarthy declared that he would run agisnt Johnson. This was in order to stop the war in Veitnam. On March 31, 1968, Johnson announced his change of policy in Veitnam. Johnson said he would see negotiations about the War in Veitnam. With Lyndon B. Johnson steeping down, he left Eugene McCarthy against his own vice president, Hubert Humphery.
President Nixon and His Stance on the War
Republican canidate Richard M. Nixon won the elction of 1968. President Nixon promised to restore order and peace to America. In the summer of 1969, president Nixon announced his withdraw from Veitnam.
Sources:
Textbook
Picture 3:http://www.newhistories.group.shef.ac.uk/images/vietnam1.jpg
video 1: https://youtu.be/RMINSD7MmT4