Nixon's Vietnamization Policy and the End of the Vietnam War

1. Standard Addressed: 11.9 Students analyze U.S. foreign policy since World War II. Lesson Objectives: CHAPTER 22: Section 5 - The End of the War and it's Legacy 1. Describe Nixon’s policy of Vietnamization.2. Explain the public’s reaction to the Vietnam War during Nixon’s presidency.3. Describe the end of U.S. involvement and the final outcome in Vietnam.4. Examine the war’s painful legacy in the United States and Southeast Asia. CH 22-SEC-5

2. QUIZ! Fill in your ID NUMBER! First & Last Name CH-19-1

3. A BULLDOG ALWAYS Commitment Attitude CARES Respect Encouragement Safety

4. Section 5 The End of the War and Its Legacy President Nixon institutes his Vietnamization policy, and America’s longest war finally comes to an end. NEXT

5. The Pullout Begins: • In the summer of 1969, Nixon announced the first US troops withdrawal from Vietnam • Negotiations were underway but were not going anywhere • Nixon conferred with his National Security Advisor – Henry Kissinger on a plan to end the US involvement in Vietnam

6. Vietnamization: • Kissinger’s plan was called Vietnamization – gradual withdraw of US troops in order for the S. Vietnamese to take a more active combat role in the war. • Over the next three years, the number of troops in Vietnam would drop from 500,000 to 25,000

7. “Peace With Honor” • Nixon calls for “peace with honor” to maintain U.S. dignity • The US wanted to “bow out” of the war gracefully….so…..

9. “Peace With Honor” • Orders bombing of N. Vietnam, Vietcong hideouts in Laos, Cambodia • Nixon secretly began massive bombings in North Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia (Laos and Cambodia housed many Vietcong bases)

10. 1. Nixon adopts a policy of Vietnimization. Guided Reading: To replace U.S. troops with South Vietnamese troops to established “peace with honor”

11. Trouble Continues on the Home Front: • Nixon was seeking to win support for his war policies • He called on the silent majority – moderate mainstream Americans who quietly supported the war effort • Many did support the President, not the war

12. The My Lai Massacre: • In March of 1968 it was discovered that a US platoon massacred over 200 innocent women and children in the small village of My Lai (S. Vietnam) • Lieutenant William Calley and his men were looking for Vietcong rebels – they didn’t find any • Calley was convicted and imprisoned – the others were charged for minor offenses

14. 2. My Lai massacre shocks Americans. Guided Reading: 200 innocent Vietnamese murdered by U.S. soldiers

15. The Invasion of Cambodia: • It seemed as if the war was winding down • The President however was still sending troops into Cambodia to bring down the Vietcong • In response to this invasion, 1.5 million students protested and closed down over 1,200 campuses

16. 3. Nixon orders invasion of Cambodia. Guided Reading: To remove Vietnamese and Vietcong supply centers from Cambodia

17. SECTION 5 continued Trouble Continues on the Home Front • Violence on Campus • National Guard kills 4 in confrontation at Kent State University • Guardsmen kill 2 during confrontation at Jackson State in MS • 100,000 construction workers rally in NYC to support government NEXT

18. Violence On Campus: • May 4, 1970 - Disaster struck hardest at Kent State University • Four students were killed in a clash with the National Guard • Ten days later another protest at Jackson State in Mississippi,killed two students and wounded 12 more • 100,000 construction workers rally in NYC to support government

19. 4. First students strike in U.S. history occurs. Guided Reading: To protest the invasion of Cambodia

20. SECTION 5 continued Trouble Continues on the Home Front • The Pentagon Papers • Nixon invades Cambodia; Congress repeals Tonkin Gulf Resolution • • Pentagon Papers show plans to enter war under LBJ • Confirm belief of many that government not honest about intentions NEXT

21. The Pentagon Papers: • The Pentagon Papers were leaked during this time – a 7,000 page report describing Johnson’s escalating war plans. • (when he was telling the American people that he was pulling troops out of the war) • The papers also showed that there was never a plan to end the war as long as the N. Vietnamese persisted.

