The End of the War and Its Legacy 22.5

President Nixon and Vietnamization Summer 1969-Nixon announces the first troop withdrawals from Vietnam Vietnamization Vietnamization ◦ Train the South Vietnamese troops to continue fighting the war against communism

“Peace with Honor” Nixon wanted the U.S. to maintain its dignity despite withdrawing from the conflict As the withdrawal continued, Nixon ordered massive bombing raids into North Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. As the withdrawal continued, Nixon ordered massive bombing raids into North Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

My Lai Massacre March 16, 1968-A U.S. platoon entered the village near the border of North Vietnam Found no enemy soldiers, so they rounded up the villagers and shot them Found no enemy soldiers, so they rounded up the villagers and shot them Americans didn’t learn of this event until November 1969 Americans didn’t learn of this event until November 1969

Invasion of Cambodia By 1970, many protest groups began shifting their attention from antiwar to environmentalism By 1970, many protest groups began shifting their attention from antiwar to environmentalism April 30, 1970-Nixon announces the invasion of Cambodia April 30, 1970-Nixon announces the invasion of Cambodia 1.5 million student protestors closed down 1,200 college campuses across the nation ◦ The first general student strike in U.S. history

Kent State (Ohio) Student protestors burned the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) building Student protestors burned the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) building Mayor called in the National Guard May 4, 1970-guards fired into crowd of students who had begun throwing rocks at them Wounded nine, killed four (two of whom had not been a part of the protest) Wounded nine, killed four (two of whom had not been a part of the protest)

America’s Longest War Ends January 27, 1973-America signs an “agreement ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam” January 27, 1973-America signs an “agreement ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam” March 29, 1983-The last American troops leave Vietnam April 30, 1975-North Vietnamese tanks roll into Saigon and capture the city April 30, 1975-North Vietnamese tanks roll into Saigon and capture the city

The War’s Painful Legacy Americans ◦ 58,000 killed ◦ 365,000 wounded Vietnamese ◦ Combined 1.5 million deaths Left Southeast Asia highly unstable Left Southeast Asia highly unstable Cynicism-a belief that the government was motivated by self-interest rather than the nation’s interests Cynicism-a belief that the government was motivated by self-interest rather than the nation’s interests

American Veterans Come Home The nation as a whole extended a cold hand to the Vietnam vets The nation as a whole extended a cold hand to the Vietnam vets Unlike WWII, Veterans faced indifference and hostility upon their return Unlike WWII, Veterans faced indifference and hostility upon their return ◦ A result of America’s attitude towards the war

Further Turmoil in Southeast Asia U.S. invasion of Cambodia unleashed a Civil War U.S. invasion of Cambodia unleashed a Civil War Khmer Rouge-communist group Khmer Rouge-communist group that seized power in 1975 ◦ Executed government officials and academics ◦ Believed to have killed 2 million Cambodians

War Powers Act Designed to prevent the president from ever pulling the U.S. into another conflict like Vietnam President must inform Congress within 48 hours if U.S. forces are sent into hostile area without declaration of war President must inform Congress within 48 hours if U.S. forces are sent into hostile area without declaration of war Troops can remain there no longer than 90 days without congressional approval or declaration of war Troops can remain there no longer than 90 days without congressional approval or declaration of war