The+End+of+Vietnam

Nixon promised peace and honor with Vietnam Gave his policy a term… Vietnamization Vietnam should fight its own war The idea was to have the Vietnamese fight their own war and the US to withdraw troops and give training and equipment to the south Vietnamese. By 1972 only 24,000 troops remained Bombing raids increased by the US, however Hurt supply lines of North Vietnam Bombing expanded to other places-the war is now exanding Nixon wanted the enemy to believe that he would do anything to win US ground forces invaded Cambodia in Spring 1970 The US is expanding their involvement in the war. NOT what Nixon promised!! Protests erupt across the country Kent State University riot-four Americans die after being shot by troops It leads to more domestic upheaval and unrest All the news now publicizing that Americans are hurting Americans Nixon loses support from the public and Congress the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was repealed The pentagon papers-the US government investigated its own military an compared what was going on in Vietnam to what the public was being told, reavealed that those things were different The NY times wants to put it on the front page. argued freedom of speech Nixon says no, and loses supreme court case. Public sees that they aren’t being told the truth… OPPOSITION INCREASESSS!!!!!

Peace talks 1972: Henry Kissinger and Le Duc Tho… they decide “peace is at hand” Its an election year-sounds good for Nixon, Nixon re-elected Nixon ends up bombing more than he ever has January 27, 1973: Agreement reached on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam North Vietnam agrees to return prisoners of war soldiers were mistreated in camps-did not follow Geneva protocall extreme punishments from north Vietnam tap code used by American soldiers to communicate soldiers in these camps were celebrated when they returned in 1975 north Vietnam military attacks Saigon falls Vietnam reunited under communism America escapes, and communism prevails The war was not a success-they “lost” because they didn’t achieve their goal of containing communism LEGACY In southeast Asia: -1.5 million Vietnamese deaths -countless Vietnamese civilians wounded and homeless -agrarian society left in shambles -southeast Asia left highly unstable -Cambodia fell to communism -Poll Pot in Combodia-horrible dictator, rivals with Hitler and Stalin -genocide centers -prisoners taken to cheong ek, a cemetery, now known as “the killing fields” -still current trials for guards that were there -bones everywhere AMERICA COPES 58000 americans killed 365000 wounded 150 billion in direct costs us attempts to cope with losses -before: US a world superpower -after: we lost a war to a tiny country major changes as a result of the conflict -government abolishes the draft war powers act-curb the power of the president -altered American foreign policy -overall cynicism in Americans-always looking on the wrong side -Us not doing well in the 1970s, economic crisis, Vietnam Disillusionment -veterans extended a cold hand --veterans start to struggle-suffered from stress-had a difficult time getting back into society -may citizens embittered toward government -entire generation of Americans is effected -Vietnam memorial commemorated in memorial 7 years later -the veterans finally receive their ticker-tape parade Vietnam now: dominated by agriculture