The End Of The War

Election of Nixon By the time of 1968 election opposition to the war was at its highest Nixon claims to have a secret way to end the war Robert Kennedy was assassinated Because of all this Nixon wins the election

Nixon’s Approach Vietnamization –Switching U.S. troops with South Vietnamese troops (Nixon’s plan) –From 1968 to 1972 U.S. troops shrank from 543,000 to 39,000 Nixon still wants to win the war –He continues bombing –Spreads the war into Cambodia –These actions renew protests at home

U.S. Withdraws During the election of 1972 Nixon orders the most intense bombings of the war –Bombed Hanoi, the capital of N. Vietnam –Mined the harbors in N. Vietnam 1973 the cease fire is signed between U.S. and N. Vietnam The civil war continues for two more years 1975 N. Vietnam takes over Saigon finishing the war U.S. pulls out of Vietnam for good

The Legacy Of The War Human casualties –Over 58,000 Americans were killed –300,000 were wounded U.S. loses its first war Change in U.S. foreign policy –We will send money and supplies –We will no longer fight another country’s war War Powers Act of 1973 – Gave Congress the right to either approve or disapprove the President sending troops abroad and bringing them home

Why Was Vietnam A Failure

Why We Failed Military leaders over-estimate our role in the war –Thought no one could defeat the U.S. military –They don’t think that the Vietnamese are supplied or trained well Enemy is better than we think –They are used to fighting (they been fighting for 20 years) –They know the land better –They are better supplied than we thought –Guerrilla warfare –We don’t know our enemy

Why We Failed Military blames LBJ –LBJ can not do what is needed to win the war because of political restraints Media is blamed for turning public opinion against the war –The media supported the war between –The media should have censored the war more –The casualties being seen on TV was what took away public support

Why Was Vietnam Unpopular?

The Draft Any male 18 years or older had to register –They were picked by lottery –Deferments College - if a person was attending college Married with children Medical reasons –25,000 new draftees each month –Questions of discrimination in the draft Blacks are 11% of the pop. But they were 16% of the people drafted and they made up 30% of the combat troops

Psychological Effects On Soldiers Problems coping when they were home 1.Post-Traumatic Stress disorder 2.Income – Their average income was $2,740 less than normal 3.Divorce – They were four times more likely to be divorced 4.Increase in smoking, drug and alcoholism More than 16% of all Vets experience alcohol problems More likely to use sleeping pills and tranquilizers

Physical Effects Wounds suffered during war Agent Orange causes cancer and many other diseases

Public Disapproval Conscientious objectors – people that have moral/religious beliefs that prevent them from fighting in the war My Lai Massacre and Tet offensive (1968) increases public disapproval

Public Disapproval Student protests –Kent State University (1970) Four students were killed by national guardsmen at an antiwar protest –Jackson State (1970) Two students killed, 11 wounded by police at a antiwar demonstration People are angered about the war being spread into Cambodia Pentagon Papers are published *By 1970, more Americans favor ending the U.S. involvement in the war than staying involved