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Who is president after JFK is assassinated in 1963?. VII. Cold War: Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ). Lyndon B. Johnson. *Military build-up in Vietnam intensified to 500,000 by 1967. What is the objective in Vietnam?. CONTAINMENT: Problem? U.S. sponsored gov’t not popular in democratic
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VII. Cold War: Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) Lyndon B. Johnson *Military build-up in Vietnam intensified to 500,000 by 1967 What is the objective in Vietnam? CONTAINMENT: Problem? U.S. sponsored gov’t not popular in democratic South
Challenges U.S. soldiers face in Vietnam? Vietcong within civilian population (friend or foe???) Tunnels allow Vietcong to disappear Traps and land mines Vietcong supported by Soviets and China, and ready to pay any price for victory- independence How is fighting technique of Vietcong similar to Patriots during the American Revolution??
U.S. approach in Vietnam? “Search and Destroy” missions: “Body Count-” (tracking Vietcong killed as progress) Problem(s) : U.S. wins in field, but cannot force defeat U.S. soldiers kill civilians in search for Vietcong- Unclear number of enemies? Napalm- gasoline based bombs Agent Orange- defoliate jungles
Americans Protest War: Dodging draft America views Vietnam as Civil War- question morality of combat techniques **College Campuses
Turning Point: Tet Offensive- January 30, 1968 Vietcong launch series of surprise attacks in South Vietnam during new year festivities (TET) U.S. takes back cities, kill 32,000 Vietcong….but Tet proves that enemy is not prepared to surrender. “Quagmire”
What is happening in this picture?
1968, 60% of Americans disapprove of LBJ’s handling of Vietnam LBJ announces he will not seek another term as president.
VII. Cold War: Richard Nixon Richard Nixon promises an “honorable end” to Vietnam How??? Vietnamization- withdrawing American troops while maintaining military aid to South Vietnam. Détente- policy of easing Cold War tensions 1972, Nixon visits China (takes advantage of rift between Soviets and Chinese)
1974 Nixon resigns after Watergate Scandal- covering up burglary of Democratic National Committee headquarters
VIII. Cold War: Gerald Ford “My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over. Our Constitution works; our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men. Here the people rule.”
“Vietnamization” fails (1975)- South Vietnam surrenders to North Vietnam. Communists unite Vietnam as one country, Saigon is renamed Ho Chi Minh city. Americans and Vietnamese flee as Saigon falls
American Soldiers Return Home American Veterans return to face hostility from those who opposed Vietnam 15% soldiers who served continued to suffer post-traumatic stress- nightmares, headaches, memory lapses
Vietnam Aftermath: Lessons to Remember People today question if U.S. learned the lessons of Vietnam (Vietnam Syndrome)
1982 Vietnam vets honored for service 58,000 names on “the Wall” in D.C. Designed by 21 yr old Maya Ying Lin
1995 U.S. extends full diplomatic Relations to Vietnam “Let this moment be a time to heal and a time to build.” Clinton Douglas Peterson named ambassador (former POW for 6 years in Hanoi prison)
VIII. Cold War Ends: New Leadership Mikhail Gorbachev (1985) Internal Problems: -Increased military expense -Rise of nationalism -Fast paced reform (market economy) -Economic inefficiency
Ronald Reagan: Puts pressure on Gorbachev to support democracy
Gorbachev Plan-- Glosnost- “openness” Perestroika- restructuring of Soviet society. Less government control of economy, steps to democratic government.
June 1987, “Mr. Gorbachev tear down this Wall” Ronald Reagan
End of Cold War: Timeline (1989) --- (1990) --- (1991) Berlin Wall Free elections in 14 Soviet Republics is torn down East Berlin declare independence **Soviet Union collapses
(1992) President George Bush and Russian president Boris Yeltsin issue formal statement declaring end to Cold War. Who “won” the Cold War?