Chapter 22:Chapter 22:The Vietnam War The Vietnam War

YearsYears

Section 5:Section 5:The End of the War The End of the War

and Its Legacyand Its Legacy

CCalifornia alifornia AAcademic cademic SStandardstandards:: 11.9.3 & 11.9.411.9.3 & 11.9.4

11.9 Students analyze U.S. 11.9 Students analyze U.S. foreign policy since World War foreign policy since World War II. II.

.3.3 Trace the origins and Trace the origins and geopolitical consequences (foreign geopolitical consequences (foreign and domestic) of the Cold War and and domestic) of the Cold War and containment policy, including the containment policy, including the following: following: The Vietnam War The Vietnam War

.4.4 List the effects of foreign policy List the effects of foreign policy on domestic policies and vice on domestic policies and vice versa.versa.

Objectives:Objectives: Following lecture and reading of this Following lecture and reading of this

section, section, students will be able to:students will be able to:1.1.Describe Nixon’s policy of Describe Nixon’s policy of

Vietnamization.Vietnamization.2.2.Explain the public’s reaction to the Explain the public’s reaction to the

Vietnam War during Nixon’s Vietnam War during Nixon’s presidency.presidency.

3.3.Trace the end of U.S. involvement Trace the end of U.S. involvement and the final outcome in Vietnam.and the final outcome in Vietnam.

4.4.Examine the war’s painful legacy in Examine the war’s painful legacy in the United States and Southeast the United States and Southeast Asia.Asia.

Overview:Overview:After escalating bombings to After escalating bombings to achieve “peace with honor,” achieve “peace with honor,” the Nixon administration the Nixon administration negotiated a cease-fire negotiated a cease-fire agreement and withdrew agreement and withdrew U.S. troops from Vietnam in U.S. troops from Vietnam in 1973.1973.

The painful legacies of the The painful legacies of the controversial and divisive controversial and divisive war still affect American life.war still affect American life.

President Nixon President Nixon and Vietnamizationand Vietnamization

Summer 1969 Nixon begins to Summer 1969 Nixon begins to withdrawal the first American withdrawal the first American troops from Vietnam.troops from Vietnam.

Even as he removed troops, Even as he removed troops, Nixon wanted to achieve Nixon wanted to achieve “peace with honor,” a policy “peace with honor,” a policy some critics charged caused some critics charged caused the war to go on even longer the war to go on even longer than it had to.than it had to.

Negotiations to end the war Negotiations to end the war reach a deadlock.reach a deadlock.

The U.S. and South Vietnam The U.S. and South Vietnam wanted the current leader wanted the current leader of South Vietnam, Nguyen of South Vietnam, Nguyen Van Thieu, to remain in Van Thieu, to remain in power, but the North power, but the North Vietnamese and the Vietnamese and the Vietcong wanted Thieu to Vietcong wanted Thieu to step aside in favor of step aside in favor of coalition government that coalition government that included the Vietcong.included the Vietcong.

Nixon initiates a policy of Nixon initiates a policy of Vietnamization- a gradual Vietnamization- a gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops and withdrawal of U.S. troops and replacement with South replacement with South Vietnamese troopsVietnamese troops so South so South Vietnam would have a more Vietnam would have a more active role in the war.active role in the war.

Beginning in August of 1969 Beginning in August of 1969 and continuing for the next and continuing for the next three years the U.S. three years the U.S. involvement in Vietnam went involvement in Vietnam went from over 500,000 troops to from over 500,000 troops to less than 25,000less than 25,000

A key goal of A key goal of Vietnamization is to achieve Vietnamization is to achieve “peace with honor.”“peace with honor.”

The goals of peace with The goals of peace with honor were:honor were:

Maintaining U.S. dignity in Maintaining U.S. dignity in the face of its withdrawal the face of its withdrawal from the war.from the war.

Keeping the South Vietnam Keeping the South Vietnam government in tact.government in tact.

