Vietnam War Era Page 70 NCSCOS Goal 11

Protests Begin Students for a Democratic Society Wanted people to have more say in democracy; protested draft Against the war Wrote Port Huron Statement -teach-ins about the war Question-and-answer sessions to learn about the war; eventually became protests -picketing the White House -backlash against anti-war view People become angry with war protestors, see them as disloyal to U.S.

TET Offensive -American forces were over ½ million On the Vietnamese New Year, the VC launched full scale attacks on the major cities of SVN all at once. Scenes from these battles, such as the execution of a prisoner below, were filmed by reporters and viewed by the American public. -American forces were over ½ million Public told America was winning -leaders predicting end of war soon -Jan. 1968 major attack by Vietcong shows no sign of defeat to come All-out attack by North Vietnam and sympathizers on major South Vietnamese cities Proves that Viet Cong were still strong Battle scenes aired on television American opinion changes about war -public opinion turns on LBJ People and media begin to hate LBJ and see the war as a lost cause

Reporting the TET Offensive

Walter Cronkite Broadcast This is Walter Cronkite. Good night. "Report from Vietnam" Walter Cronkite Broadcast February 27, 1968 To say that we are closer to victory today is to believe, in the face of the evidence, the optimists who have been wrong in the past. To suggest we are on the edge of defeat is to yield to unreasonable pessimism. To say that we are mired in stalemate seems the only realistic, yet unsatisfactory, conclusion. On the off chance that military and political analysts are right, in the next few months we must test the enemy's intentions, in case this is indeed his last big gasp before negotiations. But it is increasingly clear to this reporter that the only rational way out then will be to negotiate, not as victors, but as an honorable people who lived up to their pledge to defend democracy, and did the best they could. This is Walter Cronkite. Good night. If I’ve lost Walter Cronkite, then it’s over. I’ve lost Mr. Average Citizen.” ~LBJ

After the TET Offensive, American public opinion about the war in Vietnam drastically changed. Many Americans now detested the war and their leader, Lyndon Johnson.

Year--1968 -LBJ scales back war effort and decides to not seek re-election Seek negotiations to end war, stop bombing, make S. Vietnam fight -assassinations of King, RFK Americans losing hope and faith -college protests Colombia Took over college buildings, 900 arrested -Democratic Convention, Chicago rioting occurs – between party supporters; police react violently and put on TV Nixon promises to return to law and order; wins election of 1968

Revolution By: The Beatles You say you want a revolution Well, you know We all want to change the world You tell me that it's evolution Well, you know We all want to change the world But when you talk about destruction Don't you know that you can count me out Don't you know it's gonna be all right all right, all right You say you got a real solution Well, you know We'd all love to see the plan You ask me for a contribution Well, you know We're doing what we can But when you want money for people with minds that hate All I can tell is brother you have to wait Don't you know it's gonna be all right all right, all right Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah... You say you'll change the constitution Well, you know We all want to change your head You tell me it's the institution Well, you know You better free you mind instead But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow Don't you know it's gonna be all right all right, all right all right, all right, all right all right, all right, all right

Nixon Wins -Nixon wins election but stays in Vietnam??? -Vietnamization policy of pulling American ground forces out of Vietnam while training Vietnamese troops to do most of the ground fighting with American air support slowly pulling US troops out of Vietnam and replacing with South Vietnamese troops -bombing of Laos and Cambodia attempting to stop Viet Cong supply lines Angers many Americans who voted for Nixon on the basis that he would end the war Seems to be an escalation\ -Nixon tries to leave without admitting defeat “Peace with honor”

Retired Army General Colin Powell Homefront -My Lai Massacre, 1968 Killing of between 300-500 civilians– mostly women and children- by a group of US troops Many victims were raped and mutilated Reported in media and turns American opinion further against the war My Lai "My Lai was an appalling example of much that had gone wrong in Vietnam…The involvement of so many unprepared officers and noncoms led to breakdowns in morale, discipline and professional judgment -- and to horrors like My Lai -- as the troops became numb to what appeared to be endless and mindless slaughter." Retired Army General Colin Powell

Homefront -protest renew over Cambodia -Kent State Students protesting bombings of Cambodia and Laos National Guard opens fire and kills four students -Jackson State Two students killed during protests -Pentagon Papers Classified documents taken from the Pentagon that document the actions of several Presidents during Vietnam acting without Congressional knowledge NY Times v. US, 1971 Allowed NY Times to publish Pentagon Papers without censorship

Vietnam Ends Thousands of South Vietnamese civilians evacuated the country just prior to the invasion by the North Vietnamese. -early 1973 US leaves Vietnam -Paris Peace Accords US will withdraw all troops and 17th parallel will remain dividing line -Fall of Saigon, 1975 North Vietnam invades South Vietnam Country becomes communist -58,000 killed 365,000 wounded -veterans treated differently Spit on, “baby killers,” no parades -Passage of the 26th Amendment 18 year olds can vote -Vietnam Memorial (“The Wall”) -Vietnamese refugees -War Powers Act limits the ability of Presidents to wage war