TOPIC 17: the Vietnam war era

TOPIC 17: the Vietnam war era
TOPIC 17: the Vietnam war era 17.1: the cold war and Vietnam

Kennedy Strives to Win the Cold War
John Kennedy's 1960 campaign stressed the need for the United States to move forward with vigor and determination. Kennedy argued that during the Eisenhower years America had lost ground in the Cold War struggle against communism. He pointed to the new communist regime under Fidel Castro in Cuba and charged that there was now a “missile gap” that left the U.S. nuclear missile force inferior to that of the Soviet Union. The first goal of the Kennedy administration would be to build up the nation’s armed forces.

Significant National Decisions Impact the Cold War
Important International Decisions Shape the Cold War

Kennedy Responds to Communism in Cuba
In 1959, Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro succeeded in overthrowing the regime of Fulgencio Batista. Initially, the United States attempted to cultivate good relations with Castro. However, it soon became clear that the Cuban leader was determined to nationalize land held by U.S. citizens, enforce radical reform measures, and accept Soviet economic and military aid. Thousands of wealthy and middle-class Cubans fled their country, many settling in Miami and southern Florida. Proud of their heritage and deeply anticommunist, they made new lives for themselves and their families in the United States.

Kennedy’s Role in the Cuban Missile Crisis
Bay of Pigs Invasion Kennedy’s Role in the Cuban Missile Crisis The Impact of the Crisis

Based on the information in the map, what factors might have influenced President Kennedy's decision to launch the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, in 1961?

The Causes and Outcomes of the Berlin Crisis
Since 1958, Khrushchev wanted to sign a peace treaty that would put the western zones of Berlin under control of East Germany. His actions were motivated by the steady flow of skilled East German workers into West Berlin. Desiring to show his strength, Kennedy stood firm on America’s commitment to defending the rights of West Berliners and West Germans. At a conference in Vienna in June 1961, Kennedy and Khrushchev focused on Berlin as the key issue. Khrushchev called the present situation “intolerable.”

Reasons for U.S. Involvement in Indochina
Presidents Kennedy and Johnson shared a vision for a better America in the 1960s. They also shared a vision for a better world in which America would emerge victorious from its Cold War struggle against global communism. As part of this strategic and ideological battle, the United States established a new line of defense against communism in Vietnam. The conflict in Southeast Asia would grow to be one of the most costly wars in American history.

French Control of Indochina in Southeast Asia
The French Fight Nationalism and Communism The Domino Theory Spurs U.S. Involvement in Vietnam

Based on the information in this map, which regions of present-day Vietnam were particularly dangerous for French forces?

Ho Chi Minh was a revolutionary leader who fought against French occupation. Later, he became the prime minister, then president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam).

Based on the graphic, were U. S
Based on the graphic, were U.S. leaders concerned about the spread of communism only in Southeast Asia or did they fear it would spread worldwide?

The graphic shows the international chain reaction that American strategists of the 1950s most feared. Were these strategists justified in their concern about the spread of communism? Explain.

The United States Responds to Communism in Vietnam
During the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, France appealed to the United States for military support. President Eisenhower was willing to supply money but not soldiers. Ike would not commit American troops to defend colonialism in Asia. Nevertheless, the President firmly supported the new anticommunist government of South Vietnam.

The U.S. Escalates Involvement in South Vietnam
Impact of the Communist Insurgency Kennedy Sends U.S. Troops to Vietnam Johnson Leads the Nation into the Vietnam War Reasons for Escalating Conflict Congress Gives Johnson Broad Military Powers

B. flexible response Which defense policy did President Kennedy favor?
Quiz: Kennedy Strives to Win the Cold War Which defense policy did President Kennedy favor? A. nuclear attack B. flexible response C. massive retaliation D. diplomatic consideration B. flexible response

A. It ended aboveground nuclear tests.
Quiz: Kennedy Responds to Communism in Cuba What was the effect of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty? A. It ended aboveground nuclear tests. B. It prohibited all testing of nuclear weapons. C. It limited the production of nuclear weapons. D. It authorized nuclear tests in specific countries. A. It ended aboveground nuclear tests.

