Nixon’s Détente with Beijing (Peking) and MoscowĬhina and the Soviet Union were fighting (literally at times) over what it means to be a communist. The Pentagon Papers helped to create the " credibility gap" which was the gap between what the government said (the war is going great) and the reality (it wasn't). They broke the " Pentagon Papers"-a top secret study that showed goof-ups by JFK and LBJ. The New York Times dropped a bombshell in June 1971. The reasoning was that 18 and 19 year olds should be allowed to vote for the politicians sending them off to war. The Twenty-sixth Amendment (1971) was passed. The Senate repealed the Resolution (this was symbolic only). troops resented Nixon's reversal and having to fight with "one hand tied behind their back."Ĭongress was regretting the blank check (Tonkin Gulf Resolution). Nixon pulled out of Cambodia after only two months. The rift between hawks and doves had widened. For some reason, the Guard opened fire and killed four protesters.Ī similar situation occurred at Jackson State College killing two. is not at war with Cambodia, why are we invading there?"Ī protest at Kent State University got out of hand and the National Guard was called in to disperse the protestors. universities, there was much protest to moving into Cambodia. to invade Cambodia to put a stop to the uneven playing field. troops, but the North channeled supplies through Cambodia down the " Ho Chi Minh Trail." The North Vietnamese had been using their neighbor as a staging-ground for attacks. My Lai increased protest at home and helped lead to charges of "baby killers"-an unfair charge for nearly all of the troops. troops snapped and killed the entire village, including women and children. Frustration was best seen in the infamous My Lai Massacre (1968).Īt that village, U.S. A bogged down war, with high casualties and no clear mission led to drugs, mutiny, sabotage, and "fragging" troop's own officers. The result was that most Vietnam "grunts" (ground soldiers) were fresh out of high school (the average age was 19). In the earlier part of the war especially, the fighting was done disproportionately by the poorer classes.īeing in college got young men a deferment from the draft (a free pass).Īfrican-Americans suffered casualties at higher rates than whites. Nixon appealed to the “ silent majority”, those who supported the war, but without the sound and fury of the protesters. Still, with America so divided, their were still opponents-hawks wanted more action, doves wanted to leave immediately. The policy was middle-of-the-road, enough to get him elected. would honor its commitments, but the Vietnamese would have to go it without massive American troop numbers. This became the " Nixon Doctrine" saying the U.S. troops and turning the war over to the Vietnamese. He pursued "Vietnamization", or returning U.S. Nixon entered the White House promising an honorable end to the war. Anytime this is the case, prices go up.Īmerica's economic lead had dwindled as Germany and Japan had by then rebuilt and caught back up. What's more, the boom-years had put more money in people's hands. Vietnam War spending helped cause inflation, but it was caused mostly from increased oil prices. The major cause was the upward spiral of inflation. Machinery was getting old and run down by this time. Generally speaking, they were less skilled, often had temporary jobs. Women and teens increasingly entered the workforce. There were several reasons for the slow-down. No year's productivity during the 70s would equal any year in the 50s or 60s. America had enjoyed a long economic boom in the 1950s and 60s.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |