American History Chapter 33: The War in Vietnam IV. The War Ends

Bell Ringer Turn to page 998 – read quotation by George McGovern What do you think?

Objectives Explain why the US agreed to a cease- fire in January Describe the war’s long-term effects on Vietnam and the Vietnamese people. Evaluate the war’s long-term effects on the American people.

George McGovern July 1972, McGovern is against the war Uses it to run for President

A) Nixon's Re-election 1)George McGovern: SD, Senator, (D), antiwar presidential candidate Ran against George Wallace for democratic nomination – Wallace shot and paralyzed – withdrew 2)26 th Amendment: lowered voting age from Nixon – war will soon be over – Kissinger announced a breakthrough in negations a few weeks before the election Nixon won by a landslide.

B) A Cease-fire at Last For three years starting in 1969 – Kissinger and Vietnam’s Le Duc Tho had been meeting secretly in Paris for peace October 1972: North Vietnam propose agreement – South reject Nixon responds by bombing the North over Christmas January 1973: cease-fire announced – US will pull out troops – North will leave the South alone – POW exchange – nothing on future of the South – US help rebuild Vietnam

January 1975: South’s government collapses – North invades US help evacuate Saigon April 30, 1975: South surrenders unconditionally For the US, war is over Domino theory never happens – Communists countries fight amongst themselves.

C) Effects of the War War devastated the Vietnamese people 185,000 South Vietnamese soldiers dead South Vietnamese Civilians 500,000 VC and North Vietnamese -1 million 800,000 Vietnamese children orphaned 181,000 disabled

a) Vietnamese Refugees 3)Le Ly Hayslip: Vietnam refugee – relocated in the US – founded East Meets West Foundation – wrote When Heaven and Earth Changed Places. 1.5 million Vietnamese fled Vietnam Braved the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand in boats – “boat people”

b) Vietnam Veterans 58,000 US service men killed – 300,000 wounded Large number of paralyzed and disabled veterans – better combat medical services 600 POW’s – some spent 6 years – Senator McCain – Arizona No ticker tape parades – no support Veterans turned to drugs, homeless, couldn’t adjust to life

c) Public Policy War shook American confidence in their government – Nixon and Johnson misled the people 150 billion dollars Under what authority can presidents wage an undeclared war? 4) War Powers Act: President gets a 60day time limit to commit US troops without a declaration of war

D) Healing the Wounds of the War 5)Vietnam Veterans Memorial: memorial to the Vietnam War 6)Maya Ying Lin: Chinese American Yale student who designed the memorial Memorial is black, scar in the earth Names listed chronological – not by rank – not alphabetical

Review Why did the US agree to a cease-fire in January 1973? What long term effects did the war have on Vietnam and Vietnamese people? What long-term effects did the war have on Americans? Identify: George McGovern, 26 th Amendment, Le Ly Hayslip, War Powers Act, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Maya Ying Lin.