Unit 1 - Korea and Vietnam

Question 0

How did Korea split

Answer 0

• Russia had agreed to join in the war against Japan when it appeared that the final struggle might be long and hard. The use of the atomic bomb meant that the USA did not need them in the end, but soviet troops poured into Korea and China.

The suddenness of Japan’s collapse took the U.S. State department by surprise - they were no american troops in Korea. In August america went to the 38th parallel. From there Korea split into two states, Kim and Rhee as leaders

North Korea quickly becomes a totalitarian state with communists in control of all aspects of public life
800,000 fled to South Korea in response to the land reform and harsh communist rule

Question 1

Why did the Korean War become global?

Answer 1

• fear of communism (McCarthyism)
• un intervention
• USSR (seen as a threat)
• geographical location (middle of three powerful neighbours, China Russia Japan)

Question 2

The establishment of the North Korean state

Answer 2

The USSR controlled this. It had the advantage of several thousand native Koreans who had either served with Chinese communists, or like Kim, the red army

Kim was leader

Redistribution of land to the peasants introduced but after 1948 it was reintroduced

In 1948 soviet forces withdrew.

Question 3

The establishment of South Korea

Answer 3

Owned by USA - they were unprepared and very few could speak the language

Rhee was leader - seen as most effective and political. He had links with China and was not well loved by the state department

Republic of Korea in 1948

Question 4

Why did the forces of North Korea attack South Korea in June 1950?

Answer 4

Border raids began in 1949

North Korea begged stalin for help but he refused. He did give equipment tho. South Korea launched small cake attacks but the USA refused to supply the hardware for a real invasion of the North to take place. Instead USA made KMAG Korean military advisory group in order to support the U.S. Troops.

Stalin then gave the green light, military aircraft and equipment supplied. He sent more equipment including guns to accelerate over. They used all these things on 38th parallel.

Question 5

Why did the USA decide to intervene?

Answer 5

Lack of equipment
MacArthur claimed that without the U.S. Help South Korea would collapse
The attack of South Korea was a break of the U.S. Soviet agreement 1945
Uno has an obligation to defend sovereign states - us should follow this
To deter stalin from doing anymore harm as they thought the attack was caused by Moscow
Avoid Berlin blockade scenario
Un involvement
Fear of communism in Korea

Question 6

Factors that contributed to the North gaining an early advantage to the south

Answer 6

The South was attacked when they were unprepared with artillery and mortar barrage
North had a strong army of 135,000 men and extensive combat experience
South army were poorly trained, under equips, smaller and lacked experience
U.S. intervention

Question 7

Douglas MacArthur

Answer 7

Incredibly popular war hero 
Arrogant 
70 years old at the start of war
Viewed as a national institution 
Responsible for the revival of the south through the Inchon landing

Question 8

Factors that undermined USA dominance

Answer 8

The defeat of the U.S. Backed regime in China
Us power was under attack, with communist inspired demonstrates challenging american control
Most popular country in the world becoming communist
Generating of nuclear bombs

Question 9

Background on Korea

Answer 9

Surrounded by powerful neighbours: China russia and Japan
Viewed China as their big brother
Occupied by Japan since 1895. Oppressive Japanese rule led to hardened Korean nationalism

Division:
After collapse of Japan Korea was up for grabs
The soviets and U.S. Stationed their soldiers in each area

Question 10

Kim sung

Answer 10

Korean nationalist
He became a communist in China
After Japan was defeated, he was installed as the leader of North Korea

Question 11

Syngman Rhee

Answer 11

After the collapse of Japan, he was installed as leader of us governed section of Korea

Question 12

Why was the Inchon landing a success

Answer 12

The shortcomings of the North - they were unprepared despite advice from map to watch the area and mine there
The position in which it was put

Question 13

Why did the counter offensive fail

Answer 13

MacArthur ignorance - he was easily influenced by the Chinese
MacArthur stubbornness - did the opposite of what was expected as he felt it appeared communism
Problems of supply and communication
Underestimated China

Question 14

Why did China intervene

Answer 14

Truman’s actions angered them - he sent the 7th U.S. fleet to patrol between Taiwan and the mainland - nationalist and govern was there
Stalin pressed the Chinese to assist Kim
Us did not recognise them as a country

Effects:
Forced USA into 300 mile retreat
Vastly outnumbered the U.S. Troops
Attacked at night using stealth to make up for lack of firepower
Single track roads made, attacks more effective

Question 15

Why did the Korean War last so long

Answer 15

U.S. intervention 
Chinese interventions ( both wanted too much)
General unpreparedness

Question 16

Why did the Korean War end?

