Vietnam CH 24 section 4 The War Ends

Nixon’s re-election 1972 Democratic primary George McGovern was an anti war candidate 1972 Democratic primary George McGovern was an anti war candidate He was opposed by the Democrat George Wallace until Wallace was shot and paralyzed by a man who thought he shouldn’t run for president He was opposed by the Democrat George Wallace until Wallace was shot and paralyzed by a man who thought he shouldn’t run for president Passed in 1971 the 26 th amendment changed the voting age from 21 to 18 giving those drafted the right to vote Passed in 1971 the 26 th amendment changed the voting age from 21 to 18 giving those drafted the right to vote Nixon was nominated with Spiro Agnew and assured the voters that the war would be over soon Nixon was nominated with Spiro Agnew and assured the voters that the war would be over soon A few weeks before the election Kissinger announced that there was a breakthrough and that “peace was at hand” A few weeks before the election Kissinger announced that there was a breakthrough and that “peace was at hand”

A cease-fire August 1969 Kissinger and North Vietnams Le Duc Tho met in Paris to discuss a way to end the war August 1969 Kissinger and North Vietnams Le Duc Tho met in Paris to discuss a way to end the war This went on for three years until October 1972 when North Vietnam proposed a plan Nixon found acceptable This went on for three years until October 1972 when North Vietnam proposed a plan Nixon found acceptable This plan called for a cease fire and a pull out of all foreign troops in Vietnam This plan called for a cease fire and a pull out of all foreign troops in Vietnam The plan also called for a the creation of a new government in South Vietnam that included the south’s current president Nguyen Van Thieu The plan also called for a the creation of a new government in South Vietnam that included the south’s current president Nguyen Van Thieu Thieu thought the plan reduced his power and rejected it. The US backed Thieu and rejected the plan too Thieu thought the plan reduced his power and rejected it. The US backed Thieu and rejected the plan too

Continued This was not taken well in the North and they demanded that the agreement be reinstated This was not taken well in the North and they demanded that the agreement be reinstated Nixon responded with round-the-clock bombing of cities in the Norththis only stopped for Christmas Day Nixon responded with round-the-clock bombing of cities in the Norththis only stopped for Christmas Day At the end of December Nixon called off the bombing and resumed peace talks At the end of December Nixon called off the bombing and resumed peace talks Jan 27, 1973 there was an agreement to a ceasefire the new agreement allowed for both sides to claim victory Jan 27, 1973 there was an agreement to a ceasefire the new agreement allowed for both sides to claim victory Also there was a prisoner exchange agreement but did not address original the issues behind the war Also there was a prisoner exchange agreement but did not address original the issues behind the war Nixon secretly agreed to come to the South’s aid if the fighting resumed Nixon secretly agreed to come to the South’s aid if the fighting resumed

After the US Withdrew Two years after the US forces withdrew South Vietnam’s Government collapsed Two years after the US forces withdrew South Vietnam’s Government collapsed In Jan 1975 the North Vietnamese troops overran the northern part of South Vietnam In Jan 1975 the North Vietnamese troops overran the northern part of South Vietnam The South Vietnamese troops fled in panic refugees fled into Saigon The South Vietnamese troops fled in panic refugees fled into Saigon In April the US military rushed to evacuate the several thousand troops left in Vietnam In April the US military rushed to evacuate the several thousand troops left in Vietnam As the last few fled the embassy roof by helicopter the compound was overrun by the North’s troops As the last few fled the embassy roof by helicopter the compound was overrun by the North’s troops April 30, 1975 South Vietnam surrendered unconditionally April 30, 1975 South Vietnam surrendered unconditionally

In the End For Americans the war had been over For Americans the war had been over The costly effort to keep a communist Vietnam from happening had failed The costly effort to keep a communist Vietnam from happening had failed The collapse of Southeast Asia and the “Domino theory” never occurred The collapse of Southeast Asia and the “Domino theory” never occurred