Quiz: The Causes and Outcomes of the Berlin Crisis
Why did President Kennedy want to defend the freedom of West Berlin? A. He considered its resources important to the U.S. economy. B. He hoped to prevent a war between East Berlin and West Berlin. C. He considered it critical to defending western Europe from communism. D. He wanted to negotiate an agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union. C. He considered it critical to defending western Europe from communism.

C. to ensure French support of the United States during the Cold War
Quiz: Reasons for U.S. Involvement in Indochina Why did the United States support French colonial efforts in Vietnam? A. to strengthen nationalist efforts in Vietnam B. to help preserve French colonialism in Vietnam C. to ensure French support of the United States during the Cold War D. to reward France for its support of the United States in previous conflicts C. to ensure French support of the United States during the Cold War

C. to undermine the anticommunist Diem government in South Vietnam
Quiz: The United States Responds to Communism in Vietnam What was the primary goal of the Vietcong? A. to replace Soviet communism with democracy in North Vietnam B. to unite North Vietnam and South Vietnam by way of a compromise C. to undermine the anticommunist Diem government in South Vietnam D. to reverse the anti-Buddhist legislation passed by the Diem administration C. to undermine the anticommunist Diem government in South Vietnam

The Vietnam War was one of the most tragic events of the cold war
The Vietnam War was one of the most tragic events of the cold war. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers served in Vietnam and billions of dollars were spent on the war effort.

Over time, many Americans questioned the extend of U. S
Over time, many Americans questioned the extend of U.S. involvement in this faraway conflict. As we continue in this chapter, think about the war and other issues that caused deep divisions within American society.

Geneva Conference An international conference in 1954 in which Vietnam was divided into two nations.

Viet Cong A force of Communist guerrillas in South Vietnam who, with North Vietnamese support, fought against the South Vietnamese government in the Vietnam War

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
1964 Congressional resolution authorizing President Johnson to take military action in Vietnam

August 2, 1964: the U.S.S. Maddox was attacked by torpedo boats in the Gulf of Tonkin A second attack was reported two days later on the U.S.S. Turner Joy and U.S.S Maddox in the same area. The next day, Congress approved the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.

The resolution gave the President the power to “take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the U.S. and prevent further aggression.” U.S.S. Madox PresidentJohnson

Gulf of Tonkin 3:49 minutes

According to the Geneva Accords, what was to take place in Vietnam in 1956?
Many Americans were sent by Eisenhower to assist Diem. What did the advisors do. Diem was unable to become a successful leader. Name two reasons why this was true. What were conditions like in North Vietnam? How did the Vietminh react to the news that the elections had been cancelled? What was the name of the group of South Vietnamese who rebelled against the government? How did the North Vietnamese support the revolt in the South? What did President Kennedy believe that the South Vietnamese government needed to do to defeat the rebels? In 1963 what religious group criticized Diem and then was persecuted by him? Who overthrew Diem’s government in 1963 and then executed him?

What was the name of the trail by which North Vietnam supplied the Viet Cong rebels?
What was the name of the Secretary of Defense who warned President Johnson in 1963 that the fall of South Vietnam was imminent? In what body of water was the Maddox allegedly attacked by North Vietnamese patrol boats? What resolution was passed by Congress as a result of this attack? What did the resolution give President Johnson the authority to do? What was Operation Rolling Thunder? What did President Johnson want Operation Rolling Thunder to accomplish? Why did President Johnson believe that the U.S. military would easily defeat the Viet Cong? In 1964 did most Americans agree with Johnson’s actions? What happened to U.S. troop levels in Vietnam from 1965 to 1968?

escalation Expansion by stages, as from a limited or local conflict into a general, especially nuclear, war

Ho Chi Minh Trail Supply route that carried troops and supplies from North Vietnam to South Vietnam

Main Idea The United States entered the Vietnam War to defeat Communist forces threatening South Vietnam.

