Vietnam CH 24 Vietnam CH 24 section 4section 4

The War EndsThe War Ends

Nixon’s re-electionNixon’s re-election 1972 Democratic primary George McGovern was 1972 Democratic primary George McGovern was

an anti war candidatean anti war candidate He was opposed by the Democrat George Wallace He was opposed by the Democrat George Wallace

until Wallace was shot and paralyzed by a man until Wallace was shot and paralyzed by a man who thought he shouldn’t run for presidentwho thought he shouldn’t run for president

Passed in 1971 the 26Passed in 1971 the 26thth amendment changed the amendment changed the voting age from 21 to 18 giving those drafted the voting age from 21 to 18 giving those drafted the right to voteright to vote

Nixon was nominated with Spiro Agnew and Nixon was nominated with Spiro Agnew and assured the voters that the war would be over assured the voters that the war would be over soonsoon

A few weeks before the election Kissinger A few weeks before the election Kissinger announced that there was a breakthrough and announced that there was a breakthrough and that “peace was at hand” that “peace was at hand”

A cease-fireA cease-fire August 1969 Kissinger and North Vietnams Le August 1969 Kissinger and North Vietnams Le

Duc Tho met in Paris to discuss a way to end the Duc Tho met in Paris to discuss a way to end the warwar

This went on for three years until October 1972 This went on for three years until October 1972 when North Vietnam proposed a plan Nixon when North Vietnam proposed a plan Nixon found acceptablefound acceptable

This plan called for a cease fire and a pull out of This plan called for a cease fire and a pull out of all foreign troops in Vietnamall foreign troops in Vietnam

The plan also called for a the creation of a new The plan also called for a the creation of a new government in South Vietnam that included the government in South Vietnam that included the south’s current president Nguyen Van Thieusouth’s current president Nguyen Van Thieu

Thieu thought the plan reduced his power and Thieu thought the plan reduced his power and rejected it. The US backed Thieu and rejected rejected it. The US backed Thieu and rejected the plan toothe plan too

ContinuedContinued This was not taken well in the North and they This was not taken well in the North and they

demanded that the agreement be reinstated demanded that the agreement be reinstated Nixon responded with round-the-clock Nixon responded with round-the-clock

bombing of cities in the Norththis only bombing of cities in the Norththis only stopped for Christmas Daystopped for Christmas Day

At the end of December Nixon called off the At the end of December Nixon called off the bombing and resumed peace talksbombing and resumed peace talks

Jan 27, 1973 there was an agreement to a Jan 27, 1973 there was an agreement to a ceasefire the new agreement allowed for both ceasefire the new agreement allowed for both sides to claim victorysides to claim victory

Also there was a prisoner exchange agreement Also there was a prisoner exchange agreement but did not address original the issues behind but did not address original the issues behind the warthe war

Nixon secretly agreed to come to the South’s Nixon secretly agreed to come to the South’s aid if the fighting resumedaid if the fighting resumed

After the US WithdrewAfter the US Withdrew Two years after the US forces withdrew Two years after the US forces withdrew

South Vietnam’s Government collapsedSouth Vietnam’s Government collapsed In Jan 1975 the North Vietnamese troops In Jan 1975 the North Vietnamese troops

overran the northern part of South Vietnamoverran the northern part of South Vietnam The South Vietnamese troops fled in panic The South Vietnamese troops fled in panic

refugees fled into Saigonrefugees fled into Saigon In April the US military rushed to evacuate In April the US military rushed to evacuate

the several thousand troops left in Vietnamthe several thousand troops left in Vietnam As the last few fled the embassy roof by As the last few fled the embassy roof by

helicopter the compound was overrun by the helicopter the compound was overrun by the North’s troopsNorth’s troops

April 30, 1975 South Vietnam surrendered April 30, 1975 South Vietnam surrendered unconditionallyunconditionally

In the EndIn the End For Americans the war had been For Americans the war had been

overover The costly effort to keep a The costly effort to keep a

communist Vietnam from happening communist Vietnam from happening had failedhad failed

The collapse of Southeast Asia and The collapse of Southeast Asia and the “Domino theory” never occurredthe “Domino theory” never occurred

