91% of Vietnam Veterans say they are glad they served74% said they would serve again even knowing the outcome87% of the American people hold Vietnam Vets in high esteem. "No event in American history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now. Rarely have so many people been so wrong about so much. Never have the consequences of their misunderstanding been so tragic."[Nixon]

Objective: To examine the causes and effects of the Vietnam War.

Key Questions about the Vietnam War

Key Question 1: Why did the USA go to warin Vietnam?

Key Question 2: How did the USA wage waragainst Vietnam?

Key Question 3: How did the Vietnamesefight back against the US?

Key Question 4: What turned Americans against the war in Vietnam?

Key Question 5: Why did the USA lose the Vietnam War?

Where is Vietnam?Where is Vietnam?

Key Question 1: Why did the USA go to Key Question 1: Why did the USA go to warwar in Vietnam?in Vietnam?

Basically to hold the line against the spread of world Communism. America paid for the war the French fought against Communist Vietnam as a part of the Truman Doctrine (1947) “to protect free peoples…” and then by the 1950’s became involved when the war flared up again.

Fighting lasted until March 1954 when the Viet Minh won a decisive victory against French forces at the Battle of Dien Bien PhuBattle of Dien Bien Phu

Growing American Involvement

· The U.S. believed that if South Vietnam fell to the communists, the rest of the nations in Southeast Asia would as well in a theory called the domino theorydomino theory..

U.S. Involvement in Vietnam

• Believed in the Domino TheoryDomino Theory

• Increased the number of military advisors and army special forces, or Green BeretsGreen Berets

• Advisors were not to take part in combat, but many did

EisenhowerEisenhower

• Began sending moneysending money and weaponsweapons to South Vietnam

• Military advisorsMilitary advisors sent to train South Vietnamese army

KennedyKennedy

• Believed an expanded U.S. effortexpanded U.S. effort was the only way to prevent a Communist victory in Vietnam

• Asked Congress to pass the Tonkin Gulf ResolutionTonkin Gulf Resolution

JohnsonJohnson

The Two VietnamsThe Two Vietnams

· Vietnam, a former French colony, was divided into two sections in 1954.

· South VietnamSouth Vietnam, led by Ngo Dinh DiemNgo Dinh Diem, was democratic and backed by the U.S. U.S. but remained deeply unpopular with most Vietnamese people.

· North VietnamNorth Vietnam, led by Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh, was communist and backed by the Soviet UnionSoviet Union.

· Many South Vietnamese distrusted Diem and joined the VietcongVietcong, a communist guerilla group supported by North a communist guerilla group supported by North Vietnam.Vietnam.

An execution of a Vietcong prisoner Feb. 1, 1968

Vietminh or Vietcong?Vietminh or Vietcong?The Vietminh was the revolutionary army operating in Vietnam when it was under the French flag.

After Vietnam was divided into North and South, the Vietcong were a guerilla force operating in South Vietnam

President John F. Kennedy President John F. Kennedy authorizes the Green Beret authorizes the Green Beret as official Special Forces as official Special Forces head gear. head gear.

““Symbol of courage, a badge of distinction.”Symbol of courage, a badge of distinction.”

"to infiltrate by land, sea or air, deep into enemy-occupied territory and "to infiltrate by land, sea or air, deep into enemy-occupied territory and organize the resistance/guerrilla potential to conduct Special Forces organize the resistance/guerrilla potential to conduct Special Forces operations, with emphasis on guerrilla warfare.“operations, with emphasis on guerrilla warfare.“ - officially main goal - officially main goal

"symbolic of one of the highest levels of courage and achievement of the "symbolic of one of the highest levels of courage and achievement of the United States military" - United States military" - Kennedy

US Army Special Forces:US Army Special Forces:

Nation’s Number #1 hit song for five weeks in 1966

Click Picture above to Play Song

Ballad of the Green Beret

5 Minute Writing

In your own words explain what view of the Vietnam War is expressed in the song. Justify your answer with specific examples from the lyrics.

· In August 1964, U.S. military officials believed that the North Vietnamese had torpedoed an American ship in the Gulf of Tonkin.

