Standard Addressed: 11.9 Students analyze U.S. foreign policy since World War II. Lesson Objectives: Section 5 - The End of the War and it's Legacy 1. Describe Nixon’s policy of Vietnamization. 2. Explain the public’s reaction to the Vietnam War during Nixon’s presidency. 3. Describe the end of U.S. involvement and the final outcome in Vietnam. 4. Examine the war’s painful legacy in the United States and Southeast Asia.

NEXT Section 5 The End of the War and Its Legacy President Nixon institutes his Vietnamization policy, and America’s longest war finally comes to an end.

President Nixon and Vietnamization The Pullout Begins New president Richard Nixon finds negotiations not progressing National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger works on new plan Vietnamization—U.S. troops withdraw, S. Vietnam troops take over The End of the War and Its Legacy 5 SECTION NEXT

The Pullout Begins: In the summer of 1969, Nixon announced the first US troops withdrawal from Vietnam Negotiations were underway but were not going anywhere Nixon conferred with his National Security Advisor – Henry Kissinger on a plan to end the US involvement in Vietnam

Kissinger’s plan was called Vietnamization – gradual withdraw of US troops in order for the S. Vietnamese to take a more active combat role in the war. Over the next three years, the number of troops in Vietnam would drop from 500,000 to 25,000 Vietnamization:

President Nixon and Vietnamization The End of the War and Its Legacy 5 SECTION NEXT “Peace with Honor” Nixon calls for “peace with honor” to maintain U.S. dignity Orders bombing of N. Vietnam, Vietcong hideouts in Laos, Cambodia

“Peace With Honor” The US wanted to “bow out” of the war gracefully….so….. Nixon secretly began massive bombings in North Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia (Laos and Cambodia housed many Vietcong bases)

Guided Reading: To replace U.S. troops with South Vietnamese troops to established “peace with honor” 1. Nixon adopts a policy of Vietnimization.

Mainstream America Silent majority—moderate, mainstream people who support war 5 SECTION NEXT Trouble Continues on the Home Front The My Lai Massacre News breaks that U.S. platoon massacred civilians in My Lai village Lt. William Calley, Jr., in command, is convicted, imprisoned Continued...

Trouble Continues on the Home Front: Nixon was seeking to win support for his war policies He called on the silent majority – moderate mainstream Americans who quietly supported the war effort Many did support the President, not the war

The My Lai Massacre: In March of 1968 it was discovered that a US platoon massacred over 200 innocent women and children in the small village of My Lai (S. Vietnam) Lieutenant William Calley and his men were looking for Vietcong rebels – they didn’t find any –Calley was convicted and imprisoned – the others were charged for minor offenses

Guided Reading: 200 innocent Vietnamese murdered by U.S. soldiers 2. My Lai massacre shocks Americans.

5 SECTION NEXT Trouble Continues on the Home Front The Invasion of Cambodia 1970, U.S. troops invade Cambodia to clear out enemy supply centers 1.5 million protesting college students close down 1,200 campuses Continued...

The Invasion of Cambodia: It seemed as if the war was winding down The President however was still sending troops into Cambodia to bring down the Vietcong In response to this invasion, 1.5 million students protested and closed down over 1,200 campuses

Guided Reading: To remove Vietnamese and Vietcong supply centers from Cambodia 3. Nixon orders invasion of Cambodia.

Violence on Campus National Guard kills 4 in confrontation at Kent State University Guardsmen kill 2 during confrontation at Jackson State in MS 100,000 construction workers rally in NYC to support government 5 SECTION NEXT continued Trouble Continues on the Home Front

Violence On Campus: May 4, Disaster struck hardest at Kent State University Four students were killed in a clash with the National Guard Ten days later another protest at Jackson State in Mississippi, killed two students and wounded 12 more

Guided Reading: To protest the invasion of Cambodia 4. First students strike in U.S. history occurs.

5 SECTION NEXT continued Trouble Continues on the Home Front The Pentagon Papers Nixon invades Cambodia; Congress repeals Tonkin Gulf Resolution Pentagon Papers show plans to enter war under LBJ Confirm belief of many that government not honest about intentions

The Pentagon Papers: The Pentagon Papers were leaked during this time – a 7,000 page report describing Johnson’s escalating war plans. –(when he was telling the American people that he was pulling troops out of the war) The papers also showed that there was never a plan to end the war as long as the N. Vietnamese persisted. Congress was furious with Nixon for bombing and invading Cambodia without Congressional approval Congress decided to repeal the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, limiting Nixon’s wartime powers

Guided Reading: To Protest Nixon’s bombing and invasion of Cambodia without notifying Congress; To gain greater Congressional control over U.S. policy in Vietnam 5. Congress repeals the Tonkin Gulf Resolution.