Even with “peace with honor” Even with “peace with honor” as the plan Nixon organized a as the plan Nixon organized a massive bombing campaign massive bombing campaign against North Vietnameseagainst North Vietnamese supply lines and bases and supply lines and bases and even bombed the neighboring even bombed the neighboring countries of Laos and countries of Laos and Cambodia because they had a Cambodia because they had a number of Vietcong number of Vietcong sanctuaries.sanctuaries.

Nixon told an aid he wanted the Nixon told an aid he wanted the Vietcong to think he was Vietcong to think he was capable of anything.capable of anything.

Trouble Continues on the Trouble Continues on the Home FrontHome Front

Seeking to win support for Seeking to win support for his war policies, Nixon his war policies, Nixon appealed to what he called appealed to what he called the silent majority.the silent majority.

The silent majority were The silent majority were the moderate, mainstream the moderate, mainstream Americans who quietly Americans who quietly supported Nixon’s supported Nixon’s strategy.strategy.

Events of the war however Events of the war however continued to divide the continued to divide the country.country.

News accounts of the My Lai News accounts of the My Lai massacre horrify the American massacre horrify the American public.public.

In the My Lai Massacre, more than In the My Lai Massacre, more than 100 innocent Vietnamese, 100 innocent Vietnamese, mostly mostly women and children were killedwomen and children were killed when U.S. troops under the when U.S. troops under the directive of William Calley Jr. who directive of William Calley Jr. who ordered troops into to the village in ordered troops into to the village in the northern part of South Vietnam.the northern part of South Vietnam.

Calley told them to look for Calley told them to look for Vietcong, when they found no Vietcong, when they found no sign of the enemy they killed sign of the enemy they killed the villagers, then attempted the villagers, then attempted to cover it up.to cover it up.

This incident scared the This incident scared the country’s view and country’s view and questioned our purpose for questioned our purpose for involvement.involvement.

Nixon’s invasion of Cambodia Nixon’s invasion of Cambodia spurs nationwide campus spurs nationwide campus protests.protests.

Nixon invaded Cambodia Nixon invaded Cambodia in order to clear out in order to clear out Vietcong and their supply Vietcong and their supply centers.centers.

Upon hearing of the Upon hearing of the invasion college students invasion college students across the country erupted across the country erupted in protest.in protest.

More than 1.5 million More than 1.5 million students closed down students closed down 1,200 college campuses.1,200 college campuses.

Disaster stuck hardest at Disaster stuck hardest at Kent State University in Kent State University in Ohio, where a student Ohio, where a student protest led to the burning protest led to the burning down of the ROTC building.down of the ROTC building.

The mayor called in the The mayor called in the National Guard.National Guard.

The protesters began to The protesters began to throw rocks and bottles at throw rocks and bottles at them and the National them and the National Guardsmen began shooting.Guardsmen began shooting.

The slaying of student The slaying of student protesters and bystanders at protesters and bystanders at Kent State and Jackson State Kent State and Jackson State rocks the nation.rocks the nation.

The American public generally The American public generally sided with the National Guard sided with the National Guard claiming that the protesters got claiming that the protesters got what they deserved.what they deserved.

A new group of Americans A new group of Americans called the “hardhats” organized called the “hardhats” organized a rally in New York City to a rally in New York City to support the government’s war support the government’s war policies.policies.

Publication of the top secret Publication of the top secret Pentagon Papers further Pentagon Papers further erodes support for the warerodes support for the war as as it spelled out the fact that the it spelled out the fact that the government had always government had always planned to get into the war planned to get into the war and not end it until the North and not end it until the North Vietnamese stopped their Vietnamese stopped their fight.fight.

The Pentagon papers The Pentagon papers confirmed the government confirmed the government was not honest about its war was not honest about its war intentions.intentions.

America’s Longest War America’s Longest War EndsEnds

Nixon bombs the port city of Nixon bombs the port city of Haiphong in order to stop Haiphong in order to stop supplies from China and the supplies from China and the Soviet Union from reaching Soviet Union from reaching the Vietcong in North the Vietcong in North Vietnam.Vietnam.