· In response, the U.S. passed the Gulf Gulf of Tonkin Resolutionof Tonkin Resolution, which allowed the U.S. to begin bombing enemy targets within North and South Vietnam.The U.S. Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to use "all necessary measures" to repel armed attacks against U.S. forces in Vietnam. Many in Congress came to see it as a blank check for the president and opposed it

Video: Defense Secretary Robert McNamara speaks about the attack that precipitated our involvement in the Vietnam War

On Aug. 4, 1964, Defense Secretary Robert McNamara reported to Pres. Johnson that an American destroyer in the region was under torpedo attack by the North Vietnamese. That brief conversation was the tipping point for the entire Vietnam War.

As the fighting escalated, the U.S. relied on the draftdraft for raising troops.

· By 1968, over half a million Americans were fighting in the Vietnam War.

President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Selective Service Act of 1940 which created the country's first peacetime draft and formally established the Selective Service System From 1948 until 1973, during both peacetime and periods of conflict, men were drafted to fill vacancies in the armed forces which could not be filled through voluntary means. A lottery drawing - the first since 1942 - was held on December 1, 1969, This event determined the order of call for induction during calendar year 1970

Reinstitution of the lottery was a change from the oldest first method, which had been the determining method for deciding order of call.

Vietnam Military DraftVietnam Military Draft

The Vietnam Draft LotteryThe Vietnam Draft Lottery

THE VIETNAM LOTTERIES

1970

1971

The Fortunate Son and the Vietnam The Fortunate Son and the Vietnam DraftDraft

5 Minute Writing

In your own words explain the view of the Vietnam Era draft expressed in this song. Justify your answer with specific examples from the lyrics

Vietnam Draft Information Facts MythsVietnam Draft Information Facts Myths

Myth:Myth: Most Vietnam veterans were drafted.

Fact:Fact: 2/3 of the men who served in Vietnam were volunteers. 2/3 of the men who served in World War II were drafted……Approximately 70% of those killed were volunteers.

Myth:Myth: A disproportionate number of blacks were killed in the Vietnam War.

Fact:Fact: 86% of the men who died in Vietnam were Caucasians, 12.5% were black, 1.2% were other races.

Myth:Myth: The war was fought largely by the poor and uneducated.

Fact:Fact: Servicemen who went to Vietnam from well-to-do areas had a slightly elevated risk of dying because they were more likely to be pilots or infantry officers. Vietnam Veterans were the best educated forces our nation had ever sent into combat. 79% had a high school education or better.

Key Question: How did the USA wage warKey Question: How did the USA wage war against against Vietnam?Vietnam?

“Strategic Hamlet Program”

attempted to place peasants in fortified villages at night, where they couldn’t be ‘infiltrated’ by the VietCong. This backfired badly. It was very unpopular with the peasants who resented being so far away from their rice fields and ancestors. VC demolished many of the fortified villages anyway.

The US ‘Search and Destroy’ tactics. In areas where the VC were thought to be operating troops went in, checked for weapons and if found, rounded up the villagers and burned the villages down. This often alienated the peasants from the US/Arvn cause.

Key Question: Key Question: How did the USA How did the USA wage warwage war against against Vietnam?Vietnam?

As one marine said of a search and destroy mission – “If they weren’t VC before we got there, they sure…… were by the time we left”.

Key Question: Key Question: How did the USA How did the USA wage warwage war against against Vietnam?Vietnam?

My Lai MassacreMy Lai Massacre

was the mass murder of 347 to 504 unarmed citizens in South Vietnam, was the mass murder of 347 to 504 unarmed citizens in South Vietnam, entirely civilians and some of them women and children, conducted by entirely civilians and some of them women and children, conducted by U.S. Army forces on March 16, 1968. U.S. Army forces on March 16, 1968.

Lt William Calley

The Heroes of My LaiThe Heroes of My Lai

HUGH THOMPSONHUGH THOMPSON was a helicopter reconnaissance pilot who came upon the My Lai massacre in progress. "Thompson landed, put his guns on Americans, said he would shoot them if they shot another Vietnamese, had his people wade in the ditch in gore to their knees, took out children, took them to the hospital......then had the courage to testify time after time after time."

