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U.S. joins Spring of 1965
The first U.S. combat troops arrived in Vietnam and about 66 percent of Americans approved of U.S. policy in Vietnam. -
Teach ins at the University of Michigan
A group of faculty members and students at the University of Michigan joined together in a teach-in. They discussed the issues surrounding the war and reaffirmed their reasons for opposing it. -
National teach ins
122 colleges held a “National Teach-In” by radio for more than 100,000 antiwar demonstrators. People opposed the war for different reasons. Some saw the conflict as a civil war in which the United States should not interfere. Others saw South Vietnam as a corrupt dictatorship and believed defending it was immoral. -
The senate of foreign relations discusses military strategies
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held “educational” hearings on Vietnam. They called in policy makers and critics to discuss the administration’s military strategy. -
Martin luther king jr speaks out about the war
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., publicly condemned the conflict: “I speak for the poor of America who are paying the double price of smashed hopes at home and death and corruption in Vietnam. . . . The great initiative in this war is ours. The initiative to stop it must be ours.” In response, military officials tried to reduce African American casualties. -
The Tet Offensive
The Vietcong and North Vietnamese launched a massive surprise attack. In what was called the Tet Offensive, guerrilla fighters attacked most American airbases in South Vietnam and most of the South’s major cities. -
Johnson backs out of the presidency
Johnson appeared on television and He announced, “I have concluded that I should not permit the presidency to become involved in the partisan divisions that are developing in this political year. Accordingly, I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President.” -
Martin Luther King jr gets killed
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated in Memphis by James Earl Ray. Someone before already tried to kill him. -
Robert kennedy gets killed
He appeared likely to win the Democratic nomination, was gunned down by Sirhan Sirhan, an Arab nationalist. -
26th Amendment
The Twenty-sixth Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, giving all citizens age 18 and older the right to vote in all state and federal elections.