Vietnam War Winds Down

Vietnam As the war moves on, more public concern grows –Credibility Gap Information that was given didn’t seem right –Government said one thing, but public saw another TV War Government begins to question themselves

Vietnam People start to protest –Hawks (pro war) and Doves (anti-war) –Anger at the draft Heavily publicized –Showed a nation that did not trust their government –Government not in control of their people

Vietnam Things get worse Tet Offensive –North Vietnamese troops and Vietcong launch a surprise attack Massacre thousands of South Vietnamese political and religious leaders –Americans fight back and drive out the Communists Advisors claim victory –Public see something else

1968 Johnson decides not to run for re-election in 1968 –Health issues, lack of public support MLK Jr, and Robert Kennedy assassinated Riots at the democratic national convention Nixon wins presidency

Vietnam Nixon tries to end Vietnam War –Put Henry Kissinger in charge –End war Diplomatically Started to withdraw troops –Vietnamization Not a sign of surrender –Orders air strikes over Cambodia

Vietnam Americans getting angrier My Lai Massacre –Over 200 unarmed South Vietnamese civilians killed Most were old men, women, and children –Caught on camera US invades Cambodia –Gulf of Tonkin Resolution repealed

Vietnam Public support gone –Kent State Four protestors killed –Jackson State Two students killed –Pentagon Papers Revealed government officials privately disagreeing with war, but publicly supporting it Government lying

Vietnam Kissinger works hard at ending resolution –“peace is at hand” Nixon re-elected Peace talks break down –N. Vietnamese troops had to be out of S. Vietnam –“Christmas Bombings” Negotiations resumed after massive bombings

Vietnam January 27, 1973 –Peace Agreement finally signed U.S. troops withdraw –Last soldier left in 1975 Peace treaty collapses –Americans no longer help South Vietnam –North now controls South

Vietnam Legacy –Lost $170 Billion –Lasted 8 years –58,000 dead, 300,000 wounded –Huge psychological impact No welcome home parades, traumatic experiences –Americans did not trust the government