Vietnam-the+end

THE END OF VIETNAM...

-Richard Nixon elected -Vietnamization - Nixon's policy for winding down the war -bombing raids increased -hurt the supply lines of North Vietnam -bombing expanded to other countries- Laos and Cambodia -US group forces invaded Cambodia in Spring 1970 -Nixon wanted the enemy to believe that he would do anything to win -This leads to more domestic upheval and student unrest -Nixon loses support from the public and Congress -Gulf of Tonkin Resolution repealed -The Pentagon Papers -Peace Talks:1972 -January 27, 1973 -POW MIA -But in 1975 -America copes -Major changes as a result of the conflict -Disillusionment
 * promises "peace with honor" in Vietnam
 * troops withdrawn
 * training and equipment given to South Vietnamese
 * by 1972, only 24,000 troops remained
 * Kent State protest where 4 people are killed by the US
 * investigation and the US were stretching the truth and lying
 * Nixon vs NY Times- NY Times wins
 * between Henty Kissinger and Le Duc Tho
 * an election year
 * Kissinger says "peace is at hand"
 * The US bombed North Vietnam heavily on Christmas
 * US and Vietnam agrees to end the war and restoring peace in Vietnam
 * there could still be POW left in Vietnam
 * poor living conditions for the POW
 * POW were tortured and had many harsh punishments
 * Nation really celebrated the POWs going home
 * POWs developed a way to communicate (Tap Code)
 * North Vietnam military attacks,
 * Saigon falls
 * Vietnam is reunited under communism
 * Vietnam "ended" April 1975
 * 58,000 Americans killed
 * 365,000 wounded
 * $150 billion in direct costs
 * U.S attempts to come to grips with "loss"- blow to self-esteem
 * changes in U.S policy
 * Government abolishes the draft
 * War Powers Act- curb the power of the President
 * altered American foreign policy
 * overall cynicism in Americans
 * veterans extended a cold hand
 * some veterans suffered from stress
 * many citizens embittered toward government
 * entire generation of Americans affected