Answer 16

Death of Stalin in 1953 meant that one of the strongest advocates had gone
Eisenhower became president in 1953 and communists feared his more aggressive approach as a republican
Americans wanted peace along with Chinese commander peng

Question 17

Why did truman sack MacArthur in 1951

Answer 17

He has an inflated ego and this meant that although truman was his superior, he had no respect for him
He ignored truman’s orders and sent a letter to the leader of the republicans that forced truman to act to what it had promised
He was trying to create a war in China and Truman didn’t want this
MacArthur didn’t agree with Truman going against him as he believed he was always right

Question 18

How successful was us interventions in the Korean conflict

Answer 18

The first armistice negotiations held in 1951 were a fiasco. The propaganda exercise to imply that the USA was pleading for peace

Unprepared in the beginning

Conflict in opinions meant that things weren’t as affective - McCarthy and Truman

Many american died over 30,000 and over 100,000 wounded. Military costs high. Rose from 4% to 14%. Anti communist paranoia. Increase in defence spending

Americans now commited to Asia. Taiwan Japan and South Korea were all now guaranteed by treaty and U.S. troops were stained appropriately

Question 19

Ending of Korean War (armistice)

Answer 19

The us had decided to seek an armistice on or around the 38th parallel. Peng thought so too. Mao had not and under pressure from Stalin and Kim, he made the spring offensive which ended up being a bloody event

The first armistice negotiations were a fiasco. The communist used it as a propaganda exercise to imply that the USA was pleading for peace

Endless discussion about the exact boundary and the return of prisoners. Truman was adamant that he would not let communist prisoners return against their will.

The Chinese and North Koreans tunnelled and dug in and the in poured down upon them volleys of artillery fire. A new horrific weapon, napalm, was developed to clear Chinese bunkers. Horrific fireballs were used/ and North Korea was endlessly bombed so they would sign the armistice

Stalin’s death and the coming of Eisenhower made it happen

Question 20

Impact of Korean War on Korea

Answer 20

Short term
600,000 homes destroyed
10% of the population were reported as killed, wounded or missing
North: 8700 industrial plants were knocked out
North: civilian population declined by 9 million to 7 million through death and emigration
The 314,000 killed and 428,000 wounded

Long term
Peninsula remained decided
War was a tragedy
North Korea remained a brutal, primitive dictatorship with a low standard of living due to the Stalinist time war
South Korea remained an authoritarian star for many years. Slowly though, democracy developed, with a growing middle class and prosperity

Question 21

Impact of Korean War on Japan

Answer 21

Short term
Gained enormously from us spending on war
Toyota received an order of 1000
Japanese defends industry earned 3 billion U.S. Dollars from sales

Long term
Massive stimulus to the economic recovery of Japan and contributed to the property that underpinned its fledging democracy.
Helped to create a rich and friendly state

Question 22

Effect of the Korean War on China

Answer 22

Short term
Human cost of the war was huge. Over 150,000 troops were killed and many times this figure were wounded

Long term
Economic cost of the war was drastic despite aid from the Soviet Union
Hostility towards communist China was now greater than ever
Communist China contributed exclusion from membership in the UN
China became recognised as they took on one of the most powerful countries in the world
Mao’s authority and regime’s hold on China consolidated

Question 23

Effect of the Korean War on the USA

Answer 23

Short term
33,651 Americans died in combat and a further 103,284 were wounded
Total military expenditure rose from 4% of GNP in 1948 to 14% by 1953
Military set back
Anti communist paranoia
Eisenhower came to power as he said that he would end the Korean War
Increase in defence spread - navy ships went from 600 to 1000, Air Force went from 42 to 72 and atomic bombs went from 300 in 1950 to 800 in 1952

Question 24

Background on Vietnam (South East Asia)

Answer 24

A French colony in South East Asia
Occupied by the Japan strengthened nationalist sentiment and meant the French faced a struggle to re colonise.
Unlike North Korea I do China had mineral wealth and was important for more than ideological reasons

Question 25

Ho Chi Minh

Answer 25

Leader of the indo Chinese communist party since 1930 who were a nationalist party devoted to expelling the French as one promoting soviet communism.
Vietnamese nationalist and a communist
Fought against Japanese occupation, with U.S. backing
Took it upon himself to declare Vietnam independent with the collapse of Japan in 1945

