VietnamVietnam

US at HomeUS at Home► JohnsonJohnson declares war declares war

on on povertypoverty► Great SocietyGreat Society: Johnson : Johnson

aims to end poverty aims to end poverty and and racialracial injustice injustice

► Adds Adds MedicareMedicare to to social security (health social security (health care for the elderly)care for the elderly)

► Adds Adds MedicaidMedicaid: : healthcare for poor & healthcare for poor & disableddisabled

► Creates Creates Headstart:Headstart: gives ed. & healthcare gives ed. & healthcare to low income to low income families. It would later families. It would later fund Sesame Streetfund Sesame Street

Warren Court gives rights to Warren Court gives rights to accused criminalsaccused criminals

► Mapp v. Ohio (1961): Mapp v. Ohio (1961): EvidenceEvidence obtained obtained illegally can’t be illegally can’t be usedused

► GideonGideon v. Wainwright v. Wainwright (1964): Said you (1964): Said you must be offered a must be offered a lawyerlawyer before before questioningquestioning

► MirandaMiranda v. Arizona v. Arizona (1966): “Miranda” (1966): “Miranda” rightsrights

War TacticsWar Tactics

War TacticsWar Tactics

Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail

War TacticsWar Tactics

►NapalmNapalm – Jellied gasoline that – Jellied gasoline that explodedexploded on on impact. impact. BurnedBurned & clung to everything it & clung to everything it touched.touched.

►Ho Chi Minh – Only fought Ho Chi Minh – Only fought battlesbattles they knew they knew they’d they’d winwin. Hit & run tactics mostly at night. . Hit & run tactics mostly at night. Used booby traps. Used booby traps. USUS could not tell could not tell friendsfriends from enemiesfrom enemies

►Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail – Tracks, paths & roads – Tracks, paths & roads through mountains of Laos & Cambodia. through mountains of Laos & Cambodia. Major Major supplysupply line line

Tet OffensiveTet Offensive

► Tet Offensive – Tet Offensive – VietcongVietcong attack on major cities & US attack on major cities & US EmbassyEmbassy in in

Saigon. Saigon. US & S. Vietnamese stopped Vietcong from US & S. Vietnamese stopped Vietcong from

capturing S. Vietnamcapturing S. Vietnam Showed N. Vietnam still had the will to fightShowed N. Vietnam still had the will to fight Turning point in warTurning point in war War would cost more money & soldiers and still War would cost more money & soldiers and still

might not winmight not win

► Johnson wants Johnson wants peacepeace negotiation negotiation

NixonNixon► Johnson doesn’t run for Johnson doesn’t run for

re-election.re-election.►NixonNixon wins Presidency. wins Presidency.

Says he will bring Says he will bring peace with peace with honorhonor

► VietnamizationVietnamization: US : US slowly pulls out of war slowly pulls out of war as as S. VietnameseS. Vietnamese take take overover

►Nixon orders attack on Nixon orders attack on VietcongVietcong bases in bases in CambodiaCambodia

My Lai MassacreMy Lai Massacre

My Lai MassacreMy Lai Massacre

My Lai MassacreMy Lai Massacre

My Lai MassacreMy Lai Massacre

► March 16, 1968: US March 16, 1968: US troops brutally kill troops brutally kill 400 – 500 400 – 500 Vietnamese citizens. Vietnamese citizens. Mostly women, Mostly women, children & older children & older men. “Seek & men. “Seek & Destroy” mission.Destroy” mission.

► In original report 128 In original report 128 are killed and only are killed and only 22 civilians22 civilians

Warrant Officer One Hugh Warrant Officer One Hugh Thompson, Jr.Thompson, Jr.

►Thompson & his crew witnessed an Thompson & his crew witnessed an unarmed woman being kicked & shot at unarmed woman being kicked & shot at point-blank range. Thompson then saw a point-blank range. Thompson then saw a group of civilian children, women, and old group of civilian children, women, and old men at a bunker being approached by men at a bunker being approached by ground personnel. Thompson landed and ground personnel. Thompson landed and told his crew that if the soldiers shot at the told his crew that if the soldiers shot at the Vietnamese while he was trying to get Vietnamese while he was trying to get them out of the bunker that they were to them out of the bunker that they were to open fire at these soldiers. open fire at these soldiers.

A Real American HeroA Real American Hero

► Thompson also Thompson also found 12–16 people found 12–16 people in the bunker, in the bunker, coaxed them out coaxed them out and led them to the and led them to the helicopter, standing helicopter, standing with them while with them while they were flown out they were flown out in two groups.in two groups.

4 Dead in Ohio4 Dead in Ohio

► College studentsCollege students protest attack in protest attack in CambodiaCambodia

►National Guard fires National Guard fires on students and on students and kills 4 at kills 4 at Kent State Kent State UniversityUniversity

War EndsWar Ends

► Jan. 1973 “cease-fire” is signed between all Jan. 1973 “cease-fire” is signed between all warring nations.warring nations.

► US withdraws from S. VietnamUS withdraws from S. Vietnam► US POW’s are returnedUS POW’s are returned► North Vietnam has political presence in South North Vietnam has political presence in South

VietnamVietnam► North & South Vietnam would ignore cease-North & South Vietnam would ignore cease-

firefire► In 1975, North Vietnam would overtake South In 1975, North Vietnam would overtake South

Vietnam. Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos become Vietnam. Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos become communist countries.communist countries.

War’s ImpactWar’s Impact

►58k US soldiers die. 300k wounded.58k US soldiers die. 300k wounded.►Over 2 mil. Vietnamese die.Over 2 mil. Vietnamese die.►VeteransVeterans return home to mixed reactions return home to mixed reactions►MentalMental & physical problems & physical problems►US loses US loses trusttrust in its leaders in its leaders►Congress Congress limitslimits war powers of war powers of PresidentPresident►We are less likely to get involved in wars We are less likely to get involved in wars

for next 30 yearsfor next 30 years

My Lai MassacreMy Lai Massacre

►Video report