To protest...

or not to protest...

that is the question!

President John F. Kennedy

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, often referred to by his initials JFK, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. 

Domino Theory

The concept that if one country falls to communism the rest around it will also.

Specifically the countries around the Balkans

Vietnam War

War to stop North Vietnam from taking over South Vietnam and turning them communist. 

The rest of the world saw us as a bully getting involved in a 3rd world, economically disadvantaged, political affairs.

The Draft

Just like WW1 and WW2, this is the forced sign up into the armed forces.

President Kennedy

Kennedy will support many moves during his presidency. He will support Domino Theory, Bay of Pigs, Cuban Missile Crisis, Berlin Airlift to name the most important for this course.

He will be assassinated in 1963 in Dallas, Tx

President Lyndon B. Johnson

VP to President Kennedy

Takes over after Kennedy is shot

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Escalation of Forces

Allowed the President to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression, which meant, to send more troops overseas

Great Society

Great Society was a set of programs set up by Johnson as part of his "WAR ON POVERTY"

Medicaid/Medicare health, PBS, Sesame Street, College Grants and Loans, NPR, and Air Quality Act to name a few.

Affirmative Action

The concept of considering more than just one's grade point average as a way of acceptance into a university or college, but to also consider their race as a factor, and what difficulties that student might have had to overcome compared to another student.

Tet Offensive

This was a coordinated series of North Vietnamese attacks on more than 100 cities and outposts in the South Vietnam. This attack encouraged the U.S. to scale back its involvement in the war, as well as, weakened even more the current support of the people.

The Media

The media plays a big role in the war and outlook of the people of the U.S. because they can see what is going on in the war through their tv. This is the first time a war is shown on the tv and they are able to see that what their politicians say, that the war is going great, might actually not be the whole truth.

The Credibility Gap

With the Tet Offensive showcased on tv, the people are realizing the government isn't telling the whole truth about their success in the war, and the people lose trust in the governments credibility, creating a gap between trust and suspicion. 

Anti-War Movement

The people can see the war isn't going as great as the politicians are saying it is and they are tired of their men being sent to a war they don't feel the U.S. should be in and therefore they begin to protest it.

Kent State is an example of college students peacefully protesting the war and being shot for doing it.

President Nixon

President who continues Vietnam but also begins the removal of troops. He is caught in Watergate scandal and resigns, and is pardoned by his VP, President Ford.

Silent Majority

The people who don't speak up through loud protests but do through voting. Usually a conservative group that are regular voters. This group is who Nixon focused his campaign on and it was successful.

War Powers Act

The act sought to restrain the president’s ability to commit U.S. forces overseas by requiring the executive branch to consult with and report to Congress before involving U.S. forces in foreign hostilities. 

Vietnamization

The act of pulling out troops from Vietnam slowly to allow for Vietnam to settle its issues without our further interference. 

Fall of Saigon

South Vietnam falls to North Vietnam and the whole country becomes communist.

26 Amendment

You can vote at 18

Tinker v Des Moines

This is a court case over students in high school protesting the war by wearing black arm bands.

The court ruled that students do not lose their right of freedom of speech when it doesn't impede the learning process.

Congressional Medal of Honor

Army Master Sergeant Raul “Roy” Perez Benavidez