Question 26

The reasons for the U.S. financial help to the French

Answer 26

The USA encouraged the French to grant some degree of independence to the Vietnamese, which they did in 1949, making it easier for the USA, as an opponent of colonialism, to assist the French
Just after the Korean War started eight U.S. Transport planes touched down in Saigon and were tepidly handed over to the French Air Force. Later that year, a U.S. Ship crammed with military hardware docked in the Saigon river. Massive U.S. Assistance was being made available to the French in their struggle with the Viet Minh (a communist front organisation)
The USA was providing French with 10,000 tons of equipment per month and the annual aid totalled to $500,000 million. the USA was covering 75-80 per cent of the cost of the French struggle with the Viet Minh.

Reasons:
Events in Europe - the confrontation with Russia over Berlin, the Berlin airlift 1948-49, made America anxious for French support in NATO in confronting the USSR.
Domino theory - the bleed that there was a communist threat worldwide from Russia. The fact that Mao was more a Chinese nationalist than a communist and that this was equally applicable to Ho Chi Minh, who was a Vietnamese nationalist first and a communist a poor second, was ignored.

The triumph of Mao and the China communists in 1949 transformed the situation and leg Truman administration to see ho’s forces as part of the same international grouping rather than an indigenous nationalist movement

Question 27

The British in Malaya

Answer 27

The chief opponents of British rule and the most active communists were drawn from the native Malays, who feared Chinese domination in post imperial freedom. The result was a twelve year long struggle, termed by the British, with appropriate understatement, as an emergency not a war.
Conflict began in 1948, attacks were waged on plantations and tin mines by the communist guerrillas, who tried to intimidate villages into supporting them. Opponents of the communists would be flayed and left tied up to have their bleeding bodies eaten alive by insects. The British army, assisted by the Malay police, responded with the counter terror, dropping the decapitated heads of captures guerrillas back into the jungle to lower the morale of their comrades. The ‘emergency’ lasted 12 years but ended in the utter defeat of the communists and the establishment of a prosperous and capitalist malaya, friendly to the west

Question 28

The U.S.’ Role in the Geneva peace conference in July of 1954

Answer 28

• it was decided that half of Vietnam would remain communist

The conference was in Geneva, Switzerland which was jointly chaired by Britain and the USSR, both anxious to moderate the tensions of the Cold War. The Chinese feared direct U.S. Intervention in Vietnamese and wanted the conflict ended. The USA was not directly involved in the conference and refused to recognise the Chinese delegation as legitimate, so sent only observers but still exercised influence behind the scenes. A change in the government in France in June enables a deal to be made between the new French government and the Chinese premier Zhou enlai. Ho reluctantly accepted what his Chinese wonder agreed.

Result:
Geneva accords -
These ended the first Vietnam war (between France and viet Minh) and laid the basis for the second. Vietnam was to be decided at the 17th parallel, with the North controlled by the viet Minh and the by bao dai and the French. The French were to withdraw from the north and viet Minh from the south. Laos and Cambodia were to be independent and neutralZ there were to be elections held in 1956 to secure the reunification of Vietnam. There were to be no foreign troops in any of the four territories

As a result of these, the USA increase involvement in Vietnam as they were suspicious of the election promised as they thought ho would win these as he completely controlled the population in North Vietnam which formed a slight majority. To battle this they thought they should free South Vietnam from the French and the taint of colonialism.

To do this they agreed to extend massive aid to the government of South Vietnam at the end of September 1954 because the French had pulled out leaving a poorly officered native force, which would be no match for the viet Minh. The agency for much of this was maag who helped to strengthen the army

Question 29

SEATO

Answer 29

1954 marked a significant stage in American involvement in South East Asia. The aim of the pact was mutual defends and it was meant to assist the containment of communism in the region. In 1956, diem further broke the accord by joining death as an associate member. On the surface the pact looked to have established an anti communist alliance like nato in Europe.
Manila, Australia, New Zealand, France, Britain, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand and the USA

Reasons.
Containing communism
Collateral

Question 30

The reasons for limited intervention under Eisenhower and the nature of the relationship with the regime of Diem

Answer 30

He was in practice very moderate, with an approach to policy very similar to that of his predecessor, Truman. He was determined to continue the policy of ‘containing’ communism but this did not involve launching a crusade to roll back communism, despite the rhetoric used by some republicans during the election.

