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Wrapping up Vietnam

Wrapping up Vietnam. 30.4 and 30.5. Tet Offensive Turns Tide. January 30, 1968 – during Tet holiday (lunar new year), Vietcong launches a surprise attack on over 100 towns/cities, 12 U.S. airbases and even U.S. embassy in South Vietnam Attack driven back after around a month

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Wrapping up Vietnam

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  1. Wrapping up Vietnam 30.4 and 30.5

  2. Tet Offensive Turns Tide • January 30, 1968 – during Tet holiday (lunar new year), Vietcong launches a surprise attack on over 100 towns/cities, 12 U.S. airbases and even U.S. embassy in South Vietnam • Attack driven back after around a month • Militarily, victory for U.S. (~3,000 casualties for ARVN/US vs. ~32,000 for Vietcong • Psychologically, big win for Vietcong – opposition to war grows; media and even new Sec. of Defense begin to see war as unwinnable • Public had been told repeatedly the enemy was nearing defeat – obviously false

  3. Shifting Democratic Party • Anti-war elements of Democratic Party wanted to find a candidate to challenge their own President in 1968 election • Eugene McCarthy steps in promising to end the war • After Johnson narrowly wins New Hampshire primary, party favorite Robert Kennedy declares candidacy • In March, LBJ gives a speech promising drawing down American involvement in Vietnam; closes speech by pulling himself out of the race

  4. Two Assassinations • In April, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated by James Earl Ray • June of same year, after his victory speech for winning California primary, Robert Kennedy is assassinated by Sirhan Sirhan • Angry at Kennedy’s support of Israel

  5. Protesting Escalates • Protests and demonstrations continue on college campuses • Democratic National Convention – lots of anti-war protests against presumptive nominee Hubert Humphrey (LBJ’s VP) • Chicago mayor promises to keep order – massive # of police and even National Guard on hand to keep order – full scale riot breaks out • Verbal conflict reigns within convention – Democrats look like party of disorder

  6. Nixon wins! • Nixon’s promise of returning law and order was very well received • Also promised to end war in Vietnam (though didn’t exactly say how) • Democratic disarray and a third party candidate who grabbed a few states and a few votes cleared the way for Nixon victory

  7. Nixon takes over • Summer of ‘69 – Nixon announces troop withdrawals • Vietnamization – South Vietnamese take more active role • “Peace with Honor” • In order to maintain bargaining power, Nixon orders massive bombing raids in Laos and Cambodia

  8. Home Front • Losing support • My Lai massacre – Army Lieutenant orders shooting of 300-500innocent peasants • Invasion of Cambodia riles up protests on college campuses • Kent State – National Guard fires on protestors wounding nine, killing four • Pentagon Papers – reveals lies gov’t told the people

  9. Ending the War • Ceasefire March 29, 1973 • Only months after Americans leave, Communists take over S. Vietnam • “reeducation camps” (labor camps) for many South Vietnamese who didn’t escape • US invasion of Cambodia also helps spark civil war which allows brutal Khmer Rouge under Pol Pot to take control • Attempt to establish peasant-state – educated, professionals imprisoned and/or executed

  10. Legacy • Many soldiers receive cold welcome • Indifference or outright hostility • Around 15% suffer from PTSD • Abolish the draft • War Powers Act • Pres. must inform Congress when he sends soldiers to fight, can only keep them there a limited time without approval

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