jen vietnam
keegan counterculture
sean civil rights
The Vietnam War
Jen Emerson
During the Vietnam War, Americans learned that you can't fight a conventional war in a land where the opponents use unconventional tactics. Guerrilla warfare must be countered with guerrilla warfare. The Vietcong posed as citizens or farmers, then when least expected, they would surprise attack U.S. troops using arms. Vietcong soldiers had access to Chinese versions of the AK-47; they also had heavy, medium, and light machine guns. The heavy machine guns were mainly used as anti-aircraft weapons, most effective against U.S. helicopters. Other weapons such as land mines and booby traps were hand crafted in the North Vietnamese villages. The Vietcong also got aid from an unexpected source: they would scavenge the country side for unexploded American bombs and land mines and use the explosives in bombs of their own.
Richard Nixon's Character
Wei Gordon
The Watergate Scandal gives a great insight into the character of President Nixon. Probably due to some traumatic childhood experience(s), Nixon was known for being defensive, secretive, and resentful. He was so insecure to the point where he actually developed an "enemy list" of politicians and reporters he considered a threat to his presidency. This insecurity was strongly demonstrated by the Watergate Scandal. Desiring to ensure his re-election, Nixon had five ex-CIA officials break into the Watergate Hotel, the Democratic National Committee's headquarters, to find dirt on the Democratic Party. When the public confronted him with questions regarding the break-in, he denied any relationship with the men and continued to cover up the incident through the election. Although Nixon was bound to and did win by a landslide, his immense insecurity caused him to succumb to unethical activities. The fact that Nixon felt the desire to record every conversation within the White House not only incriminated him but also supported his peculiar nature. Had Nixon found the confidence the nation initially had in him, he would not have gone down in history as one of the worst presidents of the United States.
The Ignorance of the Counter Culture
Keegan Marquis
The counter culture of the 1960's was a direct response to the normalization of the 1950's, which was a response to the hectic period of WWII, which in turn was a response to the Adolf Hitler's Third Reich, etc.
Civil Rights
Sean McCann
The civil rights movements have changed America drastically. One of the major groups fighting for their rightful place in society were blacks. Even though they had fought for their freedom, they still had to fight for simple and basic rights. Many rose to action, outraged with their current situation. With the likes of Martin Luther King Jr., the tireless fight for segregation and equal treatment eventually was successful. However, the process after the fact was slow and painfully, for many opposed such changes.
The other major civil rights activists were women. Their journey was much like the blacks; met with extreme opposition. Eventually, they pushed for more rights in the government and workplace.
The efforts of these groups and many others led to the addition of multiple amendments.
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