Vietnam WarVietnam WarVietnam WarVietnam WarChapter 22: Sections 2 and 3 Chapter 22: Sections 2 and 3

Advantages in WarAdvantages in War

American Advantages:

Better Weaponry

Vietcong Advantages:

“Home Field Advantage”

Blending-In

Willing to Die

American Advantages:

Better Weaponry

Vietcong Advantages:

“Home Field Advantage”

Blending-In

Willing to Die

Weapons and TacticsWeapons and Tactics

American Weapons and Tactics

Bombings

War of Attrition

Napalm

Agent Orange

Search and Destroy Missions

American Weapons and Tactics

Bombings

War of Attrition

Napalm

Agent Orange

Search and Destroy Missions

Weapons and TacticsWeapons and Tactics

Vietcong Weapons and Tactics

Hit and Run Missions

Land Mines

Booby Traps

Guerilla Warfare

Vietcong Weapons and Tactics

Hit and Run Missions

Land Mines

Booby Traps

Guerilla Warfare

The Credibility GapThe 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

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 GapThe Credibility Gap

The U.S. Economy

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

The U.S. Economy

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 DraftDodging the Draft

Doctors gave bogus medical deferments

Men looked for lenient draft boards

Enrolled in college

Joined the Coast Guard or the National Guard

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 WarVietnam: 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

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 WarOpposing 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”

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 WarOpposing the War

March on Washington - because college deferment changed

Tearing up draft cards

Fleeing to Canada

Demonstrations

Speeches

March on Washington - because college deferment changed

Tearing up draft cards

Fleeing to Canada

Demonstrations

Speeches

The Nation DividesThe Nation Divides

Doves

Opposed the war

Thought the US should withdraw

Hawks

Supported the war

Thought the US should use more military force

Doves

Opposed the war

Thought the US should withdraw

Hawks

Supported the war

Thought the US should use more military force

Tet Offensive 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

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 USTet 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

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 ChangesPolitical 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 - 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 Election1968 Election

Republican = Richard Nixon

Democrat = Hubert Humphrey

Independent = George Wallace

Nixon won!

Republican = Richard Nixon

Democrat = Hubert Humphrey

Independent = George Wallace

Nixon won!

Nixon Begins to Withdraw TroopsNixon 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”

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”“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

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 MassacreThe 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

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 CambodiaInvasion 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

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 PapersThe 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

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 WarEnd 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

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 SaigonThe 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 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 LegacyThe 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

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 SoldiersWar’s Affect on Soldiers

Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome

Suicide

Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Severe Headaches

Memory Lapses

Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome

Suicide

Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Severe Headaches

Memory Lapses

Results...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)

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...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

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