Unit 9—Vietnam and Counterculture Chapters 16 – 17 CSS 11.10, 11.11

Part Two The Homefront , EQ #3: How did the American war effort in Vietnam lead to rising protests and social divisions back home?

The Homefront Selective Service most of the 2.5 million who served were poor working class disproportionate rate of AA casualties 15 million men received deferments college students and certain jobs many left for Canada changed to lottery system in 1969 widespread resistance to the draft draft cards burned

The Homefront Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) students at the University of Michigan organized against the war in 1964 at UC Berkeley students were forbidden to organize on campus started the Free Speech Movement

The Homefront Credibility Gap the optimistic statements from LBJ did not match what people saw on TV people began to distrust the government Vietnam Veterans Against the War grew from 6 to 40,000 members Hey, hey LBJ, how many kids have you killed today? Eighteen today, dead tomorrow! Make love, not war! Hell no, we won’t go! Trust no one over thirty!

The Homefront Tet Offensive, ,000 Vietcong caught U.S. by surprise on Vietnamese New Year attacked all across S. Vietnam military win for US but publicity victory for Vietcong 2000 US dead 50,000 Vietcong dead severe blow to US confidence in the war

The Homefront Election of 1968 LBJ refused to run for re-election RFK was killed major riots broke out in Chicago at the Democratic Convention Nixon promised “peace with honor” the “Silent Majority” 1968 RRichard M. Nixon31,785, DHubert Humphrey31,275, AIGeorge Wallace9,906,47346

EQ #3: How did the American war effort in Vietnam lead to rising protests and social divisions back home?

Part Two Vietnamization , , EQ #4: How did the Vietnam War end, and what were its lasting effects?

Vietnamization Nixon promised to gradually reduce U.S. involvement peace talks stalled US wanted communists out of South Vietnam and POWs returned Ho Chi Minh wanted US out of South Vietnam immediately Nixon sent troops into Cambodia to seize Vietcong supplies in 1970 in 1971, 2/3 of Americans wanted troops out of Vietnam even if it went communist as a result

Vietnamization My Lai Massacre, 1968 U.S. troops led by Lt. William Calley massacred unarmed villagers Calley convicted in 1971 court-martialed and sentenced to life in prison but released in 1974 added to anti-war movement

Vietnamization Pentagon Papers, 1972 The New York Times published a classified history of the war it covered policy under Truman, Eisenhower, and Johnson LBJ wrote the Tonkin Gulf Resolution before the attack Daniel Ellsberg, a Vietnam vet, leaked it Nixon tried to block it The Supreme Court ruled free speech

Vietnamization Kent State, 1970 student demonstrators threw rocks at the National Guard the guardsmen fired on antiwar protestors 4 killed and 8 wounded college campuses across the nation closed down President Nixon “...when dissent turns to violence it invites tragedy”

Vietnamization Paris Peace Talks, 1973 Nixon won re-election in 1972 with peace approaching Nixon renewed bombing North Vietnam when talks stalled US troops pulled out in 1973

Vietnamization Saigon Falls, 1975 communist forces restarted hostility Saigon fell and was renamed Ho Chi Minh City US embassy workers were evacuated to ships off the coast the US reopened diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1995

Vietnamization Cost of the Vietnam War Aug May 7, ,403,100 served in the Southeast Asia Theater (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia) 58,202 died 300,000 wounded POWs: 766 MIA: 2, won Medal of Honor represented 9.7% of their generation

Vietnamization War Powers Act, 1973 limited presidential authority to make war President must inform Congress within 48 hours of sending in troops President may only commit troops up to 60 days in field congressional authority always higher than president passed over Nixon’s veto

EQ #4: How did the Vietnam War end, and what were its lasting effects?

Part Two Nixon and the Cold War EQ #5: How did Richard Nixon change Cold War diplomacy during his presidency?

“Peace with Honor” Henry Kissinger Sec. of State under Nixon key in ending Vietnam under “realpolitick” the US opened talks with China and the USSR

“Peace with Honor” Zhou En-lai Nixon went to China to meet communist leader Zhou En-Lai in 1972 put pressure on North Vietnam to end the war it spooked the USSR

“Peace with Honor” Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) Nixon and Brezhnev agreed to freeze number of long-range nuclear missiles (ICBMs) in 1972 it didn’t end the Cold War but it reduced tension (détente) between the US and the USSR

EQ #5: How did Richard Nixon change Cold War diplomacy during his presidency?