“Peace is at Hand” 1971, 60% think U.S. should withdraw from Vietnam by end of year 1972 N. Vietnamese attack; U.S. bombs cities, mines Haiphong harbor Kissinger agrees to complete withdrawal of U.S.: “Peace is at hand” 5 SECTION NEXT America’s Longest War Ends

America’s Longest War Ends: In March of 1972, The N. Vietnamese launched their largest offensive since Tet Nixon responded with a massive bombing campaign against the N. Vietnamese cities. This did not stop them Nixon would soon take steps to end America’s involvement in the war

Guided Reading: To force a negotiated peace settlement 6. The “Christmas bombings” take place.

5 SECTION NEXT America’s Longest War Ends The Final Push S. Vietnam rejects Kissinger plan; talks break off; bombing resumes Congress calls for end to war; peace signed January 1973

The Final Push: President Nixon won reelection but peace still wasn’t at hand Negotiations still were at a stalemate Nixon decided to drop 100,000 more bombs on N. Vietnam, pausing only on Christmas Day Other world powers began to notice the futility of the war On January 27, 1973, America signed a “peace agreement” N. Vietnamese troops would remain in S. Vietnam – Nixon promised to respond with “full force” if the peace treaty was violated. For America, the Vietnam War had ended.

5 SECTION NEXT America’s Longest War Ends The Fall of Saigon Cease-fire breaks down; South surrenders after North invades 1975

The Fall of Saigon: The war however, raged on. Within months of the cease fire agreement, North and South Vietnam were fighting again South Vietnam asked for help – the US sent $$ Soon after, Saigon – S. Vietnam capital, was taken by the N. Vietnamese

American Veterans Cope Back Home 58,000 Americans, over 2 million North, South Vietnamese die in war Returning veterans face indifference, hostility at home About 15% develop post-traumatic stress disorder 5 SECTION NEXT The War Leaves a Painful Legacy Continued...

The War Leaves a Painful Legacy: The Vietnam War: 58,000 American killed 303,000 wounded North and South Vietnamese deaths topped 2,000,000 The war left many Americans cautious about their government.

American Veterans Cope Back Home: The nation extended a “cold hand” to the troops returning from Vietnam No parades, no cheering crowds. About 15% of troops were treated for PTSD, with many more suffering from drug, alcohol abuse, an suicide The Veterans Memorial was created in D.C. in 1982 to honor those who served in the war.

Guided Reading: North Vietnam’s full-scale invasion of South Vietnam and the capture of Saigon; No U.S. troops there to prevent the North’s victory 7. South Vietnam surrenders to North Vietnam.

Guided Reading: Americans very torn and bitter about the war. 8. Vietnam veterans receive a cold homecoming.

5 SECTION NEXT The War Leaves a Painful Legacy Further Turmoil in Southeast Asia Communists put 400,000 S. Vietnamese in labor camps; 1.5 million flee Civil war breaks out in Cambodia; Khmer Rouge seize power Want to establish peasant society; kill at least 1 million people Continued...

Further Turmoil in Southeast Asia: The Communist N. Vietnamese imprisoned more than 400,000 South Vietnamese in the years to follow Nearly 1.5 million people fled Vietnam The US invasion of Cambodia also sparked a harsh civil war – Khmer Rouge wanted a “peasant society” and executed anyone with an education or foreign ties In the end, the Khmer Rouge killed at least 1,000,000 people

Guided Reading: The U.S. invasion of Cambodia 9. Cambodia erupts in civil war.

The Legacy of Vietnam Government abolishes military draft 1973 Congress passes War Powers Act: - president must inform Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops - 90 day maximum deployment without Congressional approval War contributes to cynicism about government, political leaders 5 SECTION NEXT continued The War Leaves a Painful Legacy

The Legacy of Vietnam: After Vietnam the government would abolish the draft In 1973, Congress also passed the War Powers Act – president must inform Congress of military decisions The war diminished American faith in their government

Guided Reading: To curb the president’s war-making powers 10. Congress passes the War Powers Act.

Guided Reading: It was extremely unpopular 11. The draft is abolished.

Guided Reading: The Pentagon Papers, which revealed that the Johnson administration was lying about the war; The My Lai massacre; The government’s response to campus turmoil at Kent State; The Nixon administration’s lying; The Watergate scandal 12. Many Americans lose faith in their government.

MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS A – What was the impact of Vietnamization on the United States? –Vietnamization drastically cut America’s involvement in Vietnam and allowed for thousands of U.S. troops to come home.

MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS B – How did the campus shootings demonstrate the continued divisions within the country? –The shootings sparked heated debates as well as the resurgence of “hardhats”.

MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS C – Summarize what led to the agreement to end the war in Vietnam. –Kissinger dropped his insistence that the North Vietnamese withdraw all troops from the South before complte withdrawal of US troops. –The Thieu regime rejected Kissinger’s plan. –Nixon unleashed a bombing campaign on North Vietnam. –Peace talks resumed and the warring parties signed an agreement to end the war.

MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS D – Why might the United States have refused to reenter the war? –Because of the war’s divisive effect on the country, as well as the desire to heal –and rebuild after massive casualties and expense.