RON RIDENHOURRON RIDENHOUR He wrote a letter about the incident and sent it out to thirty different Congressmen.  Mo Udall, who was a Congressman from Arizona---acted on it, and called on the House Armed Services Committee and the Pentagon to conduct the investigation and they did so.

My Lai Information and other Facts My Lai Information and other Facts

Facts:Facts: Isolated atrocities committed by American Soldiers produced torrents of outrage from anti-war critics and the news media………. while Communist atrocities were so common that they received hardly any media mention at all.

The United States sought to minimize and prevent attacks on civilians while North Vietnam made attacks on civilians a centerpiece of its strategy.

Americans who deliberately killed civilians received prison sentences while Communists who did so received commendations. From 1957 to 1973, the the National Liberation Front (Vietcong)National Liberation Front (Vietcong) assassinated 36,725 Vietnamese and abducted another 58,499.

Key Question: How did the USA wage warKey Question: How did the USA wage war against against Vietnam?Vietnam?

The Air War—”Operation Rolling Thunder”

The Air War – Frustrated by lack of success on the ground, the US tried to win the war from the air.

Operation Rolling Thunder that began with dropping millions of tons of High Explosive bombs on North Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh trail.

"They're friendly! ... take cover!"

Key Question: How did the USA wage warKey Question: How did the USA wage war against against Vietnam?Vietnam?

Napalm

phosphorous and napalm bombs were used on villages – the latter causing dreadful burns to thousand of innocent civilians.

This Pulitzer Prize winning photograph is of Kim Phuc Phan Thi, center, running down a road near after a napalmnapalm bomb was dropped on her village by a plane of the Vietnam Air Force. The village was suspected by US Army forces of being a Viet CongViet Cong stronghold. Kim Phuc survived by tearing off her burning clothes.

"Napalm is the most terrible pain you can imagine," said Kim Phuc.

“Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. Napalm generates temperatures of

800 to 1,200 degrees Celsius.“ Phuc sustained third-degree burns to half

her body and was not expected to live. Thanks to the assistance of South

Vietnamese photographer Nick Ut, and after surviving a 14-month

hospital stay and 17 operations, Phuc eventually recovered.

Myth:Myth: Kim Phuc, the little nine year old Vietnamese girl running naked from the napalm strike near Trang Bang on 8 June 1972, was burned by Americans bombing Trang Bang.

Fact:Fact: No American had involvement in this incident near Trang Bang that burned Phan Thi Kim Phuc. The planes doing the bombing near the village were VNAF (Vietnam Air Force) and were being flown by Vietnamese pilots in support of South Vietnamese troops on the ground. Recent reports in the news media that an American commander ordered the air strike that burned Kim Phuc are incorrect. There were no Americans involved in any capacity.

Key Question: How did the USA wage warKey Question: How did the USA wage war against against Vietnam?Vietnam?

Agent Orange— “Operation Ranch Hand”

to break down the jungle cover the USAF started ‘Operation Ranch Hand’ – the defoliation programme, using Agent Orange. This deadly chemical cocktail, containing dioxin, killed off millions of acres of jungle to try to weaken the VC – but left a horrendous legacy in Vietnam. The dioxin got into the food chain causing chromosome damage to humans. There were hundreds of cases of children born with deformities.

Agent OrangeAgent Orange was the nickname given to a herbicide and defoliant used by the U.S. military in its Herbicidal Warfare program during the Vietnam War. Cropdusting in Vietnam during Operation Ranch Operation Ranch HandHand lasted from 1962 to 1971.

A guerrilla in the Mekong Delta paddles through a mangrove forest defoliated by Agent Orange (1970).

Images taken from Agent Orange: "Collateral Damage" in Vietnam by Philip Jones Griffiths

Effects of Agent OrangeEffects of Agent Orange

Images taken from Agent Orange: "Collateral Damage" in Vietnam by Philip Jones Griffiths

Effects of Agent OrangeEffects of Agent Orange

Agent Orange -The FactsAgent Orange -The Facts

Myth:Myth: Agent Orange poisoned millions of Vietnam veterans.Agent Orange poisoned millions of Vietnam veterans.

