The Fighting and the End Vietnam War Pt 2 The Fighting and the End

Official dates of war: 1964-1973 (we’re involved before that though) War Escalates Official dates of war: 1964-1973 (we’re involved before that though) Forces levels increase By 1968- 500,000 troops in Vietnam

Vietnamese Fighting Tactics Guerilla warfare- non-traditional warfare like ambushes, surprise attacks, quick raids; used by Vietcong Booby traps; mines; covered holes Ho Chi Minh Trail- path from North Vietnam to South; ran through Laos and Cambodia Used to get supplies to troops Used roads, paths, tunnels, rivers; hard to detect

U.S. Fighting Tactics Search and destroy – find enemies, destroy, get out Operation Rolling Thunder – 3 year bombing campaign of North Vietnam Goal to stop supplies and reinforcements; didn’t work

U.S. Fighting Tactics Agent Orange- herbicide used to destroy forests to expose enemy; harmful to humans 500,000 deaths; 500,000 birth defects; affected American troops Napalm- flammable, jellied gasoline used by US

U.S. Fighting Tactics Agent Orange Napalm Search and destroy bombing

Why did the U.S. forces have difficulty fighting the Vietcong?

1968 - North Vietnamese offensive during Vietnamese New Year- Tet Tet Offensive 1968 - North Vietnamese offensive during Vietnamese New Year- Tet Viet Cong easily successful at cutting through South Vietnam; but ultimately failed Tet Offensive: shattered illusion that US was “winning” Changed the way many Americans viewed the war Starts to turn public opinion against the war

Why did American support for the war change after the Tet offensive?

Nixon’s Decisions Johnson decided not to run for second election b/c of Vietnam war Nixon ran and won in 1968 His goal was “Peace with Honor”- to end war w/out embarrassment Ordered heaviest bombing Public made because they wanted de-escalation, not more fighting Withdrew troops based on ideas of “Vietnamization” Training South Vietnamese troops to replace US troops Authorized secret bombing in Laos and Cambodia to disrupt North Vietnam supply lines – US public found out and were mad

What was the goal of Nixon’s Vietnam policy?

“Peace” Paris Peace Talks- Nixon wanted peace By 1972, only 24,000 US troops in Vietnam 1973- heavy bombing to prevent North Vietnam from immediately taking over South Vietnam 1973- Agreement reached for US to leave 1975- Saigon (capital of S Vietnam) fell; South Vietnam surrendered 1 mill South Vietnamese fled country by boat; many came to America Cambodia conquered by communist leader Pol Pot- murdered 1.5 mill Cambodians during genocide

What happened in Vietnam after US troops left?

2 mill Vietnamese died during war Effects of War Cost of American lives 58,000 killed; 300,000 wounded 2,500 POWs or MIA 2 mill Vietnamese died during war Some still die every year from landmines, bombs

Effects of War War Powers Act- 1973: limited President’s (Executive Branch) ability to send armed forces to combat without Congress (Legislative Branch) Wanted to limit the powers of the President given in the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Restored balance of power Pres has to notify Congress w/in 48 hours for operations longer than 60 days Roy Benavidez – Texan of Mexican and American Indian heritage; earned Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in Vietnam

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Increases President's power US involvement in the Vietnam War War Powers Act Limits President's Power

Why was the War Powers Act passed?

Prompted = lead to

BIG IDEA How did the Vietnam War end?