Reasons:
Eisenhower inherited an inflated defence budget but he was anxious to prevent it getting out of hand. The defence budget increased due to the Korean War. The number of navy ships rose from 600 to 1000; the Air Force increased from 42 wing groups to 72; the army grew from 10 to 18 divisions. The number of atomic bombs rocketed, from 300 in 1950 to 800 in 1952.

Eisenhower believed that a balanced budget and a prosperous america was the best answer to the communist threat

The USA already enjoyed nuclear superiority and Eisenhower was determined not to indulge the whims of every general and admiral pressing for more and more military hardware

Nature of the relationship with the regime of Diem

After the Geneva accords the USA increased involvement in Vietnam, deciding to build up the South. This was because they were suspicious that the elections promised to secure the reunification of Vietnam would be won ho as he completely controlled the population of North Vietnam.

As the south were free from the French and the taint on communism, this seemed like that best time. What was needed was a suitable strong man, who was ngo dinh Diem. He was very much backed by the CIA and had powerful friends in Washington, amount them the young Kennedy.
In the USA, the American friends of Vietnam association was established to press for support for Diem.

Question 31

MAAG

Answer 31

Military assistance advisory group / played a major part in training the South Vietnamese army

Question 32

Why Kennedy despatched special forces and dramatically increased the number of ‘advisors’

Answer 32

The democrats were seen as soft on communism and the charge that they had ‘lost China’ was still bandied about. Therefore Kennedy was determined that no similar accusations could be made about his administration.

As a result defends spending increased from 40 billion a year to 56 billion. (This was supervised by Robert McNamara who supported the escalation of the way until 1966)

The number of nuclear delivery vehicles was massively increased and there was a new emphasis on meeting the challenge of revolutionary subversive movements through the use of specially trained forces. These became the elite U.S. forces - the green ‘berets’

Why did he increase involvement?

1) Robert McNamara - he was a major influence on the conduct of the Vietnam war under both Kennedy and Johnson while he served also as secretary of defence. He supported the escalation of the conflict in Vietnam but began to have doubts in 1966
2) domino theory - everything was set in a Cold War context. The USA were perceived as being locked in a worldwide conflict with the Soviet Union. and as he thought North Korea was heavily influenced by Moscow, this served as a threat.
3) ‘the curse of appeasement’ - it seemed to most who had come through the Second World War that the great mistake made before the war was not standing up to hitler at the time. Kennedy was a young and aspiring politician and in his book while England slept he draws attention to the failures in British pre war policy. It appeared the only way to deal with dictators was to stand up to them
4) they were financially able - he had confidence in American military and economic power. The USA was not Britain in the 1930s, struggling with the depression. America was a can do country and in the Second World War she has shown this benefit of humanity. American prestige em could not be sacrificed nor did it need to be

Question 33

Make a judgement on how influential the USA was in se Asia by 1956

Answer 33

• half of Vietnam became communist
• USA lacked troops or the will for direct intervention
• they weren’t directly involved with the conference but influenced behind the scenes
• mass emigration from north to South (good)
• Failure of 1956 election
• appointment of Diem

Question 34

Who contributed to us escalation in Vietnam

Answer 34

Diem
Kennedy 
Ho Chi Minh 
Republicans 
Robert McNamara 
DEV 
Johnson
Soviet Union 
Mcgeorge bundy 
William Westmorland 
North Vietnamese army

Question 35

Gulf on Tonkin incident

Answer 35

South Vietnamese forces had begun raids on North vietnam’s coastline, often planned and directed by the CIA. In this the U.S. Navy gave assistance but not through direct participation.
Two us destroyers were involved in electronic surveillance in support of cover raids.

Question 36

The reasons for massive escalation under Johnson and its consequences

Answer 36

• Johnson knew he would have to face an election in 1964 and feared the republican charge that he was ‘soft on communism’. He Cold War still engendered real rivalry with the use, despite the lessening of tensions due to the Cuban missile crisis in 1962. American prestige was at stake. Johnson expressed this dilemma in 1964 to a columnist, saying he did not like the commitment he has inherited.
• Johnson was a prisoner of democracy. He could not make a cool, calculated decision in the circumstances. U.S. Public opinion mattered and ‘losing to a bunch of asiatic commies’ was not good news any time and particularly not in election year.
• Johnson was also trapped in another sense. He, like everyone else in the state department and national security council, wanted to avoid direct confrontation with the USSR and China. This again reduced the options available. An all out assault on North Vietnam might bring victory and secure the south, but it might also trigger a third world war, or at least a replay of Korea with Chinese military intervention. In consequence, Johnson and his ad heroes stumbled and bumbled from one move to another, getting ever more involved, chasing the will o the wisp of victory through the jungles and swamps of South Vietnam.
• the news from South Vietnam in the near year 1964 was gloomy. All the advice coming to the president pointed to the need to put more pressure on the north and boost the confidence of the regime in the south. In March when McNamara visited Vietnam he returned convinced that the wander to help South Vietnam was extra money, additional advisors and the launch on covert operations against the North Vietnamese.