Fact:Fact: Ground troops typically did not enter a sprayed area Ground troops typically did not enter a sprayed area until four to six weeks after being sprayed. Most Agent until four to six weeks after being sprayed. Most Agent Orange contained .0002 of 1 percent of dioxin. Scientific Orange contained .0002 of 1 percent of dioxin. Scientific research has shown that dioxin degrades in sunlight after 48 research has shown that dioxin degrades in sunlight after 48 to 72 hours; therefore, troops exposure to dioxin was to 72 hours; therefore, troops exposure to dioxin was infinitesimal. infinitesimal.

Key Question: How did the USA wage warKey Question: How did the USA wage war against against Vietnam?Vietnam?

helicopter

Of all aircraft, the helicopter (mainly Bell Huey) was the most useful, dropping platoons in the jungle clearings and out again. They were excellent air ambulances.

Key Question: How did the VietnameseKey Question: How did the Vietnamese fight fight back against the US?back against the US?

The Communist NLF (National Liberation Front) or "VC" used classic Maoist guerrilla tactics.

“Guerrillas must move through the peasants like fish through sea”, i.e. the peasants will support them as much as they can, shelter, food, weapons, storage, intelligence, recruits.

In VC held areas they distributed the land to the peasants, which went down extremely well.

Key Question: How did the VietnameseKey Question: How did the Vietnamese fight fight back against the US?back against the US?

They recycled dud bombs dropped by the Americans or old weapons left by the French.

Key Question: How did the VietnameseKey Question: How did the Vietnamese fight fight back against the US?back against the US?

Deadly booby-traps could inflict huge damage on young American soldiers!

Key Question: How did the VietnameseKey Question: How did the Vietnamese fight fight back against the US?back against the US?

VietCong Tunnels: The Vietnamese built large tunnel complexes such as the ones at Cu Chi near Saigon. This protected them from the bombing raids by the Americans and gave them cover for attacking.

· In addition, it was very difficult to identify which South Vietnamese were our allies and which were supporting the Vietcong.

· Jungle warfare was difficult, and it was hard to locate the enemy.

The Tunnel SystemThe Tunnel System

Ex Vietcong showing secret tunnels, November 7, 2004

the Americans set up a special unit, the Tunnel Rats Tunnel Rats to seek out the VietCong.

Key Question: What turned Americans against the war Key Question: What turned Americans against the war in Vietnam?in Vietnam?

Probably the turning point came in January 1968 with the Tet Offensive. The US public had been told that America was winning the war. However, when the VC attacked (and held for 3 weeks) most of South Vietnamese cities and towns Americans began to question whether the war could be won at all! Despite the serious VC losses (20,000), they were soon replaced. 

The Tet Offensive: The Tet Offensive: A Turning Point A Turning Point

· In January of 1968, the Vietcong launched surprise attacks on cities throughout South Vietnam.

· The American embassy was attacked as well in the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon.

· The Tet Offensive proved to the world that no part of South Vietnam was safe, even with the presence of half a million American troops.

· The attacks were known as the Tet Offensive because they occurred during Tet, the Vietnamese News Year’s holiday.

The Tet Offensive: Video

Effects of the Tet OffensiveEffects of the Tet Offensive• General Westmoreland called the Tet Offensive a decisive defeat for

the Communists.– The cities taken by the Communists were retaken.

– About 45,000 enemy soldiers were killed. About 1,100 Americans and 2,300 ARVN troops also died.

– The Communists showed that they were determined to keep on fighting.

• The Tet Offensive showed that no part of South Vietnam was safe from attack.

• The Tet Offensive caused many Americans to question whether or not the war in Vietnam could be won.

• President Johnson announced that he would not seek reelection.

Effects of the Tet OffensiveEffects of the Tet OffensiveGrowing Doubts

• Walter Cronkite broadcast a television report in which he gave his personal assessment of the situation in Vietnam.

