Vietnam Era – Day 7 Agenda: EXAM – this Thursday, 4/20 Lecture Terms: Draft, Doves, Hawks, Tet Offensive, Vietnamization, “Peace with Honor”, Pentagon Papers, Richard Nixon, War Powers Act Vietnam Study Guide (30 minutes) Get a book, work on your Vietnam Study Guides Complete book questions #33-40 first Due Thursday 4/20 EXAM – this Thursday, 4/20

The Tet Offensive January 30, 1968 A cease fire was called to celebrate the Vietnamese New Year (Tet) People were allowed to cross between North and South Vietnam Funerals were held for victims of the war North Vietnamese used coffins to smuggle weapons into the South Launched a massive attack on South Vietnamese cities and U.S. airbases Lasted for nearly a month

Tet Changes Public Opinion Although the U.S. successfully drove out the Vietcong (losing 32,000 soldiers), the outcomes of the Tet Offensive were not positive. Reduced popular support for the war in America Media began to criticize the war Johnson’s popularity plummeted

Vietnam in HD: Classroom Edition Episode #5 (18-22 min.)

A Nation Divided U.S. re-institute the Draft Men between the ages of 18 and 26 must register for the military (Selective Service) Why was this so controversial? Voting age was 21 (for most states) Lead to the 26th Amendment The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of age.

A Nation Divided Doves Hawks Opposed the Vietnam War and believed the U.S. should withdraw from it Hawks Supported U.S. involvement and belied the U.S. should increase military force to win the war Many Hawks felt it was “an act of disloyalty” to protest the war

MLK – Why I Am Opposed to the War in Vietnam “We have been repeatedly faced with a cruel irony of watching Negro and white boys on TV screens as they kill and die together for a nation that has been unable to seat them together in the same school room.”

Johnson Withdraws Anti-war Democrats began to work against Johnson’s reelection Robert Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy rose to prominence within the party March 31, 1968 Johnson announces that he will not seek reelection

Vietnam: American Troop Levels Tet Offensive N. Conquers S./ Saigon Falls Gulf of Tonkin Peace Treaty 1954 1964 1965 1968 1969 1970 1971 1973 1975 Johnson Send combat marines and armed forces Ike/Kennedy Send $$/advisors Nixon Bring US troops home/bomb N. Vietnam Intervention Escalation Vietnamization

1968 Election Richard Nixon wins the 1968 election, thanks to: Turmoil within Democratic Party Promise to restore law & order Promise to end the war

Nixon on Vietnam Nixon and security advisor Henry Kissinger devise a strategy for ending U.S. involvement in war Known as Vietnamization Gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops and their replacement with S. Vietnamese forces

Nixon on Vietnam “Peace with honor” goals Withdraw with dignity Main U.S. clout at the negotiation table Secretly orders massive bombing campaign Supply routes in Cambodia & Laos College campuses erupt once again! 1.5+ million students close down 1,200 campuses

War Comes Home Kent State Massacre May 4th, 1970 4 students dead, 9 wounded Jackson State University May 10th , 1970 2 dead, 12 wounded

Vietnamization Timeline 1969- Nixon announces Vietnamization 1973- Paris Peace Accords ended direct U.S. involvement & temporary cease-fire 1973- Last U.S. troops leave Vietnam, last U.S. troops leave Vietnam, POWs released 1973- Nixon Resigns, Ford takes office 1975- U.S. citizens evacuated, Saigon Falls to the North, Vietnam unified under communism

The Fall of Saigon North Vietnamese at the Presidential Palace South Vietnamese Attempt to Flee the Country

Vietnam in HD: Classroom Edition Episode #6 (17-24 min.) (29-34 min.) (37-38 min.)

Socialist Republic of Vietnam Formerly Saigon

The People & The President U.S. morale, self-confidence, trust of government, decimated Pentagon Papers Govt. misled Congress & American people regarding its intentions in Vietnam during mid-1960s Primary reason for fighting not to eliminate communism, but fought to avoid humiliating defeat

War Powers Under the US Constitution, war powers are divided. Congress Has the power to declare war The President Is commander-in-chief of the military.

War Powers Act of 1973 President must notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying military force President must withdraw forces unless he gains Congressional approval within 90 days 60 Days, 30 Days to withdraw Ultimate Goal: Limit the powers of the President Although some argue it does the opposite

Effects & Legacy of the Vietnam War

Vietnam Today Officially still a Communist country today But unofficially it is politically Communist but economically Capitalist Would Vietnam had been better off if the U.S. had won the war? Did U.S. involvement make life worse for the Vietnamese?

Vietnam Memorial

History Channel Vietnam Summary