1. Protests, Counterculture, and the end…
The Vietnam War
Protests, Counterculture, and the end…

2. The TV War… War was seen by the majority of Americans on TV.
Morley Safer's Report
Tet Offensive – North Vietnamese & Viet Cong (N.V. guerilla army from South Vietnam)
Coordinated attack on Lunar New Year, an agreed upon cease fire
Huge loss for N.V. and Viet Cong (40,000 vs. 1,600 American)
Press coverage made it appear as an American loss
Lowered American support for the war

3. Public Opinion…

4. My Lai Massacre US destroys village of My Lai then covered it up
Viet Cong suspected of hiding there
When uncovered, Americans questioned the morality of the war
These events plus lack of real progress diminish support

5. The Anti-War Movement
“New Left” – Stressed participatory democracy and issues that affected the lower class
As opposed to “Old Left” of 1930’s that affected workers
Vietnam Veterans Against the War (1967)
Overall considered a vocal minority
Richard Nixon easily elected President in 1968 and 1972

6. Issues at Home
Protests at Kent State and Jackson State Universities result in six students killed
Publishing of the Pentagon Papers revealed deception by the government to run the war

7. Opposition – So what did people do?
Dodging the Draft
history/videos/dodging-the-draft

8. Nixon and Vietnamization
President Richard Nixon promises Vietnamization (1969)
Replacing American soldiers with Vietnamese
Seeing supply lines from Cambodia, President Nixon orders its bombing (1970)
1973 – Nixon begins pulling Americans out of Vietnam
1975 – South Vietnam falls to North; country united under Communist govt.

9. And that’s all I have to say about that…