The End of the Vietnam War

TET Offensive Tet – weeklong festivities

for Vietnamese New Year Supposed week long truce

Funerals being held for war victims

Coffins contained weapons Vietcong launched attack

on 100 cities in S. Vietnam, 12 US airbases, fierce fighting in Saigon

South Vietnamese General Nguyen Ngoc Loan, chief of the national police, fires his pistol into the head of suspected Viet Cong officer Nguyen Van Lem on a Saigon street, on Feb. 1, 1968.

Tet Offensive Results 1 month for US forces to

regain control Militarily - “Defeat for

Vietcong” Vietcong losses – 32,000 US lost – 3,000

Psychological and Political Shook American public

No longer believed body counts

No longer believed close to defeat

Johnson’s reputation suffers American views of war

Change

“More Certain than ever that the bloody experience of Vietnam to end in a stalemate.” ~Walter Cronkite

The Divide of the Democrats Majority of Americans disapprove of war

policies Anti-war coalition in Democratic party created

before Tet to unseat Johnson Group nominates Eugene McCarthy Johnson barely won primary in NH RFK citing Johnson’s weakness at polls declares Johnson announces his withdraw and end of

escalation in Vietnam

A Time of Turmoil - 1968 MLK and RFK assassinated Protests, Riots, and turmoil

throughout the nation The Democratic National

Convention – Chicago Hubert Humphrey vs. Eugene

McCarthy VP Humphrey slated to win Protesters came, Mayor ordered

12000 troops and 5000 National Guardsmen

Protestors beat with clubs and sprayed with mase

Spilled into the streets All Nationally televised – made

Democrats who were divided look Worse

Election of 1968 Nixon, never strayed

far from politics announces Republican candidacy Promised to restore

order Independent George

Wallace (former Democrat)

Nixon defeats Humphrey by over 100 electoral votes, only 43% popular vote

Nixon’s Vietnam Policies Negotiations poor Vietnamization

gradual withdraw of US troops Allow S. Vietnamese too take

more responsibility US Troops dropped from 500,000

to 25,000 over next 3 yrs “Peace with Honor”

Maintain US dignity despite withdraw

Maintain US power at Negotiation Table

Secretly bombed supply lines, Laos and Cambodia

My Lai Massacre Read the Handout Effects: America Shocked, further

divides nations against Vietnam

Invasion of Cambodia America becoming less

explosive, even at college campuses

Nixon declares invasion Purpose:

Clear out North Vietnamese and supply lines

Effects: Colleges erupt in protest 1.5 million students,

1200 campuses

Kent State - 1970 You Tube Video

You Tube Video 2

Pentagon Papers 7,000 page document revealing gov. plans

for entering war as Johnson promised not escalate

Revealed plans to not end war as long as N. Vietnamese persisted

Leaked by former Defense Dept. worker Effects:

Confirmed belief that gov. had not been honest

Greater distrust in government

“Peace At Hand” March ‘72 – North Vietnam launched

largest attack since Tet, Nixon counters with massive bombing – still resulted in stalemate

Election and Growing Division in US led Nixon to arrange final troop withdraw

Henry Kissinger Nixon’s top negotiator – gave in insistence that North Vietnamese troops leave South Vietnam before US troops

Announced “Peace at Hand” Nixon won re-election

Take Handouts up Front

Unit 12 – Vietnam Test TOMORROWJournals Due

America Pulls Out Thieu regime in S. Vietnam rejected

Kissinger’s negotiations talks broke off Nixon bombed Hanoi and Haiphong

Congress, Beijing and Moscow called to end war

US signed agreement to end war & restore peace North Vietnamese troops remain in S.

Vietnam No Violation of Peace or Nixon would

Return Cease fire agreement collapsed North full invasion of South Thieu begged US help, sent aid but no

troops

Impacts of War Landscape of Vietnam DESTROYED

The Price of War: United States:

58,000 died in Vietnam313,616 wounded10,000 lost at least one limb due to booby traps, mines, ambushes and other guerilla tactics1340 remain MIA

South Vietnam: 185,528 killed499,026 wounded

North Vietnam/Viet Cong: 924,048 dead415,000 civilians killed935,000 civilians wounded

Effects of War on Southeast Asia

North Vietnam gains control of South Communist imprisoned 400,000

South Vietnamese Many fled on anything that floated,

caused Humanitarian crisis: 50,000 died

Cambodia broke into Civil War Khmer Rouge (communist party)

wanted to transform into a peasant utopian society

Killed estimated 2 million Cambodians

Effects on American Soldiers Return home often faced with hostility

or indifference 15% developed PTS Many began abusing drugs and/or

alcohol Several thousand committed suicide Many lost limbs, hard readjustment to

society

Effects of the war on the US Controversy between Hawks vs. Doves Abolishment of the Draft Passing of War Powers Act

President must inform Congress 48 hours if sending troops to non war declared hostile zone

Troops remain no longer than 90 days if non declared war Alter American views on foreign policy – possible risks to

own interests Distrust of politicians and government, lost optimism of

Eisenhower/Kennedy years Johnson – misleading info Nixon – concealed activities, watergate