Vietnam+the+End

VIETNAM THE END

-Nixon promised peace with honor in Vietnam -Withdrew 60,000 American Ground Troops -Vietnamization-Nixon's policy to ending American involvement -Bombing raids increased: hurt supply lines in N. Vietnam, expanded to Laos and Cambodia -Nixon wanted the enemy to believe that he would do anything to win -US ground forces invaded Cambodia in Spring 1970 -Deadly protest at Kent: Nixon loses support of the public and Congress -Gulf of Tonkin resolution re-appealed -The Pentagon Papers: -Nixon vs. New York Times -NYT wins -Peace Talks-1972 -Henry Kissinger vs. Le Duc Tho -"Peace is at Hand" -Christmas Bombing: heaviest raids of the war, larger civilian casualties -1973, Jan 27: peace with honor in Vietnam -POW tap code, they used to communicate -POW were highly celebrated upon their return -1975: -North Vietnam military -Saigon falls -Vietnam is reunited under Communism -Vietnam has officially end

America Copes: -58,000 Americans killed -365,000 wounded -$150 billion in direct costs -US attempts to come to grips with a "loss"-blow to self-esteem -changes in US policy

Major Changes Result: -government abolishes the draft -War Powers Act-curb the power of president -altered American foreign policy -overall cynicism in America

Disillusion: -veterans extended a cold hand -some veterans suffered from stress -many citizens embittered towards government -entire generation of Americans was affected