Today’s Objective We will analyze the major issues and events of the Vietnam War – such as the Vietnamization and the Fall of Saigon. Sub-Objective We will describe responses to the Vietnam War, such as 26 th Amendment and the silent majority.

The Anti-War Movement Media’s Role in the War Media’s Role in the War The media – especially TV – turned many people against the war For the first time, the American public saw images of war Free Speech Movement Free Speech Movement Movement that started over the right to pass out anti-war literature; Ignited anti-war protests on college campuses across the nation The Draft The Draft Many people burned draft cards or dodged the draft; many thought that the draft discriminated against the poor and minorities My Lai Massacre My Lai Massacre Massacre when U.S. soldiers killed a whole village of people The event became public and turned public opinion against the war Tinker v. Des Moines Tinker v. Des Moines Case in which three school students were suspended for wearing peace symbols; Supreme Court ruled that they had the right under First Amendment protection of freedom of speech and expression

The Vietnam War under Nixon SEs: 2B, 8D, 8E, 8F, 20A, 21A

State Standards 8F (r)Describe the responses to the Vietnam War such as the draft, the 26th Amendment, the role of the media, the credibility gap, the silent majority, and the anti-war movement. 20A (s) Describe the impact of events such as the War Powers Act on the relationship between the legislative and executive branches of government. 20A (s) Describe the impact of events such as the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and the War Powers Act on the relationship between the legislative and executive branches of government. 8E (s)Analyze the major issues and events of the Vietnam War such as the Tet Offensive, the escalation of forces, Vietnamization, and the fall of Saigon. 26F (s)Discuss the importance of congressional Medal of Honor recipients, including individuals of all races and genders such as Vernon J Baker, Alvin York, and Roy Benavidez.

LBJ Drops Out of Race "I shall not seek, nor will I accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President." March 31, 1968 President Johnson refuses to run for re- election in the Election of 1968

Election of 1968 At the Democratic Convention in Chicago in 1968, Democrats choose vice-president Hubert Humphrey as their candidate.

Election of 1968 But the biggest news at the convention was the rioting that went on outside. In an effort to maintain order, Chicago police beat hundreds of protestors.

Election of 1968 The Republicans nominate former vice- president Richard Nixon as their candidate.

Election of 1968 While running for President, Richard Nixon makes a campaign promise to get the United States out of the Vietnam War if he’s elected.

Election of 1968 Nixon becomes president!

Vietnamization During his administration, President Nixon and his Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, developed a policy known as Vietnamization.

Vietnamization Vietnamization called for a gradual withdrawal of American troops as South Vietnamese took more control of the war.

Vietnamization At the same time, Nixon increased American bombing of North Vietnam and provided military aid to the South Vietnamese.

The Silent Majority Term coined by Nixon to represent Americans that were overshadowed by Vietnam war protestors, the counterculture (hippies), and by the more vocal minority in the media.

Nixon Invades Cambodia In April of 1970, President Nixon announced that American troops had invaded Cambodia.

Nixon Invades Cambodia Anti-war protestors saw this as an escalation of the war, sparking violent protests on college campuses.

Kent State Massacre May 4, 1970 At Kent State University, violent protests led to martial law being declared in the town and the Ohio National Guard was called in to keep peace.

Kent State Massacre May 4, 1970 A confrontation between anti-war protestors and soldiers led to gunfire, and four student demonstrators ended up dead.

Voting Age Debate During World War II, the average age of a U.S. soldier was 26; during the Vietnam War, the average age of U.S. soldier was 19.

26 th Amendment 26 th Amendment Many young Americans were upset that even though they were old enough to fight and die in a war, they were not old enough to vote.

26 th Amendment ratified The 26 th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1971, lowering the legal voting age in the United States from 21 to 18.

Vietnam War Heroes It was during the Tet Offensive that Roy Benavidez of Texas saved the lives of eight men in his own platoon by carrying them to safety while he himself was critically injured and under enemy fire.

Vietnam War Heroes For his bravery and heroism, Benavidez was eventually awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President Ronald Reagan in 1981.

War Powers Act (1973) Law was an attempt to set limits on the power of the president during wartime Required the president to inform Congress of any commitment of troops with 48 hours

U.S. pulls out of Vietnam In January of 1973, North and South Vietnamese reach a cease-fire agreement; by 1975, the United States withdraws all of its troops from Vietnam.

The Fall of Saigon In 1975, the North Vietnamese break the truce and over-run South Vietnam In 1975, the North Vietnamese break the truce and over-run South Vietnam. Americans and many South Vietnamese flee the capital of Saigon in panic.

The Pentagon Papers In 1971, a former Defense Department worker named Daniel Ellsberg leaked what were known as the Pentagon Papers to the New York Times.

The Pentagon Papers The documents showed how LBJ, Nixon and other leaders of the government had deceived the American public about how the war was going.

Independent Practice Create a bubble map identifying and describing key elements of the Vietnam War during the presidency of Richard Nixon.

Today’s Product I will write a paragraph describing three major events that led to the end of the Vietnam War.