impact of ocnflct on civilians i vietnam and attitudes on usa

what media coverage was there in the vietnam war

expanded as war continued - 1964 less rhat 10 journalist by 1968 there were over 600 - tv brought war to us homes

exaples of media coverage

• tet jan 1968 - showed civilians killed and monuments destroyed

• feb 1968 stoues of generfal loans execution of avc fighter

• nove 1969 - my lai massacre

why wasi there an increade in media coverage

• at beginning few troops in vietnmam - 1960 were only 900 military advisers and no reporters

• 1960 journalists travelled to report on vietnamese ppl killed in attack against diem

• 900% increase in journalists between 1964 and 65

• 1961 increase in tv in us households by 92% between 48 and 61

• journalists better equipped

• no cencorship

what was early media coverage like

included postive reporting on courage of us soliders and new tech used in weaponry

how was anti vietnam war portrayed on tv

showed anti war through tv, music and key publc figures

hwo did tv show civil rights movements on vietnam war

activists such as martin luther king, muhammad ali and black panthers spoke out

hwo was music used in coverage of anti war

showed bob dylan, john lennon and jimi hendrix to create a young gen to oppose war

what were five o clock follies in media coverage

mid 60s - us forces met with journalists covering conflict daily at 5pm - journalists would mock military officials as they felt truth was being hidden about extent of failures of us army in vietnam - called follies as seen as useless

significiance of media coverage of tet

• resulted in change on how war was reported and how public perceived teh conflict

• contradicted statements they were winning war

• showed fall of us embassay of saigon - symboliv defeat in eyes of americans

• saw brutality of war - lost trust

hwo did media expose gov lies

lost daith - us claimed victory of tet but walter conkrite reported reality it was a stalemate

role of tv in anti war

showed cicvil rights movement, music, watergate and pentagon papers and live broadcasts from vietnam

what was credibility gap

term to describe dif between what us gov said and what acually happened on tv

significance of walter cronkite

• seen as one of most trusted men in maerica

• cbs report feb 1968 said ‘it seems now more certain than ever that the bloody experience of vietnam is to end a stalemate … it is increasingly clear to only the only rational way out then will be to negotiate

• v influential - johnson said to advisor ‘if i have lost cronkite ive lost this country’

• statement in 1968 seen as a turning point in media and public attitude and beginning of fading war support

significance of media coverage of my lai

damaged rep of us forces - americans shocked anout reports of soldiers murdering innocent people but also that the army and gov tried to cover it up

impact of media coverage of vietnam war

• lack of trust - nyt reported us actions in vietnam june 1971 meant to be secret

• influenced public opinion - names and faces of 200+ us soldiers published during a week of fighting in 1969 people became angry about fighting distant war

• morale and behaviour in us forces decreased

• failure of us tactics shown and so more poeple questioned pont of war and if us could win

• strengthened anti war movement

what was student movement

left winf mvoement wanting to transform us society - focused on perceived soicla political economic injustices of the time

when ddi student movent develop

end of 1960s early 1970s

why did student movement develop

• wanted greater say in education at college and uni

• students wanted a form of participatory democracy in whcih people had more say in politics and more control over decisions made by gov

• end racism and fight for civil rights

• against vietnam war

why did student movement oppose vietnam war

• media coverage turned people aganist war

• 12% soliders that fought ended up dead or injured - 300% increase in number of ambutations than ww2

• average age of an american gl killed was 23

• 2m men forced to fight 1964-72 due to draft

• martin luther king and muhammad ali highlighted issues of racial inequality in us forces

• didnt like corruption and brutality of sv gov as it wasnt democratic

• poltiicans questioned war - distracted gov from domestic issues like ed system and healthcare

• us losing to vc - shown in tet and my lai

hw did students protest

• 500,000 ppl came togetehr in washington 15th nov 1969 to listen to speeches and songs about ending war - biggest protesrt

• hippies protested by rejecting typical american way of life - not working or going to school, long hair and taking illegal drugs

• violent as many clashes with polic

• august 1970 uni of wisconsin-madison a bob was detonated by student protestors - one killed and several inhured

• may 170 kent state uni porotests - 4 dead

why didn student movement gain media coverafe

small minority of 8.5m students - most white middle class and outwardly rejecting values of parents gen

what did students for a democratic society do in student movement

• led by tom hayden that grew to 3,000 members on 80 campuses by 1965 - end of decade had 100,000+ members in 150 colleges

• hled first meeting 1960 - released statement called port huron which aimed to campaign against ravism war and supprot human rights