Q: Why were American soldiers sent to fight in Vietnam?
American leaders felt that if Vietnam fell to the Communists, there could be a Communist takeover of the rest of the world.

Gulf of Tonkin Incident and Johnson’s Reelection
Q: What specific events led to an increase in American involvement in Vietnam in 1964? Gulf of Tonkin Incident and Johnson’s Reelection

Q: Look at the picture on p
Q: Look at the picture on p. 619 of Buddhist monks protesting Ngo Dinh Diem’s government by burning themselves to death on the streets of Saigon. How does this symbolize the difficult problems Johnson inherited in Vietnam? It shows the unpopularity of the United States-backed Diem among its own people

Q: Why did the U.S. get more and more involved in the conflict in Vietnam?
Fears of communism spreading throughout the region. Presidents also used real and alleged incidents (events) to step up American involvement.

Q: Review the timeline on p. 617
Q: Review the timeline on p Which event do you think affected Kennedy’s viewpoint on Vietnam the most? Explain. Possible Answer: 1963—military coup (overthrow) of Diem, because Kennedy realized the struggle could not be won under Diem’s rule

The escalation of war and increased American involvement
Q: What do you think Johnson hoped to gain by authorizing the bombing of targets in North Vietnam in 1965? Possible Answer: The escalation of war and increased American involvement

TOPIC 17: the Vietnam war era 17.2: AMERICA’S ROLE ESCALATES

From 1964 to 1968 was the commander of U.S. forces in the Vietnam War.
William Westmoreland From 1964 to 1968 was the commander of U.S. forces in the Vietnam War.

napalm jellied gasoline dropped in canisters that explode on impact and cover large areas in flame; dropped by U.S. planes during the Vietnam War

Napalm: WHAT: Highly flammable chemical used in firebombing attacks;
HOW: dropped from U.S. planes during Vietnam War WHY: to burn away vegetation and expose Viet Cong hideouts

Escalation of Forces in Vietnam
After the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, President Johnson began to shift U.S. military efforts in Vietnam into high gear. But America’s leaders and soldiers soon found themselves stuck in a deadly quagmire with no quick victory in sight. The war began to weaken the economy, divide the American people, and erode the nation’s morale.

Johnson Changes Strategies
Vietcong Tactics and Strategies American Casualties Escalate

An American B-52 bombs North Vietnamese supply lines and military installations in Operation Rolling Thunder. Make Predictions Would the superior firepower of the United States determine the outcome of the war?

Based on the information in the map, what advantage did the Ho Chi Minh Trail give the Vietcong?

What does the data reveal about the war during the years 1965 to 1968?

Patriotism, Heroism, and Sinking Morale
For American soldiers in the field, the Vietnam War presented difficult challenges that demanded courage and patience. Unlike World War II, the Vietnam War did not emphasize territorial acquisition. The United States and its allies did not invade North Vietnam, march on Ho Chi Minh’s capital of Hanoi, or attempt to destroy the communist regime. As in the Korean War, the United States was wary of triggering both Chinese and Soviet entry into the conflict. Instead, U.S. forces supported the survival and development of South Vietnam, which was besieged by the Vietcong and their North Vietnamese allies. In this fight, U.S. troops could never fully tell their friends from their enemies. Yet from the outset, they faced the dangers of Vietnam’s battlefields with dedication and bravery.

New Battlefield Dangers and Guerrilla Warfare
American Soldiers Fulfill Their Duty Questioning the Cause

Doubt Grows on the Home Front
The lack of progress toward victory in Vietnam also led to doubt in the United States. When President Johnson had begun to send troops to war, Americans had expected a relatively quick victory. After all, the United States was a militarily powerful, technologically advanced country, and North Vietnam was a poor country with comparatively little technology. Over the next few years, the Johnson administration kept asserting that an American victory was close at hand. But when that did not come, many began to question the President’s foreign policy.

