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The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War. 1955-1975. Vietnam War Report. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89_3DgW_7mg. Background to War. Vietnam had been a colonial territory of France called French Indochina Indochina- Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam Japan took control during WWII

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The Vietnam War

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  1. The Vietnam War 1955-1975

  2. Vietnam War Report https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89_3DgW_7mg

  3. Background to War • Vietnam had been a colonial territory of France called French Indochina • Indochina- Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam • Japan took control during WWII • After WWII, Vietnamese hoped for independence, but France regained control

  4. Background to War • A large nationalist movement was occurring in Vietnam against French control – led by Ho Chi Minh • Vietminh- nationalist group, included communists • When the French attempted to regain control after WWII, the Vietminh took the opportunity to declare and fight for Vietnamese independence

  5. Background to War • The U.S. did not support the Vietnamese • Domino Theory: the belief that communism would spread to neighboring countries • U.S. sent millions in aid to the French  paid for 75% of their war! • The French were having a difficult time and were losing to the Vietnamese • U.S. President, Eisenhower, refused to send troops • France had to surrender

  6. Background to War • Geneva Conference • Representatives from France, Vietnam, Cambodia, Great Britain, Laos, China, the Soviet Union, and the U.S. gathered in Geneva, Switzerland • Goal: to work out a peace agreement and arrange for Indochina’s future • July 1954- Geneva Accords • Vietnam divided at the 17th parallel • Vienminh forces controlled Northern Vietnam • Ngo Dinh Diem (French educated) controlled the South • Elections were to be held in 1956 & these would reunify the country

  7. Background to War • Vietnamese regimes • North – led by Ho Chi Minh- became a totalitarian and communist regime • South- led by Ngo Dinh Diem – backed by United States despite corruption and brutality – “better than communism” • Failure of elections • South Diem does not hold elections, remaining in power • Corrupt, violent leader • Catholic, who oppressed Buddhists…the majority of the population • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epfNsk5l26U • North Ho Chi Minh invades the south to try to unify the nation under communism • Civil War begins...

  8. Civil War in Vietnam • Diem’s opponents in South Vietnam began to revolt. • Some very unhappy joined the Vietminh • North Vietnam supplied weapons to Vietminh rebels in South Vietnam. These rebels were known as the Vietcong. • The Vietcong assassinated many South Vietnamese leaders and soon controlled much of the countryside. • In 1960 Ho Chi Minh sent the North Vietnamese Army into the country to fight with the Vietcong.

  9. U.S. gets involved • Eisenhower • Decided to intervene in 1955 • Supplied money and supplies to South Vietnam • Sent political advisers to train army of South Vietnam (around 900 by end of Eisenhower’s presidency) • Kennedy • Wanted to show American desire to continue fight against communism • Increased number of military advisers (By 1963 – 16,000) • Slowly authorized Americans to engage in personal combat

  10. U.S. gets involved • When Johnson took over as President, he inherited a rapidly deteriorating situation in South Vietnam • Diem had been assassinated in a coup • the Vietcong occupied over 40% of the South • Johnson was convinced only an expanded US military involvement in South Vietnam could prevent a communist victory • Had to obtain authority from Congress

  11. Tonkin Gulf Resolution • Tonkin Incident • Johnson appeared on national television to tell the public that a navy destroyer, USS Maddox, was attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo in the Gulf of Tonkin • Called for a swift military response Lyndon Johnson - Report on the Gulf of Tonkin Incident - YouTube

  12. Tonkin Gulf Resolution • Tonkin Gulf Resolution • Approved by Congress August 7, 1964 • Enabled President to take “all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against forces of the United States”. • Johnson now had authority to expand the war • Later it was found out that – Maddox on a spying mission and had fired first

  13. Causes of Vietnam War

  14. US at War • As war marched on, Johnson called for an escalation of US ground forces • Draft used to pull more men to Vietnam • Majority of troops were young and poor – more wealthy could attend college which often allowed you to avoid deployment • Large # of African Americans • Efforts made to make draft more fair • 1973- draft ends, relied on volunteers • Noncombat Positions • Communications, engineering, medical care, transportation • 10,000 women were nurses • Civilian volunteers- Red Cross, etc

  15. US Troops

  16. US at War • Ho Chi Minh Trail • Networks of paths that stretched from North to South Vietnam • Used to send weapons, soldiers, food to Vietcong in South • Air War  Operation Rolling Thunder • Massive air bombing campaign of North Vietnam • Use air raids to damage land territory • Napalm • Agent Orange • Cluster Bombs • Carpet Bombing • Causes many in South Vietnam to distrust America and even join Vietcong • Not very successful

  17. US at War • United States media was highly involved and present in Vietnam • First publicized war- camera crews captured footage and it was ran nightly in America  “1st living room war” • Report from Vietnam (1968) - YouTube • Anti-War Movement emerges • Hawks- supported war’s goals • Not how Johnson was handling it • Doves- opposed war • SDS – Students for a Democratic Society

