The End of the Vietnam War Why does America lose the Vietnam War?

New York Times receives a leaked secret Vietnam memo The Pentagon Papers New York Times receives a leaked secret Vietnam memo Memo leaked by Daniel Ellsburg showed LBJ planned to escalate war as long as NV existed (despite promise to end) VQ1) Why did Ellsberg want to release the documents? VQ2) What was the fear at NYT about releasing the docs? VQ3) How did Nixon’s Admin react? What did Ellsberg do? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4kQG1bPf2k&safe=active

Vietnamization of the War As war become more unpopular, Nixon and Ntl Security Advisor Henry Kissinger devise a plan known as Vietnamization 1) US will pull out combat troops and turn over ground fighting to ARVN, 2) will increase bombing w/ Operation Linebacker

My Lai Massacre New York Times reports a massacre committed by U.S. soldiers in village of My Lai While searching for VC rebels, Lt. William Calley orders troops to open fire on 100s of Vietnamese villagers 25 officers charged, only Calley is sent to prison

US Invades Cambodia 1970: Nixon announces US troops have invaded Cambodia Nixon says US must stop VC supply lines along Ho Chi Minh trail College students around the country burst into protests

More Violent Protests National Guard opens fire into a crowd at Kent State University 4 people killed Happens again ten days later at Jackson State (Mississippi) Hawks say its justified, Doves say its murder! Protest movement moves away from peace & love to violent resistance 1972: Actress Jane Fonda travels to Hanoi, shows sympathy for Vietnamese causing conservative backlash

1973: Nixon sends Henry Kissinger to negotiate an end to the war Fall of Saigon 1973: Nixon sends Henry Kissinger to negotiate an end to the war US, N. Vietnam & S. Vietnam sign Paris Peace Accords Congress passes War Powers Act – limiting President’s ability to wage war without Congressional Approval 1974-75: North Vietnam invades South Vietnam President asks Congress to help but Congress refuses. Saigon, S. Vietnamese capital falls in April of 1975. North & South Vietnam are unified. Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh City http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mfndf1fQe8

Counterculture Movement Turns Violent A faction of SDS, called the Weather Collective (later, Weathermen) calls for a violent overthrow of the US govt Group goes underground and begins bombing campaign against govt 1973: Militant group called Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) demanded changes to help the poor Became famous for kidnapping Patty Hearst and brainwashing her into helping with an SF bank robbery