Impact of Defense Spending on the Economy
An Antiwar Movement Emerges

In your opinion, which two effects had the most negative impact and why?

What is this cartoon saying about the predicament of President Johnson (shown on the phone)?

D. could wear down their more powerful enemy and kill it.
Quiz: Escalation of Forces in Vietnam Ho Chi Minh compared his troops to a tiger and the U.S. troops to an elephant in order to convey the idea that his troops A. were deadly while U.S. troops posed little threat. B. were well camouflaged while U.S. troops were exposed. C. were able to savagely attack an enemy that was too big to hide. D. could wear down their more powerful enemy and kill it. D. could wear down their more powerful enemy and kill it.

A. The United States waged a defensive war to protect an ally.
Quiz: Patriotism, Heroism, and Sinking Morale In which way did the goals of the United States in the Vietnam War differ from the goals of the United States during World War II? A. The United States waged a defensive war to protect an ally. B. The United States was fighting to acquire territory. C. The United States was trying to expand the territory of its ally. D. The United States supported the survival of a colonial power. A. The United States waged a defensive war to protect an ally.

C. They opposed withdrawing troops from Vietnam.
Quiz: Doubt Grows on the Home Front How did the hawks feel about the war in Vietnam? A. They criticized the war on moral grounds. B. They did not accept the escalating wartime costs. C. They opposed withdrawing troops from Vietnam. D. They sympathized with the cause of North Vietnam. C. They opposed withdrawing troops from Vietnam.

TOPIC 17: the Vietnam war era 17.3: the antiwar movement

Tet Offensive 4:00 minutes

Q: Explain the Tet Offensive.
Example: A series of North Vietnamese surprise attacks on major cities and American military bases in South Vietnam launched on Vietnamese New Year.

Q: Look at your map. How might the Ho Chi Minh Trail have contributed to the Tet Offensive?
It allowed the North Vietnamese government to provide the Viet Cong with ammunition and other supplies for the Tet Offensive.

Antiwar Sentiment Grows
President Johnson sent more American troops to Vietnam in order to win the war. But with each passing year, casualty lists got longer and victory seemed further away. As soldiers died abroad and hawks and doves argued at home, the Vietnam War opened up a deep emotional rift in American society. After the war ended, it would take years for the country to heal itself.

Protests on College Campuses
Protesting the Draft Protests on College Campuses The 26th Amendment The Role of the Media and the “Credibility Gap”

Sequence of Important Events Related to Student Protests
Civil Rights Movement 1950s College Enrollment Booms 1960s SDS Formed and New Left Grows students organize antiwar demonstrations and teach-ins Students begin draft resistance movement Sequence of Important Events Related to Student Protests

Q: How had the civil rights movement influenced the antiwar movement?
Civil rights activists helped organize antiwar organizations, such as SDS, and inspired others to stand up for their right to free speech.

Q: How many U.S. soldiers were in Vietnam in 1968?
Over 500,000

Q: How many U.S. soldiers died in battle in 1968?
Over 14,000

Diseases from jungle fungi Death or debilitation from guerilla warfare
Effects of War American Soldiers Vietnamese Civilians Diseases from jungle fungi Death or debilitation from guerilla warfare Homes, roads, bridges destroyed Death or maiming from bombing and chemical warfare

Q: How were Vietnamese civilians affected by the war?
Countless civilians were killed or maimed (permanently disfigured) by bombing and chemical warfare.

Q: What impact did the war have on Vietnamese culture?
Churches and schools were destroyed; the culture was disrupted.

