3 Major Mistakes Made In Vietnam

1. 3 Major Mistakes Made In Vietnam • The U.S. believed stopping communism from spreading into Vietnam would stop communism from spreading through out the rest of Asia. • The U.S. failed to bomb the Ho Chi Minh trail and stop the transportation of troops and supplies from North Vietnam into South Vietnam. • The U.S. fought a “limited” type of war against North Vietnam and allowed the media full access in reporting on the war.

2. Newspaper Headlines: Use pages 755-761 1) Create a catchy newspaper headline for each event that occurred on the date listed below. 2) Write a story in your own words for each headline using at least 3 sentences. January 1969 June 1971 August 1969 December 1972 November 1969 January 1973 April 1970 March 1973 May 1970 November 1973 December 1970 March 1975 January 1971 (Don’t look too hard in the book. Move on if you can’t find it quickly.)

3. JANUARY 1969 • Peace negotiations had stalled between the U.S. and North Vietnam. • Newly elected President Nixon and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger announce a new plan called Vietnamization=gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops (3 year plan) from Vietnam so that South Vietnam can take a more active combat role in the war.

4. AUGUST 1969 • First stage of Vietnamization begins=the first 25,000 U.S. troops had returned home from Vietnam. • All U.S. troops are to be removed from Vietnam with in 3 years (gradual withdrawal). • President Nixon orders the bombing of North Vietnam supply lines, and the countries of Cambodia and Laos (neighbors of Vietnam).

5. “Peace with Honor” • The U.S. will gradually leave Vietnam but has to “flex its muscles” on its way out of the country. • President Nixon, “I call it the madman theory, …I want the North Vietnamese to believe I’ve reached the point where I might do anything to stop the war. We’ll just slip the word to them ‘For God’s sake, you know Nixon is obsessed about Communists. We can’t restrain him when he’s angry-and he has his hand on the nuclear button’-and Ho chi Minh himself will be in Paris in two days begging for peace.”

6. NOVEMBER 1969 • The New York Times reports on the My Lai massacre. • A U.S. platoon under the command of Lt. William Calley, jr. destroyed the South Vietnamese village of My Lai and massacred every man, woman, and child living there. • 200 were killed. • More U.S. citizens quit supporting the war in Vietnam.

7. APRIL 1970 • President Nixon announces that U.S. troops have invaded Cambodia to clear out North Vietnamese and Vietcong supply centers. • Why invade Cambodia when U.S. troops are suppose to be coming home?

8. MAY 1970 • Kent State and Jackson State Massacre: Kent State University (Ohio)=National Guard is ordered onto the Kent State campus to put an end to a violent student protest. The Guard opens fire and kills 4 people and wounds 9. 2) Jackson State (Mississippi)=National Guard ordered onto the campus to end an anti-war protest. 12 students were wounded and 2 killed.

9. DECEMBER 1970 1) Congress repeals the Tonkin Gulf Resolution after Nixon had ordered the bombing and invasion of Cambodia with out notifying or getting approval from Congress.

10. January 1971 • The glorious birth of Mr. Arnold on January 21, 1971. A bright light in a dark time! • It should be in the history book but it’s not…yet.

11. JUNE 1971 • The Pentagon Papers are revealed to the American public. • 7,000 page document written for Defense Secretary Robert McNamara in 1967-68 that revealed that the Johnson administration was lying to the American public about Vietnam. • President Johnson had drawn up plans for entering the war in Vietnam even though he was telling the American public that he was not going to send U.S. troops to Vietnam.

12. DECEMBER 1972 • The “Christmas Bombings”= Peace talks break down between the U.S. and North Vietnam so the U.S. drops 100,000 bombs in 11 days over the two largest cities of North Vietnam (Hanoi and Haiphong). • China, Russia and the U.S. congress demand the bombings to end and a peace treaty to be signed. • U.S. signs peace treaty in January 1973.

13. MARCH 1973 • U. S combat troops withdrawal out of Vietnam and return to America. • President Nixon promises to respond “with full force” to any violation by North Vietnam of the peace treaty.

14. November 1973 • War Powers Act: Passes in November 1973. A) President must inform Congress within 48 hours of sending troops into battle without a declaration of war. B) The troops may remain there no longer than 90 days unless Congress approves the president’s actions or declares war.

15. MARCH 1975 • North Vietnam invades South Vietnam=South Vietnam appeals to the U.S. to help by sending aide and troops. • President Ford refuses to help South Vietnam. South Vietnam is conquered and falls to communism on April 30, 1975.