22. The Pentagon Papers: • Congress was furious with Nixon for bombing and invading Cambodia without Congressional approval • Congress decided to repeal the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, limiting Nixon’s wartime powers

23. 5. Congress repeals the Tonkin Gulf Resolution. Guided Reading: To Protest Nixon’s bombing and invasion of Cambodia without notifying Congress; To gain greater Congressional control over U.S. policy in Vietnam

24. America’s Longest War Ends: • In March of 1972, The N. Vietnamese launched their largest offensive since Tet • Nixon responded with a massive bombing campaign against the N. Vietnamese cities. • This did not stop them • Nixon would soon take steps to end America’s involvement in the war

25. 6. The “Christmas bombings” take place. Guided Reading: To force a negotiated peace settlement

26. The Final Push: • President Nixon won reelection but peace still wasn’t at hand • Negotiations still were at a stalemate • Nixon decided to drop 100,000 more bombs on N. Vietnam, pausing only on Christmas Day • Other world powers began to notice the futility of the war • On January 27, 1973, America signed a “peace agreement” • N. Vietnamese troops would remain in S. Vietnam – Nixon promised to respond with “full force” if the peace treaty was violated. • For America, the Vietnam War had ended.

27. The Fall of Saigon: • The war however, raged on • Within months of the cease fire agreement, North and South Vietnam were fighting again

28. The Fall of Saigon: • South Vietnam asked for help – the US sent $$ • Soon after, Saigon – S. Vietnam capital, was taken by the N. Vietnamese

30. The War Leaves a Painful Legacy: • The Vietnam War: • 58,000 American killed • 303,000 wounded • North and South Vietnamese deaths topped 2,000,000 • The war left many Americans cautious about their government.

31. American Veterans Cope Back Home: • The nation extended a “cold hand” to the troops returning from Vietnam

32. American Veterans Cope Back Home: • No parades, no cheering crowds.

33. American Veterans Cope Back Home: • About 15% of troops were treated for PTSD, with many more suffering from drug, alcohol abuse, an suicide

34. American Veterans Cope Back Home: • The Veterans Memorial was created in D.C. in 1982 to honor those who served in the war.

35. 7. South Vietnam surrenders to North Vietnam. Guided Reading: North Vietnam’s full-scale invasion of South Vietnam and the capture of Saigon; No U.S. troops there to prevent the North’s victory

37. 8. Vietnam veterans receive a cold homecoming. Guided Reading: Americans very torn and bitter about the war.

38. Further Turmoil in Southeast Asia: • The Communist N. Vietnamese imprisoned more than 400,000 South Vietnamese in the years to follow • Nearly 1.5 million people fled Vietnam • The US invasion of Cambodia also sparked a harsh civil war – Khmer Rouge wanted a “peasant society” and executed anyone with an education or foreign ties • In the end, the Khmer Rouge killed at least 1,000,000 people

39. 9. Cambodia erupts in civil war. Guided Reading: The U.S. invasion of Cambodia

40. The Legacy of Vietnam • Government abolishes military draft • 1973 Congress passes War Powers Act: • - president must inform Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops • - 90 day maximum deployment without Congressional approval • War contributes to cynicism about government, political leaders NEXT

41. The Legacy of Vietnam: • In 1973, Congress also passed the War Powers Act – president must inform Congress of military decisions • - president must inform Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops • - 90 day maximum deployment without Congressional approval • After Vietnam the government would abolish the draft • The war diminished American faith in their government

42. 10. Congress passes the War Powers Act. Guided Reading: To curb/reduce the president’s war-making powers

44. 11. The draft is abolished. Guided Reading: January 27, 1973 It was extremely unpopular

46. 12. Many Americans lose faith in their government. Guided Reading: The Pentagon Papers, govt was lying about the war; The My Lai massacre; campus turmoil at Kent State; The Nixon administration’s lying; The Watergate scandal

47. A – What was the impact of Vietnamization on the United States? Vietnamization drastically cut America’s involvement in Vietnam and allowed for thousands of U.S. troops to come home. MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS

48. B – How did the campus shootings demonstrate the continued divisions within the country? The shootings sparked heated debates as well as the resurgence of “hardhats”. MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS

49. C – Summarize what led to the agreement to end the war in Vietnam. Kissinger dropped his insistence that the North Vietnamese withdraw all troops from the South before complte withdrawal of US troops. The Thieu regime rejected Kissinger’s plan. Nixon unleashed a bombing campaign on North Vietnam. Peace talks resumed and the warring parties signed an agreement to end the war. MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS

50. D – Why might the United States have refused to reenter the war? Because of the war’s divisive effect on the country, as well as the desire to heal and rebuild after massive casualties and expense. MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS