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American History Chapter 31: The Vietnam War

American History Chapter 31: The Vietnam War. IV. The End of the War. Bellringer. Do you think it is possible for a United States President to continue a course of action strongly opposed by most of the American people? In what ways can the people make their opinions known to the President?.

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American History Chapter 31: The Vietnam War

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  1. American History Chapter 31: The Vietnam War IV. The End of the War

  2. Bellringer • Do you think it is possible for a United States President to continue a course of action strongly opposed by most of the American people? In what ways can the people make their opinions known to the President?

  3. Objectives • Learn how President Nixon’s policies led to the American withdrawal from Vietnam. • Discover why President Nixon campaigned promising to restore law and order. • See what happened in Vietnam after the withdrawal of American forces. • Determine the legacy of the Vietnam War.

  4. Setting the Scene • Nixon asked the US’s “silent majority” what to do about Vietnam. • Bring the troops home immediately with no thought about the consequences • Keep gradually bringing troops home and finishing Vietnamization. • “Its not the easy way, but the right way”

  5. A) Nixon’s Vietnam Policy • Paris Peace Talks: talks that began in 1968 to end the Vietnam War.

  6. a) Withdrawing Troops • June of 1969 – a new Nixon policy • Vietnamization: removing American forces and replacing them with South Vietnamese soldiers. • Total troops decrease to 24,000 by 1972 • Did increase bombings of peninsula

  7. b) The War Spreads to Cambodia • US attacks Cambodia to fight Vietcong. • Vietcong attacking South from Cambodia • More protests for “escalating war” • Nixon wanted more strength at bargaining table

  8. B) Nixon Calls for Law and Order • 1969 – faction of SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) called the Weathermen turned violent. • Marched against police in Chicago. • Violence turned Americans against antiwar movement.

  9. a) The Silent Majority • Some Americans didn’t protest, not radical, loved their country, and for war. Didn’t get press coverage. • Silent Majority: large groups of Americans for the war.

  10. b) Kent State and Jackson State • More protests after US invasion of Cambodia • Kent State (Ohio): students burned down the ROTC building, threw rocks at national guard soldiers – soldiers fired – 4 dead • Jackson State (all Black) MS: students and police – 2 dead • 100,000 construction workers marched in NY in support of the President

  11. C) American Withdrawal • Nixon won re-election in 1972 • Before election – Kissinger announced “peace is at hand” • By January 1973 signed a cease fire • US withdraw troops in 60 days • All POW’s released • No activities in Laos and Cambodia • 17th parallel would divide the country

  12. D) Aftermath of the War in Asia • US left during 1973 • Thought technology and money could win wars

  13. a) South Vietnam Falls • South Vietnam falls in 1975 • US carried out a dramatic last minute evacuation • Vietnam one single country under Communism

  14. b) Southeast Asia After the War • Domino theory – Laos and Cambodia fell to communism – but no others • Cambodia – Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot took over – killed ¼ of population over 1.5 million • Vietnam forced people to “re-education” camps • 1.5 million people left peninsula “boat people”

  15. E) The Legacy of the War • 58,000 American killed – 300,000 wounded • 2,500 POW’s – and MIA’s • Soldiers reception was nothing – no parades

  16. a) Counting the Costs • Longest and least successful war in US history • 150 billion dollars spent • More bombs dropped than in WWII • 1994 – US ended trade embargo and engaged in diplomatic relations

  17. b) The Vietnam Veterans Memorial • Complete in 1982 • 21 old college student from Yale: Maya Ying Lin • Black, see your reflection– all names in order killed – “scar” – long, not tall – can see all the names

  18. Review • How did President Nixon’s policies lead to American withdrawal from Vietnam? • Why did President Nixon campaign promising to restore law and order? • What happened in Vietnam after the withdrawal of American forces? • What was the legacy of the Vietnam War? • Key Terms: Paris Peace talks, Vietnamization, silent majority, POW, MIA

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