Chapter 27 Section 3 The War Ends The End of the Vietnam War (Ch 26 Sec 3&4)

Chapter 27 Section 3 The War Ends Explain how the Vietnam War affected the election of Explain how President Nixon decreased U.S. involvement in Vietnam. Describe how the fighting in Vietnam came to an end. Describe the long-term impact of the Vietnam War on Southeast Asia and the United States. Objectives

Chapter 27 Section 3 The War Ends US Bellwork: May 15&16 1.What was the Tet Offensive? 2.Who were the winners or the losers? 3.How did Tet effect public opinion of the war back home? 4.What would many young men do in order to protest the war? 5.By April 1968, ___ % of Americans don’t support the war. 6.Who is Elected President in 1968?

Chapter 27 Section 3 The War Ends The Americans used chemical weapons against the Vietcong, including bombs filled with napalm and phosphorus.

Chapter 27 Section 3 The War Ends On January 31, 1968, the Vietcong and the North Vietnamese used Tet—their New Year holiday—as cover to launch attacks on every major city in South Vietnam. Although caught by surprise, American and South Vietnamese troops responded quickly.

Chapter 27 Section 3 The War Ends On the surface, Tet was a military victory for the Americans, but it actually dealt a major blow to the U.S. mission in Vietnam. Americans were shocked that the enemy was so strong, and many argued that the U.S. should get out of Vietnam. By now, President Johnson and many of his advisors believed the U.S. could not win the war.

Chapter 27 Section 3 The War Ends A Nation Divided HawksHawks supported the war. They wanted the government to mount an all-out military effort that would decisively win the war. They demonstrated in support of the war. DovesDoves urged withdrawal of U.S. troops. They organized many protests, including petitions, massive marches, and sit-ins. The protests were peaceful at first, but later, violent confrontations with police became common.

Chapter 27 Section 3 The War Ends During the Vietnam War, about 1.8 million men were drafted to serve in the military. Many men burned their draft cards. Others sought recognition as conscientious objectors. About 100,000 Americans fled to Canada to avoid the war.

Chapter 27 Section 3 The War Ends George Wallace, the pro-segregation governor of Alabama, ran as a third-party candidate. The Republicans nominated Richard Nixon, who promised “law and order” at home and “peace with honor” in Vietnam. Hubert Humphrey, who supported Johnson’s war policies, accepted the Democratic nomination for president.

Chapter 27 Section 3 The War Ends In June 1969, Nixon announced a policy known as Vietnamization. U.S. troops gradually withdrew from Vietnam. The South Vietnamese assumed responsibility for the war. The election was close, but Nixon won.

Chapter 27 Section 3 The War Ends At the same time, Nixon expanded the war into Cambodia. North Vietnamese soldiers had been carrying supplies along a route through Laos and Cambodia into South Vietnam.

Chapter 27 Section 3 The War Ends At Kent State University in Ohio, nervous National Guardsmen shot at a crowd of protesters, killing four students. Two students died in a similar incident at Jackson State College in Jackson, Mississippi.

Chapter 27 Section 3 The War Ends The U.S. wanted all North Vietnamese troops out of South Vietnam. North Vietnam wanted the withdrawal of all U.S. troops. They also wanted the government of South Vietnam to include communist representatives. The U.S. and North Vietnam held peace talks in Paris, but for three years, neither side would budge in its position.

Chapter 27 Section 3 The War Ends Nixon then ordered new bombings of North Vietnam, which brought them back to the negotiations. The Paris Peace Accords were signed on January 27, The last U.S. troops were out of Vietnam by March 1973.

Chapter 27 Section 3 The War Ends By April 29, 1975, North Vietnamese forces were nearing Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam. The U.S. helicopters evacuated thousands of American workers and South Vietnamese supporters in Saigon. U.S. ships rescued thousands of South Vietnamese who were trying to escape in unseaworthy boats.

Chapter 27 Section 3 The War Ends At the end of the war, more than a million Vietnamese fled the new regime. Perhaps 200,000 boat people died at sea or in refugee camps. The U.S. and other nations took in many of the refugees.

Chapter 27 Section 3 The War Ends Effects of the War on Vietnam DeathsSouth Vietnamese battle deaths exceeded 350,000. North Vietnamese battle deaths ranged between 500,000 and one million. Millions of civilians also died. Property Damage The bombing destroyed much of North Vietnam’s industry and transportation. In South Vietnam, 10 million people were left homeless by the war.

Chapter 27 Section 3 The War Ends The Vietnam War was the first foreign war in which American forces suffered defeat. More than 58,000 Americans died in combat during the Vietnam War, and some 30,000 were wounded.

Chapter 27 Section 3 The War Ends Section Review Know It, Show It QuizQuickTake Quiz

Chapter 27 Section 3 The War Ends Nixon was re-elected in Nixon’s re-election committee had hired the men to spy on the Democrats. However, during the election campaign, five men broke into Democratic Party offices in the Watergate complex.

Chapter 27 Section 3 The War Ends Another witness revealed that Nixon had secretly taped all of the conversations in his office. Former White House council John Dean testified that Nixon had approved the cover-up. In May 1973, a senate committee opened televised hearings into the Watergate affair. The tapes confirmed that Nixon tried to cover up Watergate and other misdeeds.

Chapter 27 Section 3 The War Ends In July 1974, the House of Representatives took steps toward impeaching President Nixon. Realizing that enough votes existed to remove him from office, Nixon resigned on August 9, Vice President Gerald Ford became President.

Chapter 27 Section 3 The War Ends When Ford took office, he tried to restore public confidence in the nation’s leaders. However, trust in Ford was badly eroded when he granted Nixon a full pardon.