The Vietnam warAMERICA’S INVOLVEMENT ANDS EXIT

Pop Quiz

Did we enter the war completely at first

The president who began involvement in Vietnam

What was our main goal there for several years

The domino theory

Idea that without intervention, we would lose more

countries to communism.

The U.S. enters the war

Thought the war would last eight months

Believed out weapons would outmatch the V.C.

First war America got an un-edited look at

Breaking down the war

Why did we leave?

In 10 groups we will each get a section of reading to

create a presentation.

Each group must have a visual aid.

Groups must fully describe their section.

You may make a ppt slide if you feel this would help

VISUAL DISCOVERY

Getting Out of Vietnam

Nixon’s Peace with Honor

War was not “winnable,” so troops should be withdrawn, but without damaging U.S. reputation

Strategy:

(1) Diplomacy: no more bombing if North Vietnamese troops leave and South Vietnam remains independent

(2) Vietnamization – South Vietnam would gradually take over conduct of the war

(3) Destroy communist bases in neighboring Cambodia and Laos by secret bombing raids and ground troops

Results: American troops were gradually reduced, but the enormously costly war continued

Increased Protest at Home

My Lai Massacre – suspecting the village was a Viet Cong stronghold, U.S. soldiers kill 500 Vietnamese women, children, and old men

Antiwar demonstrations increased on city streets and college campuses dividing the nations

Kent State University shootings – the National Guard opened fire during a protest killing 4 students

Pentagon Papers – the NY Times published gov’t reports proving that the gov’t deceived the public about the war

American Involvement Ends

In 1972, with only 6,000 American troops remaining in South Vietnam, North Vietnam invaded; failed when the U.S. unleashed bombers

Paris Peace Accords of 1972

Signed by the U.S., South Vietnam, North Vietnam, and the Viet Cong

Established a cease fire, kept the dividing line at the 17th

parallel, full withdrawal of U.S. troops, and release of all U.S. prisoners of war

Aftermath:

South Vietnam fell to communist North Vietnam in 1975

U.S. embassy in South Vietnam closed and evacuated

South Vietnamese sent to “reeducation camps” – hard labor

Over one million Vietnamese refugees