Consequence:
In the late 1964 to early 1965, plans were made for the bombing campaign on North Vietnam to try to halt the rot in the south. Johnson was reluctant and make mcgeorge bundy assess whether it was necessary. —-> the result was the operation rolling thunder, which began March 2nd. This was supplemented by operation steel tiger against the Ho Chi Minh trail in Laos. Over the next three years most bombs were dropped by the U.S. Than ww2.
The USA has sent $9.60 to do $1 worth of damage as many of the bombs did not explode

The battle at La drang - the first real battle between U.S. forces and the North Vietnam army. The battle applied the tactics of search and destroy. The USA would not do what it had urged the avrn to do and reply in its superior fire power, simply overwhelm the enemy.
The USA sent in the first airmobile cavalry division equipped with over 400 helicopters. The North Vietnam army lost 3561 killed compared to the loss of 305 americans.

Question 37

The human and financial cost and the significance of the Tet offensive of 1968 and the debate within the USA on the conduct of the war

Answer 37

Tet offensive:

North Vietnam tactics changed, they now showed impatience with the slow wearing down approach of 1966 and 1967. It was an attempt to launch a series of widespread assaults on the cities of South Vietnam and stimulate an uprising against the government of general thieu’s regime in the south.

The human cost:

There were two instances. One in May and August. Over 562 soldiers were killed between the 4th and 11th of May, and over 2000 were killed in a month as a whole.
1968 was the worst year of the war for the U.S, nearly half of all U.S. Deaths in Vietnam occurred by December (14,650)
The cost to the communists - between 50,000 to 60,000 dead and over 100,000 wounded.

The significance of the Tet offensive:

• Americans began to oppose the war realising that America were losing. 20 per cent of American switched from support to opposition.
• within the decision making elite, opinion changed. This was partly assisted by the request for 206,000 extra troops from the head, this would cost billions. Half the troops were in fact not for service in Vietnam but to replenish the strategic reserve.

Debate on conduct of the war:
The viet cong persued a deliberate policy of trying to maximise the numbers of US dead, realising that the ‘body-bag count’ was a powerful propaganda weapon in strengthening the anti war movement in America. In the first six months of 1969, 8000 members of the U.S. Forces were killed.
The morale of U.S. troops was a growing problem in some unite. By 1971, 69% of us strops claimed to have used marijuana, 38% opium and 34% heroin.

Question 38

Was the Tet offensive a disaster for the communists in Vietnam?

Answer 38

Judgement:

• between 50 to 60,000 dead and over 100,000 wounded
• by the end of 1st February, almost all attacks had been beaten off and their perpetrators killed or captured
• viet cong and NVA attacked 44 provincial capitals and 64 districts capitals.
• the seizure of the prestigious city of Hue.
• destroyed morale of the marines

Question 39

Why did Johnson not stand for a second term

Answer 39

• Ill health
• perceived unpopularity of Vietnam war
• Facture in the democrats as he was challenged by high profile anti Vietnam candidates, Robert Kennedy for example
• • he sent 206,000 extra troops in Vietnam which seemed unnecessary as it was example and the request was badly explained and requested. He knew this was an unpopular decision and even people within congress were beginning to disagree with him.

Question 40

The Nixon presidency and the attempt to achieve ‘peace with honour’

Answer 40

Background:

-Richard Nixon chose Henry Kissinger to be his national security advisor and later his Secretary of State
- Nixon had originally been a supporter of American involvement in Vietnam as had Kissinger. By 1968, for many reasons, they both decided the extent of involvement was a mistake.
- he had been eisenhower’s Vice President
- had previously stood against Kennedy in 60. Said to have lost due to the strength of the TV debate
- he was anti communist
- stressed that Vietnam was not us priority
His belief: believed that U.S. Policy should be determined by a rational consideration of American interests and, most importantly, U.S. Capabilities.