• campaigned for better students rights in unis and colleges and uni rules

• grew because opposed us involvement

• spliut into dif groups by 69 due to internal disagreements

what wa weatehrman student movemetn

• racial group craeted in 69 when dtudent for a democratci society collapsed

• willing to use violence to stop war and create a revolution

• responsivle for acts of domestic terrorism including bomb attacks between 70-71 in ny, boston and washingto

• members of group hunted by fbi

significance of studnet movement

key factor in eventual us wd

what was draft system

any man over 18 could fe drafted into compulsory military service - most under 26 and average age was 19

training level of those drafted

basic

resposne to draft sustem

unfair as too younf and lack of training increased chance of dying

what was lottery system of draft of war

men 25-31 included adding further 26m potential soldiers - out of 2.6m who fought 650,000 were draftees

who was exempt from draft

• physically and mentially unfit

• uni students

• some goc and industrial workers

• sons who could prove being drafted would create hardship for families

how many exempt from draft

15m

views of conscientious objectors on draft

men could become conscientious objectors and refuse military service on grounds of religious or moral beliefs

work of COs as part of draft system

requored to undertake war work such as in wepaon factories - around 17,000 in total almost 20 times as manu men applied for exemption

how did peiple avoid draft

men living or working abroad - 50,000 men went into hiding or left america illegally instead

why was draft system unfair

• middle class white men could avoid as could aford uni or go abroad

• influential contact also dodged draft

• disproportionate number of poor ppl and those belonging to black and ethnic minorities called up

how many refues draft system

9,000 men prosecuted

significance of draft system

growing peace movemnt — seen as unfair so engaged in protests

what was my lai massacre

american troops went to village of my lai to search for vc - troops killed and abused over 500 women, children and old men

when was my lai

16th march 1968

who was involved in my lai

80 us soldiers from charlie companu, a unit of armt 11th infantry brigade

why did my lai happen

• charlie company sent on search and destroy following reports of base of 200 vc fighters in mu lai - reports showed locals giving them food, shelter and weapons sp charlie company sent to burn all crops livestock and food

• charlie company lost 5 soliders at te - experience guerilla warfare on protal - thought war had taken psychological toll on soldiers

key events in my lai

• 7:30am 16th march 68 9 us helicopters landed near my lai

• started shooting any house they thought might contain vc soldiers

• grenades used

• us forces hsot or stabbed thso who tried to escape

• reports of charlie company troops torturing and raping civilians

• no vc soldiers found only a few weapons recovered

• charlie company returned to base and said 22 civilians killed by accident and remaining dead were vc

hwo was my lai covered up

• announced 128 vc fighters killed and destroyed their base

• some reported what had happened

• ronald ridenhour made eye wtiness acount public - wrote more than 30 letters to politicans and military officials saying somethinf dark and bloody happened

• westmoreland received one of letters - ordered an inquiry and army later admitted 20 accidental civilian deaths

what happened when my lai investigated

two inquiries held one by gov and other by army

what did gov investigation conclude anout my lai

• interviewed 398 witnesses and showed charlie company massacred 347 unarmed civilians

• all thsoe involved in torture rape murder and cover up of massacre should be punished

what did amry investagtion into my lai conclude

• failures in leadership and discipline of soldiers

• soldiers inexperienced to carry out roles assigned

• psycholgocial trauma experuenced by men of charlie company created desire for revenge agaisnnt vietnasmese

• 25 men should be prosecuted for massacre because of participation or involvement in cover up

how many prosecuted in my lai

only lieutenant william calley

who was lietenant calley

solider in charge of charlie comoany on day of massacre - responsible of 109 civilian murders

what happened to lieutenant calley after trial

sentenced to life imprisonment - nixon received 5,000 telegrams in protest so he ended up confined to army base of nixons orders and released after 3 and half years

public response to my lai

massive outcry shiwn by pictures shown on tv on 5th dec - newspaper reports surfaced nov 1970 that claimed more than 500 civilains mudered in massacre

consequences if my lai

• strenghtened peace movement

• distrust in gov and army

• further incesftigations - 1971 found over a thurd of us troops addicted to drugs - moral at all time low

what was kent state protest

shooting and killing of unarmed ini students protesting against vietnam war

when was kent state uni protests

1st and 4th mau 1970

why did kent state protests happen

• anti war - promoted by announcemnt of invasion of cambodia and need for 150,000 more troops

