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1959 - 1975 major US involvement 1964 - 1973

THE VIETNAM WAR. 1959 - 1975 major US involvement 1964 - 1973. VIETNAM WAS DIFFERENT. Guerrilla tactics Helicopter war 9,000 miles away Test of domino theory “Living Room” war Draft opposition. US TROOP LEVELS. 1964 = 23,300 1965 = 184,300 1966 = 385,300 1967 = 485,600

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1959 - 1975 major US involvement 1964 - 1973

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  1. THE VIETNAM WAR 1959 - 1975 major US involvement 1964 - 1973

  2. VIETNAM WAS DIFFERENT • Guerrilla tactics • Helicopter war • 9,000 miles away • Test of domino theory • “Living Room” war • Draft opposition

  3. US TROOP LEVELS 1964 = 23,300 1965 = 184,300 1966 = 385,300 1967 = 485,600 1968 = 536,100 1969 = 475,200 1970 = 334,600 1971 = 156,800 1972 = 24,200 1973 = 50 • 3.3 million total Americans served • 58,000 US killed

  4. THE DRAFT • Registration of 18 – 26 year olds • Average US serviceman = 19 years old • One year tours of duty • College deferments meant poor & minorities overrepresented – “working class war”

  5. EARLY US INVOLVEMENT • 1964: Gulf of Tonkin Resolution gives LBJ power to send combat troops • 3-yr bombing campaign using Napalm & Agent Orange • Ground war begins 1965 • War of attrition • Search and destroy missions = 3 mil refugees • “Hearts & Minds” campaign

  6. 1967: SIEGE OF KHE SAHN • Build up of troops on both sides summer 1967 • Siege of US Marine base by NV forces for 77 days • Massive air campaign launched by US • Base abandoned by US in July 1968; led to criticisms in media

  7. 1968: TET OFFENSIVE • Surprise attack on Tet (New Year Holiday) • 100 cities & US embassy attacked • Military loss for VC and NV • Public opinion loss for US • Westmoreland had said end in sight;“credibilitygap” for LBJ as people stop believing him • LBJ announces beginning of negotiations & says he will not run for second term

  8. 1968: MY LAI MASSACRE • US platoon search for VC rebels in village of My Lai • US troops shoot more than 300 civilians (women, children, elderly) • Cover-up by Army later reported by NY Times shocked American public • Many returning vets called “baby-killers”

  9. 1969: VIETNAMIZATION • Nixon takes presidency • Negotiations going nowhere • “Vietnamization” plan by Nixon & Kissinger to gradually withdraw US troops & train SV to take over • “Peace with honor” • Nixon gives secret order for bombing campaign against NV, Laos, and Cambodia while still negotiating

  10. 1970: CAMBODIA INVASION • Nixon announces US troops had invaded Cambodia to counter VC supply lines • Cambodia neutral • Congress not informed • College campus protests • Kent State students burn ROTC building • National Guard opens fire, kills 4, wounds 9 • Similar protest at Jackson State kills 2, wounds12

  11. 1971: PENTAGON PAPERS • 7,000 page Pentagon document • Showed gov. had planned invasion even as LBJ had promised not to send US troops • Showed gov. had no plan to end war • Leaked to New York Times

  12. OPPOSITION TO THE WAR • 1965: 61% support • 1971: 28% support • Hawks vs. Doves • Student-led organizations (Free Speech Movement, Students for a Democratic Society) • Rallies & marches, protest songs • Draft card burning, draft dodgers

  13. 1972-73: THE FINAL PUSH • North launches biggest attack since Tet • Nixon orders massive bombing campaign • Negotiations break down but agreement finally reached after Christmas bombings in 1972 • March 1973 last US troops withdrawn • Fall of Saigon in 1975 leads to evacuation of all Americans from Saigon

  14. AMERICA Loss of trust in leaders Inflation & tax increases Nation divided Veterans mistreated upon return home PTSD, suicide, drug & alcohol problems of veterans Domino Theory questioned War Powers Act SE ASIA Vietnamese “reeducation” work camps Vietnamese refugees Toxins, birth defects, other disease from napalm & agent orange Cambodian civil war & genocide AFTERMATH OF THE WAR

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