• Major national magazines such as Time and Newsweek also expressed doubts about the war and began to call for its end.

• Public criticism of the government’s policies grew louder and more intense.

• Leaders within Johnson’s administration began to criticize Johnson’s policies.

• Robert S. McNamara began to seek ways to end the war.

Democratic Challengers• Roughly 3 out of 4 Americans

opposed his policies in Vietnam.

• Minnesota senator Eugene McCarthy challenged Johnson for the Democratic Party’s nomination.

• New York senator Robert Kennedy entered the race.

• Shaken by the divisions within his party, Johnson announced that he would not seek nor accept the office of the presidency.

Key Question: What turned Americans against the war Key Question: What turned Americans against the war in Vietnam?in Vietnam?

President Johnson was so disillusioned with the war he did not seek re-election. The Republicans won the 1968 election and Richard Nixon became President.

VietnamizationVietnamizationSoon after taking office. President Richard Nixon introduced his policy of President Richard Nixon introduced his policy of "vietnamization"."vietnamization". The plan was to encourage the South Vietnamese to take more responsibility for fighting the war. It was hoped that this policy would eventually enable the United States to withdraw gradually all their soldiers from Vietnam.

The Silent MajorityThe Silent MajorityThe term was popularized (though not The term was popularized (though not first used) by U.S. President Richard first used) by U.S. President Richard Nixon. It referred to those Americans Nixon. It referred to those Americans who did not join in the large who did not join in the large demonstrations against the Vietnam demonstrations against the Vietnam War, who did not join in the War, who did not join in the counterculture, and who did not counterculture, and who did not enthusiastically participate in public enthusiastically participate in public discourse or the media. Nixon along discourse or the media. Nixon along with many others saw this group as with many others saw this group as being overshadowed by the more being overshadowed by the more vocal minority. vocal minority.

Regardless of exactly how they were intended, Regardless of exactly how they were intended, "Okie From Muskogee", "The Fightin' Side "The Fightin' Side of Me", and "I Wonder If They Think Of Me" were hailed as anthems of the so-called of Me", and "I Wonder If They Think Of Me" were hailed as anthems of the so-called "Silent Majority" "Silent Majority"

On April 30, 1970 President Richard Nixon announcedRichard Nixon announced to a national television audience that US troops were invading CambodiaUS troops were invading Cambodia, the country west of Vietnam through which the North Vietnamese military was supplying their troops in the South. In fact, the US had been conducting bombing raids in Cambodia for over a year.

On the heels of Presidential promises of de-escalation, the April 30, announcement caused many in the United States to respond with shock and anger. Protests erupted across the country, including one at Kent State thatProtests erupted across the country, including one at Kent State that ended in the fatal shooting of four students by National Guardsmen.ended in the fatal shooting of four students by National Guardsmen.

U.S. Troops Invade CambodiaU.S. Troops Invade Cambodia

· On May 4, 1970, the Ohio National Guard killed 4 anti-war protesters at Kent StateKent State University.

This Pulitzer Prize winning photo shows Mary Ann Vecchio screaming as she kneels over the body of student Jeffrey Miller at Kent State University. National Guardsmen had fired into a crowd of demonstrators, killing four and wounding nine.

“Ohio”Crosby Stills Nash & Young

Vietnam War Protests

Key Question: Why did the USA lose the Vietnam War?

At first, most Americans supported the war. By 1970, the PEACE MOVEMENT had support from all sections of society and no government could ignore it.  

Protests at Home· Thousands of Americans protested against the war, especially on college campuses.

Anti-Vietnam Anti-Vietnam War protests, War protests, Ohio State Ohio State UniversityUniversity

Video: Country Joe and the Fish, (1969)

5 Minute Writing

In your own words explain what view of the Vietnam War is expressed in the song. Justify your answer with specific examples from the lyrics.

Key Question: Why did the USA lose the Vietnam War?

The US could never stem the flow of supplies to the Ho Ho Chi Minh TrailChi Minh Trail and this was crucial to keep the guerrilla war going.  