Why he was elected:

• the American public were losing faith and were upset with American’s need to be the policemen of the world trying to keep Liberty alive as Kennedy has wanted. As a result educating U.S. commitment to South Vietnam was the key to addressing all of these considerations.
• nixon’s desire to be re elected in 1972 was also an influence, and ‘peace and honour’ would clearly be popular at home as he had his and america’s best interest for peace.

Problems faced:
Fundamental problem was how to get the North Vietnamese to make concessions. He had an advantage tho as the viet cong were weak due to the Tet offensives 1968 which allowed security for South. Also, the possibility of improved relations between the USSR and China.
There was conflict between the USA and Drv regarding the status of South Vietnam. The Drv was distrustful of the USA after the Geneva accords where they were promised national elections as a prelude to unification but not a long term solution like they wanted.
The growing opposition to the war, from both Congress’s and people made is harder to exert pressure.

Changes made to the U.S. Military:
They changed tactics from large uni sweeps to small unit actions, which increased control of the country side
50% of South Vietnam was under saigon’s control rather than 20 from the year before
Phoenix program introduced - the disrupt the enemy infrastructure. It involved teams of trained us and South Vietnam commandos capturing, torturing and assassinating suspected viet cong leaders and organisers. This was later stopped tho despite the fact that 29,000 people were captured, of whom 18,000 converted and 20,000 killed.

Question 41

The policy of ‘Vietnamisation’ the attempts to use air power to put pressure on North Vietnam and the significance of the changing Cold War context

Answer 41

Vietnamisation -
It involved the staged withdrawal of U.S. Forces and the strengthening of those of South Vietnam. The withdrawal was skilfully done with timed announcements to silence critics of the war. Billions of dollars were spent and equipment improved. Some united of South Vietnam were very good, expect one in Laos which appeared to have scenes of panic and desertations.
Huge quantities of former U.S. Arms were handed over, for instance 12,000 machine guns. The strength of the arvn rose from 850,000 to 1,000,000.

The attempts to use air power to put pressure on North Vietnam -
Attempts were made to halt the flow of supplies to the north Vietnam army by blocking the Ho Chi Minh trial. This involved extensive air operations against both Laos and Cambodia, and the heavy bombing induced considerable suffering in both countries and had both only limited effect.
Most effective was the decision to cross into Cambodia 1970. Huge amounts of stores and munitions were captured and the ability of the NVA to operate in the south was seriously disrupted. However it stirred up a storm of protests in both congress and on the streets and campuses back home. Nixon then tried to withdraw a further 40,000 U.S. Troops.
The following year there was an attempt to damage NVA based in Laos but this time only using arvn troops. The raid was less effective as the U.S. Weren’t involved.
The reductions of army manpower and the desire to reduce casualties increased the reliance on air power. This air and naval personnel actually increased in 1972 to 77,000, army numbers were lower.

The significance of the changing Cold War context
Nixon also took a consideration diplomatic trial when he orders the mining of Haiphong harbour in May 1972 to present the import of supplies from the USSR. He had already lined up a major summit with the Russians, which he did not want cancelled, let alone a more militant response. The policy of improving relations with the soviet uni took in the hope of greater soviet flexibility over Vietnam seemed to be working. However, as with all the other military options he used, there were some noisy protests in the USA.

Question 42

The significance of the popular protest movement in the USA and the growing doubts within the political elite

Answer 42

Public protests
The pressure was kept on the administration to deliver a deal by contributing protests of all types. One of the most widely supported took place on 15th October 1969 when two million took times off work in over 200 American cities to participate in various peaceful protests. A poll showed that 68% approved of nixons’s handling of the Vietnam situation. Nixon counter attacked the movement with his effective silent majority speech. This was also a deliberate attempt to reduce media coverage.

The invasion of Cambodia 1970 produced a massive upsurge in protestors and also the tragic event at Kent state university where the national guard opened fire on demonstrators and killed four students. At times, those who opposed the anti war demonstrators acted violently, crafting to be the silent majority. Peacefully, 100,000 ‘hard hats’ demonstrated their support for the president on the 20th may.

Opposition from congress
The number of senators and congressmen r opposing the war had grown considerably. Democratic senators were not happy to openly oppose a republican president. The Tonkin gulf resolution was repealed, effect from 1971, and amendments were attached to spending bills forbidding further intervention by ground forces in Laos and Cambodia. Between April and July 1971, congress voted 17 times on measured to restrict the president’s actions in South East Asia.

The 1972 presidential elections
Despite both the noisy street protests and the growing Congressional opposition, it appeared Nixon had done enough to retain support at large in the country. This was due to the democrats radical candidate George McGovern.