  18. 1968: The Turning Point

  19. Tet Offensive- 1968 • Both sides had agreed to a cease-fire for two days for the Vietnamese Tet Lunar New Year • Vietcong attack U.S. embassy on January 31st • A fierce firefight between US troops at embassy and Vietcong troops • Sparked the beginning of the Tet Offensive • A series of massive coordinated attacks throughout South Vietnam • 84,000 Communist soldiers attacked 12 US military bases and 100 cities across South Vietnam • Many civilians left homeless from destruction and did not support Vietcong • A ‘decisive defeat’ for the Communists

  20. Effects of the Tet Offensive • Both sides had lost large numbers and it showed everyone that the communists were determined to keep fighting • Also showed the American people that the Vietnamese would not be easily defeated and were much more prepared than the gov’t was letting on… • “We have been too often disappointed by the optimism of the American leaders…for it seems now more certain than ever that the bloody experience of Vietnam is to end in a stalemate.” • Public criticism grew louder and louder • “Hey, hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?” • Media accounts of the offensive turned the tide of popular opinion

  21. LBJ is out …I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President. March 1968 Lyndon Johnson - Remarks on Decision to not seek Reelection - YouTube

  22. War Comes to an End

  23. The Election of 1968 • Key issues among all voters  Vietnam War

  24. Election of 1968 • Nixon became the 37th president of the United States • Claimed to have a secret plan to win the war • The “war must be ended. It must be ended honorably”

  25. Nixon and Vietnam

  26. Peace with Honor • Kissinger early peace talks • National Security Adviser – Henry Kissinger- began secret peace talks with North Vietnamese revolutionary in 1969 • Vietnamization • Nixon’s plan for “peace with honor” • Turning over more of the fighting in Vietnam to the South Vietnamese while gradually bringing US ground troops home • In 1969, Nixon began slowly removing troops • By 1972- only 24,000 remained. • Silent Majority • Vietnamization did not appeal to many because it did not immediately end the war • Nixon thought he had a silent majority of Americans however that did not approve of the anti-war protests and supported the goals in Vietnam

  27. Widening the War • Nixon secretly began expanding the war in 1969 • Early 1969- bombed Cambodia – aimed to disrupt the supply lines along the Ho Chi Minh Trail • Show North Vietnamese he was willing to widen war to gain more favorable terms in settlements • Concealed air strikes from American people • 1970-1971: Nixon sent troops into Cambodia and Laos • When this was announced in America, anti-war sentiment increased throughout the country, especially on college campuses

  28. Anti-War Sentiment • Troubling Revelations • My Lai Massacre- March 1968 • US troops on a search and destroy mission to find Vietcong fighters killed over 450 women, children, and elderly men • Initially kept quiet, but when Americans found out, anti-war protests intensified • Pentagon Papers • The New York Times published a collection of secret government documents that traced the history of US involvement in Vietnam • Revealed that government officials had been misleading the American people

  29. Anti-War Sentiment • Anti-war Movement grows • By 1969, polls showed that half of Americans opposed the war…. • Massive and historical protests took place • Radical protests • Did not think marches and protests were effective enough • Turned violent…bombing in public places… • Campus Violence • Kent State- May 1970 • College students at Kent State held protests that turned radical when a building was set on fire • National Guard troops brought in to calm down protests – after rocks and insults thrown – soldiers fired at students • 4 Students killed; 9 others injured

  30. End of US involvement • 1972 Election • Nixon wins – a result of a breakthrough in peace negotiations • Peace Agreement • Peace negotiations stalled- Nixon ordered ‘Christmas bombing’- around the clock bombing • Nixon called off bombing as it was having no effect • 1973- Agreement finally reached  US had to withdraw all troops and help rebuild Vietnam

  31. Fall of Saigon

  32. Legacy of Vietnam War • Effects on Southeast Asia • 1975- North Vietnam invaded South Vietnam • North Vietnamese troops reached Saigon in April 1975 • US evacuated Americans & Vietnamese that had aided them • April 30, 1975 South Vietnam surrendered • Vietnam is unified as a communist regime • 450,000 South Vietnamese civilians died • 1 million Vietcong soldiers died • Effects on U.S. Veterans • 58,000 Americans killed in Vietnam War • 600 P.O.W.s • Thousands missing • Did not return with honor- target of anti-war sentiment • Post Traumatic Stress

  33. Legacy of Vietnam War – Political Impact • Cost US gov’t $150 billion • Money could have helped domestic programs and added to US debt • War Power’s Act 1973 • Law that reaffirms Congress’s constitutional right to declare war • Limit of 60 day commitment of US troops without specific authorization by Congress or a declaration of war • 26th Amendment • Changed voting age from 21  18

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