The jungle provided a natural canopy, and by restricting most movements to nighttime, the NVA protected its supply lines. 

Key Question: Why did the USA lose the Vietnam War?

The US could never stem the flow of supplies to the Ho Ho Chi Minh TrailChi Minh Trail and this was crucial to keep the guerrilla war going.  

The White House, fearing that bombing Hanoi and Haiphong harbors might escalate the war, would not allow shipments to be targeted until they were broken up into small loads and headed south on jungle pathways. Transported by trucks, bicycles, and soldiers with A-frames on their backs, they were difficult to find and even more difficult to stop on the Ho Chi Minh trail

Key Question: What turned Americans against the war Key Question: What turned Americans against the war in Vietnam?in Vietnam?Key Question: Why did the USA lose the Vietnam War?The US could never stem the flow of supplies to the Ho Ho Chi Minh TrailChi Minh Trail and this was crucial to keep the guerrilla war going.  

The secret war in Laos would not be officially disclosed to the American public until March 1970, when pressure from the news media forced President Nixon to confirm that the United States had been, for several years, flying missions against the trail in Laos and conducting bombing raids in Cambodia in an effort to shut down the trail.

However, the U.S. continued to send billions of dollars in support of the South Vietnamese.

Peace Without VictoryPeace Without Victory

· In January 1973, the U.S. reached a cease-fire agreementcease-fire agreement with North Vietnam and brought their troops home.

Myth: The United States lost the Myth: The United States lost the war in Vietnam.war in Vietnam.

THE UNITED STATES DID NOT LOSE THE WAR IN VIETNAM, THE SOUTH THE UNITED STATES DID NOT LOSE THE WAR IN VIETNAM, THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE DIDVIETNAMESE DID after the U.S. Congress cut off funding.after the U.S. Congress cut off funding.  The South Vietnamese ran out of fuel, ammunition and other supplies because of a lack of support from Congress while the North Vietnamese were very well supplied by China and the Soviet Union.

on June 19, 1973 Congress passed the Case-Church Amendment, which called for a halt to all military activities in Southeast Asia by August 15, thereby ending twelve years of direct U.S. military involvement in the region.

Myth: The United States lost the Myth: The United States lost the war in Vietnam.war in Vietnam.

Facts about the end of the war:Facts about the end of the war:The fall of Saigon happened 30 April 1975, two years AFTER the American military left Vietnam. The last American troops departed in their entirety 29 March 1973. How could we lose a war we had already stopped fighting? We fought to an agreed stalemate. The peace settlement was signed in Paris on The peace settlement was signed in Paris on 27 January 197327 January 1973.. It called for release of all U.S. prisoners, withdrawal of U.S. forces, limitation of both sides' forces inside South Vietnam and a commitment to peaceful reunification

The 140,000 evacuees in April 1975The 140,000 evacuees in April 1975 during the fall of Saigon consisted almost entirely of civilians and Vietnamese military, NOT American military NOT American military running for their lives. running for their lives.

In April of 1975, the communists captured the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon, renamedSaigon, renamed it Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City, and reunited Vietnam under one communist flagreunited Vietnam under one communist flag.

Video: People rush to leave Saigon as the city falls to

the Vietcong. April 30, 1975 (9 min.)

Facts about the fall of SaigonFacts about the fall of Saigon Myth:Myth: The American military was running for their lives during the fall of Saigon The American military was running for their lives during the fall of Saigon in April 1975.in April 1975.The picture of a Huey helicopter evacuating people from the top of what was billed The picture of a Huey helicopter evacuating people from the top of what was billed as being the U.S. Embassy in Saigon during the last week of April 1975 during the as being the U.S. Embassy in Saigon during the last week of April 1975 during the fall of Saigon helped to establish this myth. fall of Saigon helped to establish this myth.

