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The Cold War: Domino Theory and Containment

The Cold War: Domino Theory and Containment. Korea, Vietnam Cuba, Central America Middle East. Terms to Know: The Arms Race. Brinkmanship: US needed to act as though we are willing to go to war. Had to go to the “ brink ” the verge of war without slipping into it.

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The Cold War: Domino Theory and Containment

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  1. The Cold War: Domino Theory and Containment Korea, Vietnam Cuba, Central America Middle East

  2. Terms to Know: The Arms Race Brinkmanship: US needed to act as though we are willing to go to war. Had to go to the “brink” the verge of war without slipping into it.

  3. Arms Race in the Sky • ICBMs • Long range rockets loaded with nuclear weapons • Sputnik • The rocket that carried the first satellite into space could also carry a nuclear weapon to space.

  4. Arms Race in the Sky • U2 – high altitude planes that flew over territory and took pictures. • 15 miles in the air. • U2 Incident: 1960 • Russia was able to shoot down a U2

  5. The Domino Theory: Asia • 1949: Communists take over China. • Most populated country in the world had gone Communist. • Led by Mao Zedong

  6. Korea • After WWII Korea was divided at the 38th Parallel. • North – Russian controlled • South – US Controlled • 1948 – occupying forces withdrew.

  7. Korean War • Both sides wanted reunification – but under whose rule? • 1950 – North Korea army poured across 38th Parallel to force reunification.

  8. Korean War • US thought it was all orchestrated by the Communists. • Had to make a stand against the Communist North Koreans.

  9. Korean War: UN Military Action • 16 nations – including the US – came to defend South Korea from North Korea. • 80% of troops were American.

  10. Waging the Korean War • General Douglas MacArthur led the offense against North Korea • Backed by Soviet and Chinese weapons and soldiers.

  11. MacArthur goes too far • To push the North Koreans back behind the 38th Parallel, destroy the Communists in North Korea, or attack China? • MacArthur wanted the second front in China.

  12. MacArthur goes too far • President Truman said NO to invading China. • MacArthur tried to go behind the Commander in Chief’s back (Truman) and get Congressional support. • Truman FIRED MacArthur for insubordination. • 1951.

  13. Korean War • Truman spent his presidency keeping the war contained to Korea. • President Eisenhower used the threat of a nuclear attack to get the North Koreans to return behind the 38th Parallel.

  14. Effects of the Korean War • 34,000 Americans dead in three years (1950 – 1953) • Containment had worked • But North Korea was and still is Communist.

  15. The 38th Parallel in 2005 • Most US troops are stationed there. • Will Kim Jong Il force a reunification under a Communist dictatorship with a nuclear threat? • Has six bombs and perfecting missile delivery.

  16. The Domino Theory: Vietnam1954 - 1975 • 2000 years Vietnam has resisted being absorbed into China. • 1800s Vietnam became a colony for France. • WWII: • Fought for independence from Japan

  17. Ho Chi Minh • Communist Vietnamese. • Fought for independence before, during and after WII. • Leader of a group called the VIETMINH. • Defeated the French in 1954.

  18. 1954 Peace Treaty over Vietnam • Divided Vietnam. • North Vietnam – Communist under Ho Chi Minh • South Vietnam – Supposed to be capitalist and democratic. • SUPPOSED TO BE

  19. South Vietnam • President Diem • Called himself “president” • Said he was pro-USA • Brutally put down any opponents. • Pro-Catholic in a mostly Buddhist country. • Corruption to make his family rich.

  20. Remember that the CIA used to be able to do political assassination? • That’s what happened to President Diem! • CIA authorized and said the US would not object to Diem’s overthrow. • Gee – Diem ended up dead trying to flee. • November 1963

  21. US Players in Vietnam • President Eisenhower • Military advisors for South Vietnamese. • President Kennedy • Sent troops to keep North Vietnam contained. • President Johnson • “I’m not going to be the president who saw Southeast Asia go the way China went.”

  22. US Players in Vietnam • Robert McNamara – Secretary of Defense for Kennedy and Johnson • Created policies that led to more US involvement. • Movement away from nuclear threat to a “flexible response” • Finding different ways to fight a war than nuclear threat option.

  23. Communist Advances in Vietnam • Diem’s successors were unpopular and unsuccessful. • More worried about power for themselves than fighting and winning a war.

