The Vietnam War – The War Ends

1968 – Turning Point What was the Tet Offensive? Jan. 30, 1968 – Cease fire during Vietnamese Tet celebrations (Lunar New Year) NVA/Vietcong launches surprise attack on S. Vietnam & U.S. forces 84,000 forces attack 12 U.S. military bases/100 cities. Attack stunned U.S. forces/1000’s of S. Vietnamese killed U.S. able to push back Vietcong/NVA

1968 – Turning Point Significance of the Tet Offensive MAIN IDEA: Turns public opinion against war! –After 3 years of bombing/500,000 soldiers, NVA/Vietcong still launching offensive attacks –Time & Newsweek urge withdrawal –Walter Cronkite tells millions of American viewers that Vietnam is “unwinable” –LBJ: “If I’ve lost Cronkite…then it’s over. I’ve lost middle America.”

The Fall of LBJ LBJ’s popularity declines 35% “Hey, hey LBJ, how many kids did you kill today.” Anti-War candidates challenge LBJ for Presidency (Eugene McCarthy & Robert F. Kennedy) LBJ announces he will not seek reelection

Nixon Elected in 1968 Campaigned on the promise to end the war... Honorably. “Peace with honor” Claimed to have a “secret plan” to get U.S. out of war. Appealed to Americans wanting “law and order”

Nixon appealed to the “SILENT MAJORITY” Regular working Americans who disliked the youth protests/activism of the 60’s and wanted to see... More “law and order” in America A responsible end to the Vietnam War without a U.S. defeat

Nixon Doctrine 1.U.S. would honor all treaty obligations 2.U.S. would provide a shield if a nuclear power threatened an ally 3.U.S. would provide military & economic aide to allies, but would expect the nation to be provide the majority of the manpower to defend themselves.

Johnson: Directly support South Vietnam by sending the U.S. military to fight to defend South Vietnam Nixon: Provide support but expect the South Vietnamese to bear more of the burden to defend themselves. How did their policies differ?

“Peace with honor” Vietnamization Nixon’s policy to... GRADUALLY turn over fighting to the South Vietnamese while gradually bringing U.S. Troops home. U.S. would focus on training the S. Vietnamese army Return to policy similar to JFK’s policies in the early 1960’s.

540,000 U.S. troops in Vietnam when Nixon took office Nixon begins Vietnamization immediately... June 1969: Nixon brings 25,000 U.S. troops home from Vietnam By December 1969: 85,000 U.S. troops brought home. (By 1970, 335,000 U.S. troops in Vietnam)

Nixon DECREASES troop levels and INCREASES bombing campaigns

CAMBODIA March 1969: Nixon begins secret bombing campaign of Cambodia April 30, 1970: U.S. troops invade Cambodia to clear out N. Vietnamese/Vietcong sanctuaries

Invasion of Cambodia sparks NEW WAVE of protests

Kent State Massacre

KSU – May 1970 May 2: Students set fire to the KSU ROTC building. Slash firehouse. Governor James A. Rhodes sends National Guard to KSU May 3: Students hold another rally. Dispersed by tear gas. May 4: 2,000 students gather for rally. Throw rocks at National Guard. As students pursue Guardsman, Guardsman fire shots... Killing four students.

Paris Peace Talks Throughout the Nixon Administration, Kissinger and N. Vietnamese representatives met in Paris. January 1973: CEASE FIRE AGREEMENT –U.S. forces to withdrawal immediately. –All P.O.W’s released. –South Vietnam permitted to determine future. –17 th Parallel would continue to be dividing line.

Communist Victory January 1975: N. Vietnamese launch offensive on northern South Vietnam. In a few months, S. Vietnam crumbles. President flees to Thailand. April 30, 1975: South Vietnam surrenders.

Post War Vietnam Vietnam united as Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Capital: Hanoi Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh City

The Story of the Hmong During Vietnam War, CIA recruited the Hmong to fight “the secret war” Hmong soldiers to fight North Vietnamese infiltrators in Laos and help block the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Hmong were loyal to U.S. and were heroes in their sacrifice and bravery 1967 – 1971:4,000 killed / 5,000 injured

Laos Turns Communist 2 years after Vietnam War ends, Laos is overthrown by Communists supported by Vietnam The Hmong became targets of Communist government because of their support of the U.S. during the Vietnam War Thousands of the Hmong forced to flee Laos

Thousands of Hmong live in Refugee Camps in Thailand

Hmong Resettle in U.S. First Wave (1975 – 1978): 30,000 Hmong migrate to U.S. Mostly men who fought in Laos. Second Wave (1980 – present): Over 100,000 Hmong (mostly families) emigrate to U.S. Today over 209,000 Hmong live in the United States!

Assignment Fist Bump a Hmong AECHS student today and thank them for their ancestors help and support during the Vietnam War!