Fact:Fact: IT became the most remembered photograph of the fall of Saigon, capturing IT became the most remembered photograph of the fall of Saigon, capturing the last chaotic days of the Vietnam war, and most people believed that it showed the last chaotic days of the Vietnam war, and most people believed that it showed desperate Americans crowding on to the roof of the United States Embassy to desperate Americans crowding on to the roof of the United States Embassy to board a helicopter. That is what the picture caption usually says. board a helicopter. That is what the picture caption usually says. But as with much about the Vietnam war, the caption is wrong. The building is an But as with much about the Vietnam war, the caption is wrong. The building is an apartment complex. The people fleeing are Vietnamese. The last helicopter left apartment complex. The people fleeing are Vietnamese. The last helicopter left about 12 hours later. about 12 hours later.

Fact:Fact: The 140,000 evacuees in April 1975 The 140,000 evacuees in April 1975 during the fall of Saigon consisted almost during the fall of Saigon consisted almost entirely of civilians and Vietnamese military, entirely of civilians and Vietnamese military, NOT American military running for their NOT American military running for their lives. lives.

Media’s Impact

• Reporters and television crews went on patrol with the soldiers.

• Television brought scenes of firefights and burning villages into America’s living rooms.

• Criticized the government’s reports about the war

Hawks and Doves

• Doves—people opposed to the war

• Hawks—people who supported the war’s goals

• Both criticized the war effort.

• Hawks wanted more troops and bombing.

• Doves opposed the war for many reasons.

Public Opinion Regarding the Public Opinion Regarding the Vietnam WarVietnam War

Antiwar Movement

• Movement attracted a broad range of participants

• Much antiwar activity took place on college campuses.

• Most vocal group—Students for a Democratic Society.

• Antiwar protesters made up a small percentage of the U.S. population.

· Between 1961 and 1973 over 58,000 Americans died58,000 Americans died in the Vietnam War.

Vietnam Balance SheetVietnam Balance Sheet

· During the same time period, over 1,500,000 1,500,000 Vietnamese diedVietnamese died as well.

Vietnam War Memorial, Washington, D.C.

War Powers ActWar Powers Act

The War Powers Act of 1973War Powers Act of 1973 is a United States federal law providing that the President can send U.S. armed forces into action abroad only by authorization of Congress or if the United States is already under attack or serious threat. The War Powers Resolution requires that the president notify president notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forcesCongress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action and forbids armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days without an forbids armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days without an authorizationauthorization of the use of military force or a declaration of waror a declaration of war.

Myth: The United States lost the Myth: The United States lost the war in Vietnam.war in Vietnam.

THE UNITED STATES DID NOT LOSE THE WAR IN VIETNAM, THE SOUTH THE UNITED STATES DID NOT LOSE THE WAR IN VIETNAM, THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE DIDVIETNAMESE DID after the U.S. Congress cut off funding.after the U.S. Congress cut off funding.  The South Vietnamese ran out of fuel, ammunition and other supplies because of a lack of support from Congress while the North Vietnamese were very well supplied by China and the Soviet Union.

Facts about the end of the war:Facts about the end of the war:The fall of Saigon happened 30 April 1975, two years AFTER the American military left Vietnam. The last American troops departed in their entirety 29 March 1973. How could we lose a war we had already stopped fighting? We fought to an agreed stalemate. The peace settlement was signed in Paris on The peace settlement was signed in Paris on 27 January 197327 January 1973.. It called for release of all U.S. prisoners, withdrawal of U.S. forces, limitation of both sides' forces inside South Vietnam and a commitment to peaceful reunification

The 140,000 evacuees in April 1975The 140,000 evacuees in April 1975 during the fall of Saigon consisted almost entirely of civilians and Vietnamese military, NOT American military NOT American military running for their lives. running for their lives.

PLATOON -The Ending

5 Minute Writing

According to Charlie Sheen at the end of the movie Platoon – who did he think was the real enemy, and – what obligation do the survivors of the Vietnam War have?

Platoon – The Ending

• I think now, looking back, we did not fight the enemy, we fought ourselves, and the enemy was in us. The war is over for me now, but it will always be there, the rest of my days………….But be that as it may, those who did make it have an obligation to build again. To teach to others what we know, and to try with whats left of our lives to find a goodness and a meaning to this life.~