VIETNAM WAR

1950

President Truman gives $10 million in aid to the French fighting the communist Vietnamese forces led by Ho Chi Minh

1954

France lose war Vietnam split in half North controlled by commie leader

H.C. Minh U.S. becomes main supporter of S.

Vietnam

1961

Kennedy send thousands of military “advisors” to South Vietnam

1963

Sixty U.S. “advisors” are killed in action

1964

North Vietnamese gunboats attack a U.S. naval ship

President Johnson asks Congress to pass the Tonkin Gulf Resolution

Gives the President authority to use unlimited military force in Vietnam

1965

U.S. begins bombing of North Vietnam

1967

President Johnson increases ground troops to 500,000

Young drafted soldiers did one year “tour of duty”

Weapons no match for guerilla tactics of Vietcong

Vietcong

South Vietnamese who were loyal to & fought for Communist North Vietnam

Agent Orange

A leaf-killing pesticide

1968

Vietcong launch the Tet Offensive Communist forces launched an all-out

attack against targeted cities in S. Vietnam TV showed huge gains for Commie’s

My Lai Massacre Increase of anti-war protest back in U.S. Low morale among U.S. troops MLK Jr. & Robert Kennedy assassinated

Doves vs. Hawks

DOVESWantedPeace

HAWKSWanted

War

Hippies & the Counterculture

People against the war Preached love & nonviolence Adopted a style of life & dress that

offended older people Hair long Taking drugs Valued personal honesty & creativity Opposed marriage, patriotism &

business

Only a minority

South of Albany, east of the Catskill Mts

Credibility Gap

Two different sides were being presented to the public

Government’s view vs. Public’s view

Kent St. Protest – 4 killed; National guard opened fire on peaceful demonstration

Anti-war Groups

SDS Weathermen

1969

Richard Nixon starts to withdraw troops

It’s called Vietnamization

Gradual withdrawal of troops from Vietnam

1970 – Nixon orders invasion & bombings of Cambodia

1971 – NY Times v. U.S.

NY Times wanted to publish the Pentagon Papers, which was U.S. foreign policy on Vietnam.

Fed. Gov’t sues to stop publication for security reasons

Supreme Court rules in favor of NY Times

Victory for freedom of the press

1973 – War Powers Act

W/in 48 hrs. of sending troops into combat, Pres. must inform Congress of the reasons for the action

If U.S. troops are involved in fighting abroad more than 90 days, the Pres. must obtain Congress’s approval for continuing the use of troops

1975

South Vietnam invaded by North Vietnam

Communists takeover and unite the two

Overall Costs

58,000 died 365,000 wounded $150 billion Strain on U.S. economy National debt increases

President Richard Nixon1969-1974

Domestic – New Federaism

Decreased the size & influence of the Federal Gov’t

Believed LBJ’s Great Society gave the Fed. Gov’t too much power

New Federalism

Distribute a portion of federal power to state and local gov’ts

Southern States start to turn Republican

http://www.270towin.com/1964_Election/index.html

Staflation

High inflation and high unemployment Deficit spending Competition in international trade New workers (minorities) Dependency on foreign oil (OPEC)

Watergate

President Nixon orders a break-in into Democratic Party national headquarters

US v. Nixon

Pres. Nixon refuses to give up Oval Office tapes as evidence of his knowledge of the Watergate break-in.

“Not Above the law” VP Gerald Ford takes over

Foreign Policy

Realpolitik

Foreign policy based on what is really happen and not ideology/fantasy

“Real Politics”

Détente

Relaxation of tension with rival nations (USSR & China)

Nixon Visits China & USSR

SALT I

Froze the number of strategic ballistic missile launchers at existing levels

26th Amendment

18 year olds the right to vote

Nixon & the Environment

Created the EPA 1970 Clean Air Act 1970 Marine Mammal Protective Act 1972 Safe Drinking Water Act 1974 Endangered Species Act 1973

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX_HYL6-0Co

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzvF7DELtDY