Vietnam war end

Chris Taylor: [voiceover] I think now, looking back, we did not f ight the enemy; we fought ourselves. And the enemy was in us.

- PLATOON, 1986

VIETNAM:America at war with itself

Johnson Steps Down

Totally discredited because of Vietnam and decided not to run in 1968

Nixon won a peace platform but did not pull out of Vietnam

Vietnamization: 1969

Antiwar movements in the USA were putting increasing pressure on Nixon to get out of Vietnam-he needed an honourable way out (“Peace with Honour”)

A plan was put in place to replace American troops with Soviet Vietnamese over time

Two Track Formula

Goal: Make South Vietnamese independent so that the Americans can go home

Military Solution Political Solution

Strengthen the South Vietnamese Army

Strengthen the South Vietnamese government

Kent State ShootingsMay 4 th, 1970

Withdrawal and Defeat

Nixon Peace Offensive (1970)B-52s bombed North Vietnam, Cambodia and

LaosCeasefire with North Vietnam (1973)All troops out of Vietnam (1973)

Why did the USA lose?

1) Difficulty fighting guerilla forces2) Unpopular at home

i. Anti-war movementii. Many casualtiesiii. Huge costs financially

3) Could not win the “hearts and minds” of the Vietnamese people

4) American military was half-hearted and disillusioned

Fundamental beliefs were questioned in American Society:

1)Power of the President

2)The role of the military

3)Was it worth opposing the spread of communism?

4)Moral Identity: America could no longer claim innocence and moral superiority

Questions, Change

Fundamental beliefs were questioned in American Society:

1)Power of the President

2)The role of the military

3)Was it worth opposing the spread of communism?

4)Moral Identity: America could no longer claim innocence and moral superiority

Questions, Change