16.4 The War s End and Impact. Vietnamization. Kent State University 2/8/ Consequences of the Vietnam War

Transcription

1 16.4 The War s End and Impact Consequences of the Vietnam War Vietnamization Vietnamization was a policy of the Richard M. Nixon administration during the Vietnam War, as a result of the Viet Cong's Tet Offensive, to "expand, equip, and train South Vietnam's forces and assign to them an ever-increasing combat role, at the same time steadily reducing the number of U.S. combat troops." Kent State University The Kent State occurred at Kent State University in the U.S. city of Kent, Ohio, and involved the shooting of unarmed college students by the Ohio National Guard on Monday, May 4, The guardsmen fired 67 rounds over a period of 13 seconds, killing four students and wounding nine others, one of whom suffered permanent paralysis. 1

2 My Lai mass murder of between 347 and 504 unarmed civilians in South Vietnam on March 16, 1968, by United States Army soldiers of "Charlie" Company of 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 11th Brigade of the Americal Division. Most of the victims were women, children, infants, and elderly people. Some of the bodies were later found to be mutilated. Pentagon Papers A CIA map of dissident activities in Indochina published as part of the Pentagon papers a United States Department of Defense history of the United States' political-military involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to "demonstrated, among other things, that the Johnson Administration had systematically lied, not only to the public but also to Congress, about a subject of transcendent national interest and significance". Paris Peace Accords The Paris Peace Accords of 1973 intended to establish peace in Vietnam and an end to the Vietnam War, ended direct U.S. military involvement, and temporarily stopped the fighting between North and South Vietnam. 2

3 War Powers Act The War Powers Resolution of 1973 ( 50 U.S.C )[1] is a federal law intended to check the power of the President in committing the United States to an armed conflict without the consent of Congress. 1. Nixon Starts a Pullout Main Idea: Formal peace talks between North and South Vietnam stalled, but Nixon started a gradual pullout of American troops from Vietnam. Vietnamization and Peace with Honor Soldiers go home, we drop bombs and train the Vietnamese to fight for themselves 3

4 2. Troubles on the Home Front Intensify Main Idea: News of further violence in Vietnam increased the protests in the United States, and the anti war movement led to counter protests in support of Nixon. Violence Erupts at Kent State Nixon had widened the war and, made the world a more dangerous place. Protestors went crazy on college campuses across the US. The National Guard was called in to stop the protests. In Kent State students threw rocks and bottles at the officers. The officers responded by shooting the students. 4

5 Pro-war counter protests as a reaction to Kent State protests They support Nixon and escalation I m very proud to be an American, and I know my boy that was killed in Vietnam would be here today if he was alive, marching with us I know he died for the right cause, because in his letters he wrote to me he knew what he was fighting for: to keep America free -Robert Geary, May 20, 1970 My Lai When the incident became public knowledge in 1969, it prompted global outrage. The massacre also increased domestic opposition to the US involvement in the Vietnam War. Three US servicemen tried to halt the massacre and protect the wounded. They received hate mail and death threats and found mutilated animals on their doorsteps. The three were later widely praised and decorated by the army for their heroic actions. 3. The War Finally Ends Main Idea: In 1972, a peace settlement was finally agreed to and the last American troops came home from Vietnam, but fighting within the country continued. 5

6 American forces finally go home, Saigon falls, Vietnam becomes communist 4. The Vietnam War Has a Lasting Impact Main Idea: The years of fighting had an impact on the Vietnam region itself, veterans, domestic and foreign policy, and the public s trust in the U.S. government. 6