VISUAL DISCOVERY Getting Out of Vietnam

Nixon’s Peace with Honor War was not “winnable,” so troops should be withdrawn, but without damaging U.S. reputation Strategy: Diplomacy: no more bombing if North Vietnamese troops leave and South Vietnam remains independent Vietnamization – South Vietnam would gradually take over conduct of the war Destroy communist bases in neighboring Cambodia and Laos by secret bombing raids and ground troops Results: American troops were gradually reduced, but the enormously costly war continued

Increased Protest at Home My Lai Massacre – suspecting the village was a Viet Cong stronghold, U.S. soldiers kill 500 Vietnamese women, children, and old men Antiwar demonstrations increased on city streets and college campuses dividing the nations Kent State University shootings – the National Guard opened fire during a protest killing 4 students Pentagon Papers – the NY Times published gov’t reports proving that the gov’t deceived the public about the war

American Involvement Ends In 1972, with only 6,000 American troops remaining in South Vietnam, North Vietnam invaded; failed when the U.S. unleashed bombers Paris Peace Accords of 1972 Signed by the U.S., South Vietnam, North Vietnam, and the Viet Cong Established a cease fire, kept the dividing line at the 17th parallel, full withdrawal of U.S. troops, and release of all U.S. prisoners of war Aftermath: South Vietnam fell to communist North Vietnam in 1975 U.S. embassy in South Vietnam closed and evacuated South Vietnamese sent to “reeducation camps” – hard labor Over one million Vietnamese refugees