Conditions for American Soldiers in Vietnam
3:10 Minutes

Q: How did the nature of the fighting add to the frustration of American soldiers?
Guerilla warfare was constantly dangerous and uncertain, and resulted in the death and maiming of many innocent civilians

Effects on Vietnamese Civilians
3:36 Minutes

Q: Why was the Vietnam War particularly brutal for American soldiers?
They faced terrible conditions in the jungles; they never knew who among the Vietnamese were their friends or enemies; they were always in danger of falling into booby traps

Q: Why did American troops with superior equipment fail to defeat the enemy?
American technology could not overcome the unfamiliar guerilla tactics of the enemy

The Tet Offensive In November 1967, President Johnson brought General Westmoreland home from Vietnam to address the nation’s concerns about the war. Westmoreland said that the Vietcong were declining in strength and could no longer mount a major offensive. As Westmoreland made his claims, however, the North Vietnamese and Vietcong were planning just such an attack.

Shifting Policy from Victory to Peace
Widespread Attacks Shifting Policy from Victory to Peace Johnson Refuses to Seek Reelection

Identify two regions of South Vietnam that were hard-hit by the Tet Offensive.

An American tank patrols among the ruins in Saigon following the Tet Offensive in American forces were unprepared due to a cease-fire supposedly in effect during the celebration of Tet.

The 1968 Presidential Race Johnson’s decision not to seek reelection in 1968 threw the presidential race wide open. Many Americans believed it provided an opportunity to enact fundamental political and social changes. They argued that the future of the country was at stake. It was a time of new ideas and new plans. But the optimism and high hopes of the early campaign would soon die amidst political infighting, violence, and assassination.

King and Kennedy Assassinated
The Chicago Democratic Convention Richard Nixon Wins the Presidency

The assassination of presidential candidate Robert Kennedy in June 1968 shocked the nation and the world. (3m)

Quiz: Antiwar Sentiment Grows
The practice of college deferments meant that most of the draftees who served in Vietnam came from the A. upper class. B. middle class. C. working class. D. professional class.

A. The United States should send more troops to Vietnam.
Quiz: The Tet Offensive What did Secretary of Defense Clark Clifford determine after analyzing the conflict in Vietnam? A. The United States should send more troops to Vietnam. B. The United States should try to negotiate peace with North Vietnam. C. The United States should counter the Tet Offensive with a massive attack. D. The United States should devise a better military strategy to counter the Vietcong.

Which two groups fought outside the Chicago Democratic Convention?
Quiz: The 1968 Presidential Race Which two groups fought outside the Chicago Democratic Convention? A. police and protesters B. Democrats and Republicans C. voters and government officials D. Humphrey supporters and McCarthy supporters

TOPIC 17: the Vietnam war era 17.4: the war’s end and effects

In one of the most horrific incidents of violence against civilians during the Vietnam War, a company of American soldiers brutally killed the majority of the population of the South Vietnamese village of My Lai in March Exact numbers are not confirmed, but it is believed that over 400 unarmed civilians were killed in the My Lai Massacre.

Higher-ranking U.S. Army officers covered up the events of that day for a year. In 1970, a U.S. Army board charged 14 officers of crimes related to the events at My Lai; only one was convicted.

The brutality of the My Lai killings and the extent of the cover-up rapidly increased growing antiwar sentiment on the home front in the U.S. and further divided the nation over American presence in Vietnam.

Did You Know? Hugh Thompson, the helicopter pilot who stopped the My Lai massacre, later told the news program "60 Minutes" that he received death threats upon his return from Vietnam. In March 1998, 30 years after the events at My Lai, the U.S. Army presented Thompson and two members of his crew with the Soldier's Medal, for heroism not involving conflict with an enemy.

Pentagon Papers classified U.S. government study that revealed American leaders involved the United States in Vietnam without fully informing the American people; leaked to the New York Times in 1971

The Pentagon Papers 4:51 Minutes

The Pentagon Papers boosted the antiwar sentiment (feeling) in America.
Students stood at the front of the antiwar movement.

Roy P. Benavidez wounded during a rescue mission in Cambodia in 1968, Benavidez was awarded the Medal of Honor (in 1981).

War Powers Act 1973 law passed by Congress restricting the President's war- making powers; the law requires the President to consult with Congress before committing American forces to a foreign conflict

Attempts to Withdraw from Vietnam
As a presidential candidate, Richard Nixon promised “peace with honor” and an end to a war that had fractured American society. Nixon did indeed withdraw American troops, and the Vietnam War finally ended. But the impact of the war endured. As the nation recovered from war, Americans reexamined the struggle against communism, the power of the presidency, and America’s role in the world.

