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The Vietnam War

Explore the historical background, key events, and impact of the Vietnam War, from French colonization to the Tet Offensive and public protests. Understand the Cold War dynamics, containment policy, and the involvement of major powers. Discover why the Vietnam War remains a pivotal moment in modern history.

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The Vietnam War

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  1. The Vietnam War

  2. Review • What is the Cold War? • What was the name of the international organization led by the U.S.? By the USSR? • What were some of the “races” between the two sides? • What were some of the issues the newly independent nations encountered?

  3. Review • What would happen if a country received support from the Soviet Union? • What type of government often emerged in these new nations? • What was the outcome in the Korean War? • What is the policy of containment?

  4. Background to the War • French involvement since 17thc • France directly controlled Vietnam by 1890s • Viet Minh (communist nationalist party) took control of North Vietnam • France attempted re-colonization in the postwar period

  5. Background to the War • The French lose the north • The French lost control to Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minhforces in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu “If we have to fight, wewill fight. You will kill ten of our men and we will kill one of yours, and in the end it will be you who tires of it.” – Ho Chi Minh

  6. Background to the War • International Conference at Geneva 1954 • Vietnam was divided at 17th parallel • Ho Chi Minh’s communist forces controlled the North • Ngo Dinh Diem, a French-educated, Roman Catholic claimed control of the South (U.S. backed) • 1956 election promised

  7. Background to the War • Repressive dictatorial rule by Diem • Diem’s family holds all power • Wealth is hoarded by the elite • Buddhist majority persecuted • Campaign to eliminate communists (Viet Cong) • North sends weapons, advisors to south to help fellow communists. • U.S.= Should it let the south fall?

  8. Early Protests of Diem’s Government Thich Quang Duc Self-Emolation by a Buddhist Monk

  9. U.S. Military Involvement Begins • Cold War rhetoric: Containment Policy • The U.S. aided Diem’s government • Eisenhower sent financial and military aid • 675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 1960.

  10. U.S. Military Involvement Begins • Kennedy elected 1960 • Increases military “advisors” to 16,000 • 1963: JFK supports a Vietnamese military coup d’etat– Diem and his brother are murdered (Nov. 2) • Kennedy was assassinated just weeks later (Nov. 22)

  11. Johnson Sends Ground Forces • Remembers Truman’s “loss” of China Domino Theory revived I’m not going to be the president who saw Southeast Asia go the way China went.

  12. Johnson Sends Ground Forces • Tonkin Gulf Incident 1964(acc. to Johnson, the attacks were unprovoked) • Tonkin Gulf Resolution • “The Blank Check” allowed President Johnson to “take all necessary steps,” including the use of armed forces in Vietnam • "For all I know, our Navy was shooting at whales out there."

  13. U.S. Troop Deployments in Vietnam

  14. The Ground War1965-1968 • General Westmoreland, late 1967: We can see the“light at the end of the tunnel.”

  15. Who Is the Enemy? • Vietcong: • Farmers by day; guerillas at night. • Very patient people willing to accept many casualties. • The US grossly underestimated their resolve and their resourcefulness. The guerilla wins if he does not lose, the conventional army loses if it does not win. -- Mao Zedong

  16. Who Is the Enemy?

  17. The Ground War 1965-1968 • No territorial goals • Body counts on TV every night (first “living room” war) • Viet Cong supplies over the Ho Chi Minh Trail

  18. The Air War1965-1968 • 1965: Sustained bombing of North Vietnam • Operation Rolling Thunder (March 2, 1965) • 1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi nonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

  19. The Air War:A Napalm Attack June 8, 1972 Napalm= naphthenic acid and palmitic acid

  20. Phan Thi Kim Phuc

  21. The Tet Offensive, January 1968 • N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack South simultaneously (67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, and the US embassy in Saigon) • Take every major southern city • U.S. + ARVN beat back the offensive • N. Vietnamese army debilitated • BUT…it’s seen as an American defeat by the media • Marked the beginning of US govt scaling back

  22. The Tet Offensive, January 1968

  23. Impact of the Tet Offensive • Domestic U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson Administration • Hey, Hey LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?

  24. Johnson’s popularity dropped in 1968 from 48% to 36%.

  25. Impact of the Vietnam War …I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President. Johnson announces (March, 1968):

  26. Are We Becoming the Enemy? Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry • Mylai Massacre, 1968 • 200-500 unarmed villagers • Lt. William Calley,Platoon Leader

  27. Hell no, we won’t go!

  28. Anti-War Demonstrations Student Protestors at Univ. of CA in Berkeley, 1968

  29. Nixon on Vietnam • Nixon’s 1968 Campaign promised an end to the war: Peace with Honor • Vietnamization • Expansion of the conflict  The “Secret War” • Cambodia • Laos • Agent Orange(chemical defoliant): Operation Ranchhand

  30. Anti-War Demonstrations • May 4, 1970 • 4 students shot dead. • 11 students wounded Kent State University

  31. “Pentagon Papers,” 1971 • Former defense analyst Daniel Ellsbergleaked govt. docs. regarding war efforts during Johnson’s administration to the New York Times. • Docs. Govt. misled Congress & Amer. People regarding its intentions in Vietnam during mid-1960s. • Primary reason for fighting not to eliminate communism, but to avoid humiliating defeat. • New York Times v. United States (1971) *

  32. The Ceasefire, 1973 • Peace is at hand 1972 • North Vietnam attacks South • Most Massive U.S. bombing commences • 1973: Ceasefire signed between • U.S., South Vietnam, & North Vietnam • Peace with honor (President Nixon)

  33. The Ceasefire, 1973 • Conditions: • U.S. to remove all troops • North Vietnam could leave troops already in S.V. • North Vietnam would resume war • No provision for POWs or MIAs • Last American troops left South Vietnam on March 29, 1973 • 1975: North Vietnam defeats South Vietnam • Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh City

  34. The Fall of Saigon South Vietnamese Attempt to Flee the Country

  35. The Fall of Saigon April 30, 1975 America Abandons Its Embassy

  36. The Fall of Saigon North Vietnamese at the Presidential Palace

  37. A United Vietnam Formerly Saigon

  38. The Costs • 3,000,000 Vietnamese killed • 58,000 Americans killed; 300,000 wounded • Under-funding of Great Society programs • $150,000,000,000 in U.S. spending • U.S. morale, self-confidence, trust of government, decimated

  39. The Impact • 26th Amendment: 18-year-olds vote • Nixon abolished the draftall-volunteer army • War Powers Act, 1973٭ • President must notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying military force • President must withdraw forces unless he gains Congressional approval within 90 days • Disregard for Veterans  seen as “baby killers”

  40. Andin the End…. If we have to fight, we will fight. You will kill ten of our men and we will kill one of yours, and in the end it will be you who tires of it. Ho Chi Minh:

  41. Some American POWs Returned from the “Hanoi Hilton” Senator John McCain(R-AZ)

  42. 2,583 American POWs / MIAsstill unaccounted for today.

  43. Lessons for FutureAmerican Presidents • Wars must be of short duration. • Wars must yield few American casualties. • Restrict media access to battlefields. • Develop and maintain Congressional and public support. • Set clear, winnable goals. • Set deadline for troop withdrawals.

  44. The Vietnam Memorial, Washington, D.C.

  45. Memorial to US Servicemen in Vietnam

  46. Memorial to US Nurses in Vietnam

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