1. VISUAL DISCOVERY Getting Out of Vietnam

4. Nixon’s Peace with Honor
War was not “winnable,” so troops should be withdrawn, but without damaging U.S. reputation
Strategy:
Diplomacy: no more bombing if North Vietnamese troops leave and South Vietnam remains independent
Vietnamization – South Vietnam would gradually take over conduct of the war
Destroy communist bases in neighboring Cambodia and Laos by secret bombing raids and ground troops
Results: American troops were gradually reduced, but the enormously costly war continued

7. Increased Protest at Home
My Lai Massacre – suspecting the village was a Viet Cong stronghold, U.S. soldiers kill 500 Vietnamese women, children, and old men
Antiwar demonstrations increased on city streets and college campuses dividing the nations
Kent State University shootings – the National Guard opened fire during a protest killing 4 students
Pentagon Papers – the NY Times published gov’t reports proving that the gov’t deceived the public about the war

10. American Involvement Ends
In 1972, with only 6,000 American troops remaining in South Vietnam, North Vietnam invaded; failed when the U.S. unleashed bombers
Paris Peace Accords of 1972
Signed by the U.S., South Vietnam, North Vietnam, and the Viet Cong
Established a cease fire, kept the dividing line at the 17th parallel, full withdrawal of U.S. troops, and release of all U.S. prisoners of war
Aftermath:
South Vietnam fell to communist North Vietnam in 1975
U.S. embassy in South Vietnam closed and evacuated
South Vietnamese sent to “reeducation camps” – hard labor
Over one million Vietnamese refugees