Peace Talks Stall Vietnamization

Paris Peace Accords 1973 Peace agreement between the United States, South Vietnam, North Vietnam, and the Vietcong that effectively ended the Vietnam War

Vietnamization President Nixon's plan for gradual withdrawal of U.S. forces as South Vietnamese troops assumed more combat duties

Events Intensify the Antiwar Movement
Nixon inherited two things from Lyndon Johnson: an unpopular war and a vocal American opposition to it. The new President wanted “peace with honor,” security for America’s ally South Vietnam, and international respect for U.S. foreign policy. Antiwar activists wanted the war ended and American troops out of Vietnam—on any terms. Nixon found it increasingly difficult to achieve his goals and satisfy the snowballing antiwar movement.

The War Widens into Cambodia
The Kent State Killings The My Lai Massacre The Pentagon Papers

President Nixon campaigned on the claim that he had a secret plan to end the war. In June 1969, he began the policy of Vietnamization, replacing American troops in Vietnam with South Vietnamese soldiers.

Although Nixon wanted to end the war, he did not want to lose it
Although Nixon wanted to end the war, he did not want to lose it. He launched secret bombing raids and expanded the war to Cambodia, hoping to destroy Viet Cong camps there.

Nixon hoped his Cambodian attacks would help America in peace negotiations. Instead, the attacks resulted in both civil war in Cambodia and more antiwar protests in the United States.

In a 1969 speech, Nixon appealed to those who, he felt, quietly supported his policies. He referred to this group of Americans as “the silent majority.”

All prisoners of war would be released.
American Withdrawal Provisions of Peace Settlement between the United States, South Vietnam, North Vietnam, and the Viet Cong, signed in Paris in January 1973: The United States would withdraw all its forces from South Vietnam within 60 days. All prisoners of war would be released. All parties to the agreement would end military activities in Laos and Cambodia. The 17th parallel would continue to divide North and South Vietnam until the country could be reunited.

Q: Why did the United States invade Cambodia?
To quicken the peace process and to strengthen its position in negotiations

The chart shows responses to the question: Do you think the United States made a mistake sending troops to fight in Vietnam? What does the data reveal about opposition to the war?

When student antiwar protesters at Kent State University in Ohio reacted angrily to Nixon’s invasion of Cambodia, Nixon ordered the National Guard to Kent State. Students threw rocks at the guardsmen and the troops opened fire, killing 4 and wounding 9 protesters and bystanders.

The violence at Kent State, and a similar incident at Jackson State in Mississippi, horrified Americans.

The Vietnam War Ends The failings of Vietnamization and growing dissent at home forced President Nixon to search for some final way out of the conflict. A 1971 public-opinion poll revealed that two thirds of Americans favored withdrawing American troops, even if it meant a communist takeover of South Vietnam. Sensitive to the public mood, Congress pressed Nixon to bring the troops home. Many believed that to win reelection in 1972, he had to end the war.

American Troops Withdraw from Vietnam
The Fall of Saigon

Effects of the Vietnam War
More than 58,000 American soldiers gave their lives serving their country in Vietnam; another 300,000 were wounded. Although figures are not exact, the Vietnamese death toll most likely exceeded 2 million. Peace, however, did not mean the end of pain and hardship. The end of the war created other problems in Southeast Asia. The war also affected American attitudes toward world affairs.

Southeast Asia After the War
American Veterans Return Home The Impact on U.S. Domestic and Foreign Policies The Impact on the American Economy

Compare the total number of civilian casualties to the number of military casualties. What do the totals tell you about the effects of modern warfare on civilian populations?

What economic problems affected the greatest number of Americans
What economic problems affected the greatest number of Americans? Explain.

