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