  24. The Communist Advances in Vietnam • VietCong • Communist guerrillas in South Vietnam • Gained more control of territory • More popular with the people. • Aided by Ho Chi Minh

  25. Expanding Presidential Power to better run the Vietnam War • Gulf of Tonkin Incident • 1964 • President Johnson said the US Navy had been attacked by the North Vietnamese. • Congress gave the president special powers to “cover everything” to fight the North Vietnamese.

  26. Gulf of Tonkin Incident • IT NEVER HAPPENED! • Johnson faked it to get more power than the Constitution gave him to fight the war. • Escalation • 3 million soldiers committed for the rest of the war.

  27. Johnson Commits to Containment • American Advantages • Superior arms and supplies • VietCong Advantages • Familiar with the terrain of jungles and swamps • Found protection across the border in Laos and Cambodia • Local population support

  28. Conditions of Viet Nam • Many South Vietnamese did not welcome US help. • Keeping an unpopular government in place. • US troops couldn’t tell who was the enemy.

  29. The Ground War in Vietnam • VietCong used guerrilla war tactics. • The Tunnel System used by the VietCong • Booby traps, land mines, grenades, trip wires

  30. The Air War in Vietnam • B-52s used SATURATION BOMBING on roads, bridges, civilians. • Fragmentation Bombs

  31. The Air War in Vietnam • Agent Orange • Herbicide meant to deforest the jungle and show VietCong hiding spots. • Killed crops, livestock and health effects for humans

  32. The Air War in Vietnam • Napalm • Jellylike substance that splattered and burned uncontrollably.

  33. Hawks v. Doves • Hawks: Those who supported the war • Doves: those who opposed the war.

  34. Turning Points in Vietnam • The Tet Offensive • Communist brutality • My Lai Massacre

  35. The Tet Offensive • 536,000 US troops in 1968 • Tet: The Vietnamese New Year January 30, 1968 • Surprise attacks on major cities and US troops. • Fighting went for several weeks.

  36. Communist Brutality in the Tet Offensive • Communists were brutal – killing anyone labeled an enemy. • Teachers • Doctors • Minor officials • 3000 – 5000 killed

  37. Massacre at My Lai • America atrocity in Vietnam • Rumors that the VietCong were being hidden in the village of My Lai • US troops killed 400 Vietnamese

  38. People at Massacre of My Lai • Lieutenant William L. Calley Jr. • Gave command for the Massacre. • Helicopter pilot Hugh Thompson

  39. Political Divisions in Vietnam: Student Led Protests SDS: Students for a Democratic Society Free Speech Movement The Teach-In Movement Draft Resistence

  40. Draft Resistance or Draft Dodger • Draft for those from 18 – 26. • CO: Conscientious Objector • Other methods to be found “unsuitable” for military service • Deferment: • College

  41. Election of 1968 • SURPRISE! Johnson said he would not run for reelection! • “I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term.” • Lyndon Johnson

  42. Election of 1968 • Republicans – Richard M. Nixon • American Independents – George Wallace • Democrats - ?????

  43. The Democratic Convention • Robert Kennedy • assassinated • Eugene McCarthy • Thought too far left • Vice President Hubert Humphrey • Defended Johnson’s policies • Humphrey won

  44. The election of 1968

  45. Nixon’s Vietnam Policy • Promised a “secret” plan to end the war if elected. • Pulled back on bombing of North Vietnam and peace talks in Paris. • 1972 – only 24,000 troops remained in South Vietnam

  46. Nixon’s Vietnam Policy • War spreads to Cambodia • Secret bombing to get bargaining advantage in Paris. • Flush the VietCong out of hiding places in Cambodia • Created war in Cambodia

  47. Nixon’s “Silent Majority” • Called for law and order and less protests by students. • “My Country Right or Wrong” • “Love it or Leave it”

  48. Kent State and Jackson State • Kent State, Ohio 1970 • Anti-War Protestors vandalized buildings and burned down an ROTC building • Governor ordered National Guard out to restore order

  49. Kent State • Someone (National Guard?) fired on the protestors. • 4 dead Jackson State, Mississippi left 2 dead and 11 injured.

  50. Deep Divisions • Attacks horrified Americans. • But some favored the president. • 100,000 construction workers marched in NYC in support of President Nixon

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