B. “imperial presidency” C. “nonviolent withdrawal”
Quiz: Attempts to Withdraw from Vietnam Which policy was President Nixon committed to at the end of the Vietnam War? A. “peace with honor” B. “imperial presidency” C. “nonviolent withdrawal” D. “using all necessary measures”

What did the Pentagon Papers reveal?
Quiz: Events Intensify the Antiwar Movement What did the Pentagon Papers reveal? A. that U.S. troops killed Vietnamese civilians in My Lai B. that Nixon lied about expanding the war into Cambodia C. that four students had been shot at Kent State University D. that U.S. leaders lied to Congress about involvement in Vietnam

What happened after the United States withdrew troops from Vietnam?
Quiz: The Vietnam War Ends What happened after the United States withdrew troops from Vietnam? A. North Vietnamese forces took control of South Vietnam. B. North Vietnam and South Vietnam both honored the cease-fire. C. South Vietnam initiated a diplomatic settlement with North Vietnam. D. South Vietnam attacked North Vietnam to maintain power in the region.

How did the Vietnam War affect the American public?
Quiz: Effects of the Vietnam War How did the Vietnam War affect the American public? A. It created deep divisions due to differing opinions about the war. B. It inspired most Americans by revealing the power of the U.S. military. C. It motivated people to welcome returning veterans with victory parades. D. It influenced many Americans to support U.S. involvement abroad.

1969 music festival in upstate New York
Woodstock festival 1969 music festival in upstate New York

Hippies were people who were “hip” and aware of the latest styles.

The new views of sexual behavior were advanced by the counterculture and labeled “the sexual revolution”.

Some members of the 1960s counterculture turned to psychedelic drugs like LSD.

The Woodstock music festival remained peaceful with 400,000 people in attendance.

Many of the baby boomers who were a part of the protests would eventually move on to live mainstream lives.

Q: Why do you think the counterculture disturbed many Americans?
Its rejection of traditional values and embracing of what many Americans saw as lax morals frightened them

Negotiations between the U.S. and North Vietnam beginning in 1968
Paris peace talks Negotiations between the U.S. and North Vietnam beginning in 1968

Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Monument in Washington, D.C. built to honor those killed in the Vietnam War

The end of the Vietnam War involved: - slow-moving peace negotiations
Main Idea The end of the Vietnam War involved: - slow-moving peace negotiations -the gradual withdrawal of American troops -the fall of South Vietnam

Toward the end of his term as President, Johnson had called for peace negotiations to end the Vietnam War. The resulting Paris peace talks, which began in May 1968, failed to produce an agreement.

$150 billion in costs to United States
Legacy of the War Over 58,000 Americans dead $150 billion in costs to United States Over 300,000 Americans wounded Millions of Vietnamese soldiers and civilians dead

Successful? Laos and Cambodia fell to communism but the rest of the region did not.

April 1975 – Cambodia fell to the Khmer Rouge, a force of Communists led by Pol Pot.

Khmer Rouge Communist group that committed genocide by killing 1.5 million Cambodians

New Vietnamese leaders forced thousands into “re-education camps” while many fled the country as refugees.

Many people from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos would flee to the United States, leaving their entire lives behind.

Americans realized that our technology and money would not always mean victory against communism.

Many veterans were not appreciated when they returned home.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial was completed in 1982.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial
1:09 Minutes

Q: What did the complete withdrawal of American troops mean for South Vietnam?
South Vietnam could not stand up to the forces of the north and inevitably was forced to surrender

Q: Who finally won the Vietnam War?
North Vietnam

Vietnam Veterans Day Documentary
3:06 Minutes

TOPIC 17: the Vietnam war era

Similar presentations

Presentation on theme: "TOPIC 17: the Vietnam war era"— Presentation transcript:

Similar presentations

About project

Feedback

Log in

Auth with social network:

TOPIC 17: the Vietnam war era

Similar presentations

Presentation on theme: "TOPIC 17: the Vietnam war era"— Presentation transcript:

Similar presentations

About project

Feedback