The Vietnam War & American Society

1960 - 1975

31.1 – Deepening American Involvement

• Causes of the war: Communist nationals ousted French colonial power & divide Vietnam– North (Communist) & South (Republic)– The U.S. supports South Vietnam with 16,000

military advisers• Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: after an alleged

attack on U.S. ships, congress authorizes “all necessary measures to repel any armed attack.”

31.2 – The Brutality of the War

• Viet Cong use guerrilla warfare tactics & infiltrate the civilian population

• U.S. troops face booby traps & snipers; often can not distinguish “friend from foe.”

• The U.S. turns to saturation bombing & chemical weapons = high civilian costs.

• My Lai Massacre: In search of Viet Cong, Americans slaughter a village of civilians.

• Communist Tet Offensive leads to slaughter of 5,000 civilians

31.3 – Student Protest

• The rising death toll, increasing use of the draft and the Pentagon Papers leads to growing public opposition to the war– Protests around the country call for an end to the war– Conscientious objectors & “draft dodgers” refuse to

fight– Some students receive deferments

• Protests at Kent State and Jackson State turn deadly for students.

31.4 – The Counterculture

• 1960’s youth movements promoted ideas of more personal freedom & individuality– The Sexual Revolution shocks conservative

Americans– Use of marijuana & psychedelic drugs becomes

widespread– Music reflected the mood of the times• Woodstock Festival 1969

31.5 The End of the War

• President Nixon inherited the war from LBJ, promises to end the U.S. involvement– Nixon first expands the war into Cambodia– Paris Peace Talks – ends war in 1973. Vietnam will

remain divided• After Nixon is impeached, North Vietnam is

emboldened to invade South & eventually reunites Vietnam under Communist regime.

• Last U.S. personnel evacuate in April, 1975