Effects of the war According to Saigon government figures some 180,000South Vietnamese soldiers were killed According to Saigon government figures some 180,000South Vietnamese soldiers were killed The South Civilian dead estimates were put at 500,000 dead The South Civilian dead estimates were put at 500,000 dead The number of Vietcong dead is unknown but is guessed at 1 million and 800,000 orphaned children The number of Vietcong dead is unknown but is guessed at 1 million and 800,000 orphaned children And due to things like Agent Orange there were 181,000 disabled including high rates of liver cancer And due to things like Agent Orange there were 181,000 disabled including high rates of liver cancer

Vietnam Veterans Of the more than 2 million Americans involved in the Vietnam War….. Of the more than 2 million Americans involved in the Vietnam War….. More than 58,000 people died More than 58,000 people died More than 300,000 were wounded (a large number were severely wounded or paralyzed) More than 300,000 were wounded (a large number were severely wounded or paralyzed) About 2,500 were missing in action About 2,500 were missing in action More than 600 were held as prisoners of war. Some spending more than 6 years in Vietnamese jails where they endured solitary confinement and torture More than 600 were held as prisoners of war. Some spending more than 6 years in Vietnamese jails where they endured solitary confinement and torture But perhaps the most tragic, was the fate of the veterans when they returned home. But perhaps the most tragic, was the fate of the veterans when they returned home.

Vietnam Veterans….. Veterans became targets for the anger, guilt, shame and violence felt by other Americans that were frustrated by the war Veterans became targets for the anger, guilt, shame and violence felt by other Americans that were frustrated by the war The public’s negative reaction demoralized the returning veterans The public’s negative reaction demoralized the returning veterans They had faced life and death situations and felt they were merely obeying orders they thought were in the country’s best interest They had faced life and death situations and felt they were merely obeying orders they thought were in the country’s best interest In a state of despair, many turned to drugs. Others had a hard time finding a job and adjusting to civilian life In a state of despair, many turned to drugs. Others had a hard time finding a job and adjusting to civilian life Many veterans later developed problems like cancer and their children having birth defects. Research later liked the medical problems to Agent Orange Many veterans later developed problems like cancer and their children having birth defects. Research later liked the medical problems to Agent Orange

Side Effects of Vietnam Side Effects of Vietnam

Public Policy Americans felt misled by their government Americans felt misled by their government Seeking to prevent “another Vietnam” Congress passed the War Powers Act, which reaffirmed Congress’s right to declare war. Seeking to prevent “another Vietnam” Congress passed the War Powers Act, which reaffirmed Congress’s right to declare war. The war also left behind an economic strain, it cost taxpayers directly more than $150 billion. This added greatly to the national debt and fueled inflation The war also left behind an economic strain, it cost taxpayers directly more than $150 billion. This added greatly to the national debt and fueled inflation The book says “Since Vietnam, leaders have been hesitant to commit US troops in far-off regions without being certain of the consent of the American people and the nation’s political allies.” Well, this book was written in 2003, opinions may have changed since then. The book says “Since Vietnam, leaders have been hesitant to commit US troops in far-off regions without being certain of the consent of the American people and the nation’s political allies.” Well, this book was written in 2003, opinions may have changed since then.

Healing the Wounds of War Long after the war ended, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, designed by Maya Ying Lin, was built in Washington D.C. Long after the war ended, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, designed by Maya Ying Lin, was built in Washington D.C. Inscribed on a huge black granite wall are the names of 58,000 Americans who died in Vietnam. Inscribed on a huge black granite wall are the names of 58,000 Americans who died in Vietnam. Lin insisted that the names be placed in chronological order rather than alphabetical or by rank. Lin insisted that the names be placed in chronological order rather than alphabetical or by rank. Hundreds of people visit the memorial daily. Hundreds of people visit the memorial daily. Many leave flowers, personal mementos and written messages Many leave flowers, personal mementos and written messages To others it is a symbol of their rendition of the “wailing wall” To others it is a symbol of their rendition of the “wailing wall” Others simply silently contemplate the significance of the memorial Others simply silently contemplate the significance of the memorial