• ohio state govenor sent national guard to stop demonstartions that had taken place all weekend - on monday protests went violent

key events at kent state

• announced forces invaded camnodia 30th april 1970

• protests took place day af7ter

• excalted into clashes with police

• fears of further violence 1,000 national guardsmen sent to stop them

• violence erupted

• 4 students killed, one called jeffrey miller, and 9 injured

hwo did kent state deelop

• demonstrations including sit ins and occupying uni buildings occired

• 900 nationals fuards sent with tear gas a rufles

• students threw gas canisters and bricks at national guard

• killings

what happened to national guards at kent state

8 arrested but not enogh evidenc to prosecute

public reaction to kent state

• gorrified

• support for guards men

• protests at other unis - 2m on strike

why were kent state shooting controversial

white middle class causing outrage - when 2 black shot and 12 injured at jackson state uni little reaction or publicity

significance anout kent state

strenthened anti war and led to increased calls for su to wd

reasons for political op

• seemed unwillable

• cost high - 170b for us gov

• risked destorying internation relations - e.g. uk

• is op party, democrats, could gain power

• media coverage brought home brutality

why was us condemned by many countries

incidents e.g my lai and use of chem weapons

how did media affetc politcial op

showed outrage and som politcians embarrassed to be american

effect of public on political op

from 1960s 2 forms of op; anti war protestors and veterans condemned, as op grew they had to stop war

significance of pol op

contributed to reasons of us wd - us gov under pressure from public and leading politicians to bring us troops home from vietnam

what were hard hats

mickname to construction workers who supported war

how did hard ahts become involved in protests

attacked anti war protest in new york 8th may 1970

what was police reaction to hard hats

nothing done

what was silent majority

thise who supported war but took no active role in campaigning

when was silent majority first mentiones

3rd nov 69 in a speech made by nixon

what was nixons silent majority speech abt

appealed for support for silent majority - beliebed most ppl supported war and his policies

reaction to nixon silent majority speech

80,000 telgrams and letters sent to white house expressing support

estimated percentage of silent majority after nixon speech

poll showed 77% of public supported nixon policies

outcome of silent majority speech

congress passed resolution approving nixons conduct of war - could negotaute with nv as had lots of support

where was political support of war in vietnam

republicans, right wing americans, ant com and military

complicatiosn of political support

didnt want to see us lose or south to become com bt supporting war could lead to loss of votes

how did political support affect funding of war

congres became less supportive but kept funding as military kepy telling them victory was near

role of peace talks

end war

background to peace talks

nixon promised to end war in election campaign 1968 - talked with china and ussr to end war - nv worried they wouldnt be able to continue fighting without allies so in 1970 they agreed to talks with us

americas demands in peace talk

independent sv must be guaranteed

nv demands in peace talks

united vietnam to be discussed and a com gov to be elected

what happened when talks began between usa and nv

started in paris but stated previous positions

why was us inder pressure to negotiate

• op to war increasing

• congress cut funding

what happened during peace talks

• 8th oct 1972 us and nv reacjed an agreement

• thieu refused to sign as had been left out

• nv accused us of using thieu’s refusal as an excuse to back out of agreement

consequences of peace talks

• broke off

• nixon promused thieu weapons, supplies, aid if he attened talks

• nixan asked china and ussr to persuafe north to return to talks

• talks resumed on 8th jan 1973

what was eatser offensive

nv invasion of sv

when was easter offensive

march-cot 1972

us reaction to easter offensive

shock as didnt think north was strong enough to launch major attack after tet

outcome of easter offensive

us thought war could drag on for years, despite gains sv made

what were paris peace accords

agreements to end war and restore peace in vietnam

when were paris peace accords signed

27th jan 1973

key figures at paris accords

kissinger and le duc tho

who signed paris peace accords

• usa

• nv

• sv

• nlf (vc)

agreements of paris peace accords

• accepatnce of reunification of vietnam and new gov elected under international supervision

• ceasfire

• keep armies of both vientamese govs but usa wouldnt send aid to arvn

• us wd all troops, equip and advisors in 60 days

• all sides exchange pow and equip within 60 days

• us send aid for reconstrcution to both sides

• us gov not interfere in vietnam in any way

was peace achieved with paris accords

not instantly

what was fall of saigon

captue of saigon by people army of vietnam and vc

when was fall of saigon

30th pril 1975

what happened to us soldiers during fall of saigon

evacuated by heluicpter

impirtance of fall of saigon

• marked end of vietnam war

• vietnam became a united com country

cost of vietnam war

167b

human cost of war

• 4.2m killed

• 2m wounded

• 850,000 left with severe psychological problems