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Opposition and end to the war (why did people oppose the war? (civils…
Opposition and end to the war
why did people oppose the war?
civils rights
protestors against war used similar methods
was supported by civil rights movement
proportion of black Americans conscripted was higher than white
MLK
speaks out against the war in 1967
had huge following, increased support for anti war
believed in peace
politcal
questioned reasoning behind US involvement
Diem's regime was corrupt, undemocratic and unpopular
government lied to the public as seen in the Pentagon Papers of 1971
media
photographs revealed brutality of conflict and horrific injuries caused by Napalm on civilians and children
color TV's were everywhere
television showed that US had little hope of winning conflict
casulties
In 1965 there were fewer than 2,000 US casulties
In 1968 there were 14,000 - huge increase
US methods of warfare
chemical warfare- angered civilians and environmentalists
US public saw bombing from air as brutal and unnecessary
many were appalled by suffering caused by "search and Destroy"
draft system
wealthy/ middle class men were exempt
Draft Resistance Movement was formed giving young men advice
by 1969 there were 34,000 draft dodgers
what atrocities did USA commit?
My Lai massacre 1968
on the 16th of march
Lieutenant Calley and his platoon wiped out the village killing 347 men, women, children and babies. women were raped first
US military tried to hide the massacre
boasted success of killing 90 Vietcong fighters
trial of Lt Calley
Calley and 10 other officers were charged with murdering 109 people
Calley was the only one found guilty and was given 20 years of hard labour in 1971 but only served 3
operation Phoenix
the aim was to identify and arrest 3,000 Vietcong fighters a month
in total they arrested 24,000 suspects and were tortured
not all suspects were vietcong
US public was uncomfortable with brutal menthods
Kent State 1970
National guardsmen were called to disperse a protest in Kent State uni and used tear gas to try and move them
when students refused to move shots were fired
4 were killed and 11 injured
400 colleges were closed when 2 million students went on strike in protests
why did people support the war?
in 1964 85% supported
in 1970 (after Cambodia invasion) 50% still supported and 35% opposed
reasons: fear of communism, red scare, domino theory
silent majority
made public in Nixon's speech in 1969
referred to middle age and elderly
hard hats
large numbers in building and construction supported it
Nixon stated they were 'supporting freedom and patriotism'
riot
8th of may 1970
200 construction workers attacked demonstrators commemorating the 4 dead in Kent state uni
more than 70 were injured including 4 police men
police did little to intervine
how did peace negotiations begin?
following the Tet offensive president Johnson suggested peace negotiations begin
For months there was no progress because the sides argued over minor details such as table size and who should be there
the paris peace agreement 1973
terms:
-North dropped demand for president Thieu to be replaced by coalition
-Nixon allowed North Vietnamese army to stay in areas they controlled
-the Vietcong were allowed to participate in final settlement
-a ceasefire was reached, US troops withdrawn
-All US prisoners were freed
ceasefire signed on 23rd of January
Thieu objected as NVA was allowed to stay in areas they controlled in the south
significance
peace terms
led to removal of US troops completely on 29th of March 1973
all parties pledged to respect agreement
ceasefire ends
NVA launched huge attack on South in December 1974
Thieu asked for $300 million but his request was denied
Vietnam united
Thieu resigned on the 21st of April 1975
reunited on the 2nd of July 1976
major issue was the inclusion of the vietcong
what was the cost of the war?
economic
$26 billion
human
more than 50,000 deaths and 300,000 injured
30% of troops became addicted to heroin
100,000 returned with one or more limbs
relatives of soldiers
independent support groups formed: The league of American Vietnam Prisoners and the National League of Families of American Prisoners missing in South East Asia
treatment of veterans
some were treated as criminals and child murderers
more veterans committed suicide than were killed in the war
many were left unemployed
strengths and weaknesses of NVA
weaknesses
not everyone in NV was enthusiastic about the war
traditional hostility between north and south
lacked air power and military resources
strengths
prepared to accept a heavy death count (between 500,000 and 900,000)
they knew the terrain and were skilled in Guerilla warfare
they were supplied by USSR and china ($2 billion between 1964-68)
the Ho Chi Minh trail provided supplies from north to south
USA strengths and weaknesses
strengths
almost unlimited economic resources
the USA controlled the air- could deploy this through bombing, raids and troop support
unlimited troops (2.8 million served in war)
weaknesses
had no experience in guerrilla warfare
hostility between officers and men- led to fragging (killing of officers) 700 cases in 1 year
some troops started drugs- 20,000 treated for drug abuse vs 5,000 injured in combat in 1971
The public would not accept a heavy body count
what was impact of oppostition
big
Nixon was only voted in because he promised to end the war
Johnson didn't stand for re election due to unpopularity of war
small
only 10% of unis had serious anti war disturbances and fewer than 10% of students took part
the level of opposition wasn't as big as it claimed- only 35% opposed in 1970
protestors were just labelled communists/ cowards