Mid 1972 60% of Americans Mid 1972 60% of Americans now feel the U.S. should now feel the U.S. should fully withdrawal its troopsfully withdrawal its troops

After Nixon’s reelection, After Nixon’s reelection, peace talks break off and U.S. peace talks break off and U.S. bombings resume.bombings resume.

One week before the election One week before the election of 1972 it was announced of 1972 it was announced that “peace is at hand”that “peace is at hand”

The “Christmas bombings,” a The “Christmas bombings,” a bombing campaign against bombing campaign against Haiphong and Hanoi in which Haiphong and Hanoi in which 100,000 bombs were dropped 100,000 bombs were dropped in 11 days only ceasing on in 11 days only ceasing on Christmas Day.Christmas Day.

After this event After this event everyone wanted peace.everyone wanted peace.

In 1973, the U.S. and In 1973, the U.S. and North Vietnam sign a North Vietnam sign a cease fire agreement, cease fire agreement, and the last U.S. combat and the last U.S. combat troops withdrew from troops withdrew from VietnamVietnam on March 29, on March 29, 1973 and for America 1973 and for America the war was over.the war was over.

The cease fire collapses, The cease fire collapses, and in 1975 South and in 1975 South Vietnam falls to North Vietnam falls to North VietnamVietnam after President after President Gerald Ford, who Gerald Ford, who replaced Nixon after the replaced Nixon after the Watergate scandal, Watergate scandal, refuse to involve America refuse to involve America in a war that was already in a war that was already over for America.over for America.

The War’s Painful LegacyThe War’s Painful LegacyFor the U.S.For the U.S.

58,000 killed58,000 killed365,000 wounded365,000 wounded

For North and South For North and South VietnamVietnam

1.5 million dead1.5 million deadSoutheast Asia was left Southeast Asia was left

extremely unstable leading to extremely unstable leading to further war in Cambodiafurther war in Cambodia

Many Americans felt Many Americans felt uncomfortable about the uncomfortable about the government and our government and our unsuccessful war participation.unsuccessful war participation.

This was the first war America This was the first war America was involved in which did not was involved in which did not result in victory.result in victory.

Vietnam veterans received a Vietnam veterans received a cold homecoming, and some cold homecoming, and some face difficulties in readjusting to face difficulties in readjusting to civilian lifecivilian life some having some having flashbacks and some even flashbacks and some even committing suicidecommitting suicide

The Vietnam Veterans The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was constructed Memorial was constructed in 1982 to honor those who in 1982 to honor those who served and died or were served and died or were still missing in action in the still missing in action in the Vietnam War.Vietnam War.

The war’s end ushers in a The war’s end ushers in a violent, chaotic period in violent, chaotic period in Southeast Asia.Southeast Asia.

400,000 south Vietnamese 400,000 south Vietnamese are placed in labor campsare placed in labor camps

In Cambodia our invasion opened In Cambodia our invasion opened the door for a civil war in which a the door for a civil war in which a communist group known as the communist group known as the Khmer Rouge seized power in Khmer Rouge seized power in 1975.1975.

The Khmer Rouge executed many The Khmer Rouge executed many government officials and government officials and academics.academics.

During its reign of terror the During its reign of terror the Khmer Rouge is believed to have Khmer Rouge is believed to have killed about 2 million people. killed about 2 million people.

The war still stirs up controversy The war still stirs up controversy and led to major U.S. policy changes.and led to major U.S. policy changes.

The government abolished the draft The government abolished the draft and passed the war powers act that and passed the war powers act that stipulated that a president must inform stipulated that a president must inform Congress within 48 hours and must Congress within 48 hours and must not have troops in hostile territory for not have troops in hostile territory for more than 90 days unless approved by more than 90 days unless approved by congress.congress.

The Vietnam War altered America’s The Vietnam War altered America’s views on their government and its views on their government and its involvement in the world’s affairs.involvement in the world’s affairs.

The war diminished American’s feeling The war diminished American’s feeling of optimism and faith in government of optimism and faith in government felt during the Eisenhower and felt during the Eisenhower and Kennedy administration.Kennedy administration.