Vietnam War Chapter 22: Sections 2 and 3

Advantages in War American Advantages: Better Weaponry Vietcong Advantages: “Home Field Advantage” Blending-In Willing to Die

Weapons and Tactics American Weapons and Tactics Bombings War of Attrition Napalm Agent Orange Search and Destroy Missions

Weapons and Tactics Vietcong Weapons and Tactics Hit and Run Missions Land Mines Booby Traps Guerilla Warfare

The Credibility Gap Credibility Gap forms between the Government and American Public The Government was remaining optimistic about the Vietnam War, while the media (TV) was portraying the war as a lost cause The American people began to question the government and look toward the mass media for the truth

The Credibility Gap The U.S. Economy Television The Fulbright Hearings The war caused inflation and taxes increases Television Brought the war “home” Contradicted Johnson’s Optimism The Fulbright Hearings Contributed to American’s uncertainty in the war

Dodging the Draft Doctors gave bogus medical deferments Men looked for lenient draft boards Enrolled in college Joined the Coast Guard or the National Guard

Vietnam: The Working Class War Nearly 80% of the troops in Vietnam were “working class” Enrolling in college = $ Men who could not afford college were typically drafted into the army

Opposing the War College Students and young people generally opposed The New Left - Growing youth movement in the 1960’s. Demanded sweeping changes be made in the US Students for a Democratic Society(SDS) - claimed corporations had taken over America, and called for “participatory democracy” more individual rights and freedoms. Free Speech Movement(FSM) - opposed the “machine”

Opposing the War March on Washington - because college deferment changed Tearing up draft cards Fleeing to Canada Demonstrations Speeches

The Nation Divides Doves Opposed the war Thought the US should withdraw Hawks Supported the war Thought the US should use more military force

Tet Offensive Beginning of the new year known as Tet Villagers celebrated the festivities by mourning the dead Vietcong announced a week-long truce for the new year During the week, many funerals took place for war victims The Vietcong had secretly infiltrated cities all across South Vietnam and hid guns inside coffins to launch a secret attack The Vietcong attacked over 100 cities, 12 US air bases, and the US embassy in Saigon killing 5 Americans

Tet Changes Public Opinion in the US The Vietcong was defeated militarily Vietcong lost about 32,000 men US lost a little over 3,000 men The Johnson Administration claimed the Vietcong were nearly defeated Tet Offensive - Made people feel lied to Public opinion changed, Johnson would never recover support

Political Changes 1968 - Johnson decided not to run for reelection The Democrats were splitting apart over the topic of Vietnam. Eugene McCarthy = End War Robert Kennedy = Support American poor/minorities Kennedy was assassinated McCarthy ran against Hubert Humphrey

1968 Election Republican = Richard Nixon Democrat = Hubert Humphrey Independent = George Wallace Nixon won!

Nixon Begins to Withdraw Troops Vietnamization - name of the process used to withdraw troops from Vietnam Plan developed by Nixon and Henry Kissinger Wanted to remove US troops and have the South Vietnamese troops take over more of the combat “Peace With Honor”

“Peace With Honor” Troops began to return home Nixon wanted to Nationalist Government in South Vietnam to remain intact Ordered massive bombings on North Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos He wanted the Vietcong to believe he was capable of anything, and did not want to show weakness

The My Lai Massacre March 16, 1968 - a US platoon moved into the village of My Lai Lt. William Calley Jr. gave orders to “kill anything that breathed” Over 200 villagers, mostly women and children were rounded up and huddled together The troops opened fire on the innocent civilians

Invasion of Cambodia April 30, 1970 - US invaded Cambodia Nixon stated this had to be done to cut Vietcong supply lines College students began to strike - First in history Around 1,200 campuses closed around the United States Kent State University - Ohio

The Pentagon Papers Nixon was abusing the Tonkin Gulf Resolution by ordering increased bombing on North Vietnam and invading Cambodia Congress repealed the resolution Public support fell apart when the Pentagon Papers leaked to the public Revealed that Johnson planned to send troops to Vietnam when he was promising peace and did not intend to end the war

End of the War Heavy bombings continued in North Vietnam “Christmas Bombings” - 100,000 bombs over 11 days January 27, 1973 - Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam March 29, 1973 - The last of the troops left for home Within months of the US departure, the North launched a full scale invasion of South Vietnam

The Fall of Saigon The South Vietnamese government appealed to the US for help America provided economic aid, but refused to send troops April 30, 1975 - North Vietnamese tanks rolled into South Vietnam and they were forced to surrender

The War’s Legacy 58,000 Americans died, 303,000 were wounded Vietnamese deaths topped 2 million The US was divided between “hawks” and “doves” All of America was left feeling uneasy about foreign affairs and untrusting of their government Most people in the US were protesting returning veterans

War’s Affect on Soldiers Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome Suicide Drug and Alcohol Abuse Severe Headaches Memory Lapses

Results... Vietnam fell to Communism Over 400,000 South Vietnamese were imprisoned Nearly 1.5 million fled Vietnam for other areas Cambodia was taken by a Communist group (Khmer Rouge)

Results... US ended the Draft Took action to monitor President’s war-making powers War Powers Act - Presidents must notify Congress within 48 hours of sending troops into a hostile area without a declaration of war. Cannot remain there more than 90 days without Congressional approval “Vietnam Syndrome” - US weighs out possibilities on foreign policy before acting on them The US citizens became cynical about the Government