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Vietnam War until 1968

Vietnam War until 1968. Vietnam. Controlled by France until WW2 Japan took it during WW2, opposed by the Viet Minh. Viet Minh. Vietnamese Communists who fought for independence In WW2, supported by US & China against Japan Founded by Ho Chi Minh. Ho Chi Minh. Vietnamese Communist Leader

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Vietnam War until 1968

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  1. Vietnam War until 1968

  2. Vietnam • Controlled by France until WW2 • Japan took it during WW2, opposed by the Viet Minh

  3. Viet Minh • Vietnamese Communists who fought for independence • In WW2, supported by US & China against Japan • Founded by Ho Chi Minh

  4. Ho Chi Minh • Vietnamese Communist Leader • National hero for fighting for Vietnamese independence

  5. French claims to Vietnam • After WW2, France tried to regain control of Vietnam • Indochina War • Viet Minh defeated French in northern city of Dien Bien Phu

  6. Geneva Accords - 1954 • Treaty separated Vietnam into N&S • North – Communist • South – Nationalist • National election to decide which system for unified Vietnam

  7. Conflict inside Vietnam • SV pres Ngo Dinh Diem feared communists would win the nationwide election • Refused to allow the election • US supported him

  8. Ngo regime • Vietnam – majority Buddhist • Diem was Christian, had laws passed that restricted Buddhism

  9. Vietcong (VC) • Organization of Communists living in South Vietnam • Worked to overthrow Diem • Assassinated SV officials

  10. Vietcong (VC) • VC was located in SV • Communist allies in NV helped • Supply line from N to S nicknamed “Ho Chi Minh Trail”

  11. JFK & Vietnam • At first, supported Diem’s rule • Didn’t want to look “soft on communism” so supported strongest anticommunist • Then, Diem’s oppression of the people got worse

  12. Diem & Buddhism • Diem began imprisoning & killing Buddhist monks • Some protested by committing ritual suicide

  13. JFK & Vietnam • US public horrified by repression of Buddhists in SV • JFK approved a US / SV coup to overthrow Diem • Diem was assassinated in the coup

  14. Gulf of Tonkin • US Navy was on patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin area • NV shot torpedoes at USS Maddox

  15. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution • Congress gave LBJ power to expand military presence in Vietnam • US began bombing targets in north • War escalated

  16. US gets involved • Most in US supported involvement in Vietnam at first • Containment doctrine • 1965: 61% • LBJ’s top advisors urged him to  number of US troops

  17. Troop buildup • Gen William Westmoreland wanted more US troops • Said US troops would fight better than US-trained S Vietnamese • Reported battlefield success to convince them to add troops • Credibility Gap – public eventually didn’t trust reports

  18. Gen. William Westmoreland

  19. Troop buildup • Number of US soldiers in Vietnam • Mid-1964 16,000 • End of 1965 180,000 • 1967 500,000

  20. Fighting in the jungle • US had superior weapons, but jungle was very tough to fight in • Provided cover for VC guerilla tactics • Elaborate tunnel systems allowed for escape and/or resupply • VC could blend into villages

  21. Fighting in the jungle • US had superior weapons, but jungle was very tough to fight in • No front line of advance – attacks were hit and run everywhere • Booby traps & land mines • Jungle weather • Ridiculous insects

  22. War of attrition • Gradually wear your enemy down & destroy morale until they quit • Gen Westmoreland’s main strategy • Didn’t work at all – Vietcong were way too committed to their cause

  23. War on rural Vietnamese • Had to keep S Vietnamese from joining Vietcong cause • Very difficult because US had to destroy the jungle to win • To fight out in the open • Angered the locals

  24. Getting rid of jungle • US used Napalm and Agent Orange to destroy the jungle

  25. Napalm

  26. Napalm

  27. Agent Orange

  28. Agent Orange

  29. Morale of US soldiers • US military strategies caused morale of troops to drop • No end in sight • Many became alcoholics & drug addicts • Draftees were drag on morale

  30. War at home • Impact on LBJ’s Great Society programs for the poor • High cost of war = massive debts • $ that would have gone to help poor went to war • Gov had to raise taxes also

  31. How the Draft always worked • Since WWI: • All men register when they turn 18 • Anyone not excluded (usu medical reasons) between 18-26 serves

  32. How Vietnam War Draft worked • People got out of it: • Med exemptions (many were bogus) • National Guard • Coast Guard • College deferment • Most people who avoided service were wealthy & white

  33. African Americans & Vietnam • 10% of total population of USA • 20% of Vietnam deaths • MLK spoke about “cruel irony” • Fighting for others’ freedom & equality when they didn’t have it themselves

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