Effects of the warEffects of the war According to Saigon government figures According to Saigon government figures

some 180,000South Vietnamese soldiers some 180,000South Vietnamese soldiers were killedwere killed

The South Civilian dead estimates were The South Civilian dead estimates were put at 500,000 dead put at 500,000 dead

The number of Vietcong dead is unknown The number of Vietcong dead is unknown but is guessed at 1 million and 800,000 but is guessed at 1 million and 800,000 orphaned childrenorphaned children

And due to things like Agent Orange there And due to things like Agent Orange there were 181,000 disabled including high were 181,000 disabled including high rates of liver cancer rates of liver cancer

Vietnam VeteransVietnam Veterans Of the more than 2 million Americans involved Of the more than 2 million Americans involved

in the Vietnam War…..in the Vietnam War….. More than 58,000 people died More than 58,000 people died More than 300,000 were wounded (a large More than 300,000 were wounded (a large

number were severely wounded or paralyzed)number were severely wounded or paralyzed) About 2,500 were missing in action About 2,500 were missing in action More than 600 were held as prisoners of war. More than 600 were held as prisoners of war.

Some spending more than 6 years in Some spending more than 6 years in Vietnamese jails where they endured solitary Vietnamese jails where they endured solitary confinement and torture confinement and torture

But perhaps the most tragic, was the fate of But perhaps the most tragic, was the fate of the veterans when they returned home. the veterans when they returned home.

Vietnam Veterans…..Vietnam Veterans….. Veterans became targets for the anger, guilt, Veterans became targets for the anger, guilt,

shame and violence felt by other Americans that shame and violence felt by other Americans that were frustrated by the war were frustrated by the war

The public’s negative reaction demoralized the The public’s negative reaction demoralized the returning veteransreturning veterans

They had faced life and death situations and felt They had faced life and death situations and felt they were merely obeying orders they thought they were merely obeying orders they thought were in the country’s best interestwere in the country’s best interest

In a state of despair, many turned to drugs. In a state of despair, many turned to drugs. Others had a hard time finding a job and Others had a hard time finding a job and adjusting to civilian lifeadjusting to civilian life

Many veterans later developed problems like Many veterans later developed problems like cancer and their children having birth defects. cancer and their children having birth defects. Research later liked the medical problems to Research later liked the medical problems to Agent Orange Agent Orange

Side Effects of Side Effects of VietnamVietnam

Public PolicyPublic Policy Americans felt misled by their governmentAmericans felt misled by their government Seeking to prevent “another Vietnam” Congress Seeking to prevent “another Vietnam” Congress

passed the War Powers Act, which reaffirmed passed the War Powers Act, which reaffirmed Congress’s right to declare war.Congress’s right to declare war.

The war also left behind an economic strain, it cost The war also left behind an economic strain, it cost taxpayers directly more than $150 billion. This taxpayers directly more than $150 billion. This added greatly to the national debt and fueled added greatly to the national debt and fueled inflation inflation

The book says “Since Vietnam, leaders have been The book says “Since Vietnam, leaders have been hesitant to commit US troops in far-off regions hesitant to commit US troops in far-off regions without being certain of the consent of the American without being certain of the consent of the American people and the nation’s political allies.” Well, this people and the nation’s political allies.” Well, this book was written in 2003, opinions may have book was written in 2003, opinions may have changed since then. changed since then.

Healing the Wounds of Healing the Wounds of WarWar

Long after the war ended, the Vietnam Veterans Long after the war ended, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, designed by Maya Ying Lin, was built in Memorial, designed by Maya Ying Lin, was built in Washington D.C.Washington D.C.

Inscribed on a huge black granite wall are the names of Inscribed on a huge black granite wall are the names of 58,000 Americans who died in Vietnam.58,000 Americans who died in Vietnam.

Lin insisted that the names be placed in chronological Lin insisted that the names be placed in chronological order rather than alphabetical or by rank.order rather than alphabetical or by rank.

Hundreds of people visit the memorial daily.Hundreds of people visit the memorial daily. Many leave flowers, personal mementos and written Many leave flowers, personal mementos and written

messagesmessages To others it is a symbol of their rendition of the “wailing To others it is a symbol of their rendition of the “wailing

wall” wall” Others simply silently contemplate the significance of Others simply silently contemplate the significance of

the memorial the memorial