Vietnam War (the 1960’s)

1. Vietnam War(the 1960’s) Vietnams struggle against French rule.

2. If you prefer to use your textbook, please refer to… 934-970 The Americas or 762-801 American Odyssey

3. Overview of the War • The war began as a struggle against French colonialism and was led by Ho Chi Minh. • Ho Chi Minh sought Vietnamese self-determination for decades. • After the French defeat at Dienbienphu (The French and Vietnamese War), Vietnam was divided, in which: • North Vietnam was led by Ho Chi Minh communist government • South Vietnam came under the rule or Ngo Dinh Diem, an autocrat

4. Overview of the War continued • Keeping South Vietnam out of Communist control was priority of the United States and the domino theory, so…. • President Eisenhower increased military aid to South Vietnam • By the time of President Kennedy's assassination (1963), 16,000 Americans were serving in Vietnam as advisors to the government of South Vietnam

5. Greater U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War… • The Tonkin Gulf Resolution led to more U.S. involvement in the war because it gave President Lyndon Johnson authority to widen America’s role in the war. • President Johnson also increased involvement because he believed that if the U.S. joined this war, then it would stop the spread of communism is Vietnam.

7. Presidents during Vietnam • President Kennedy from 1960-1963. • After Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, Lyndon Johnson became President and continued Americas involvement in the Vietnam War. • President Richard Nixon (Republican) became President in 1968, in which he promised to restore law and order from the riots and protests due to the war.

8. The “War at Home” • Inflation and tax rates increased to help fund the war • The continued reports of American casualties on television caused a credibility gap between President Johnson’s administration and citizens (i.e.: Distrust of Government) • This created a divided nation

9. Most soldiers who fought in Vietnam were called into combat under a draft. The Selective Service System (draft) was established during WWI). Women could not serve in combat but 10,000 were nurses and volunteers for the war. Ways to avoid the draft (going to war) during this period was: Getting medical exemptions from a doctor Changing residences Joining the National Guard or Coast Guard to prevent going to war Going to College to defer (stall) military enlistment African Americans served in high numbers during the war because they could not afford to go to College The “War at Home”A Nation Divided

10. Those who strongly opposed the war and believed the United States should withdraw from Vietnam was known as Doves. Those who believed that American should unleash its military force to win the war were the hawks. The Vietnam War divides the United States

11. The War at HomeA Protest Movement Emerges.. • College Campuses across the country joined a protest against the war because they felt the U.S. had no reason there. • The Student Democratic Society organized a march in Washington, D.C. against the war. • In response, President Johnson’s administration changed deferments for college students into the war by requiring students to be in good academic standing in order to be granted a deferment from war. • Kent State University (Ohio) Campus protest led to the burning of the ROTC building on the campus, which then allowed some students to be shot. • THIS LED TO EVEN MORE TENSIONS BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND COLLEGE STUDENTS. • Racial Protests emerged as well: Martin Luther King was assassinated in 1968

13. -- Richard Nixon, New York Times, May 2, 1970 You know, you see these bums, you know, blowin' up the campuses. Listen, the boys that are on the college campuses today are the luckiest people in the world, going to the greatest universities, and here they are, burnin' up the books, I mean, stormin' around about this issue, I mean, you name it - get rid of the war, there'll be another one.

14. What leads to the end of Vietnam War?Answer: the Tet Offensive • The Tet Offensive showed the U.S. that there enemies were much stronger and more numerous than the Americans had thought. • America support for the War changed after the Tet Offensive

15. President Nixon and Vietnamization • In the summer of 1969, newly elected President Richard Nixon announced the first U.S. troops to withdraw from Vietnam • Vietnamization drastically cut America’s involvement in Vietnam and allowed for thousands of U.S. troops to come home.

16. Wall of Honor: Their names are engraved on the black granite of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. as well as on the hearts of those who love them. They are the 58,226 Americans who paid the supreme sacrifice in the service of their country in Southeast Asia.

17. Autocrat Domino theory- if one nation fell to communism, its neighbors would follow. War Protest Land Mines Search and destroy missions Pentagon Papers Terms to Know for Vietnam War …

18. Task #7Due: • In your notebook answer: • Why did America become involved the Vietnam War? • How did America become involved in the Vietnam War? • How did people react to America’s involvement in the Vietnam War?