Vietnam War Overview

1. Vietnam War Overview

2. Infer & Predict: • What kind of war would make a soldier feel this way? • What country do you think this soldier was from? • What do you think he was fighting for? Dear Mom and Dad, Today we went on a mission, and I am not very proud of myself, my friends, or my country.

3. Vietnam Basics • Location: • In Southeast Asia, near Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and parts of China • Population • 83 Million People • Mostly Buddhist • Strong minority of Catholics • Resources • Very fertile, hot and wet climate, many resources

4. Vietnam History (Key Points) Before WWII, France controlled Vietnam

5. WWII & Vietnam • At the beginning of the War, French still control Vietnam. Vietnamese resistance grows. • Ho Chi Minh • Leader of the Viet Minh • Wants an independent Vietnam • Opposes French, Japanese, and AMERICAN • Millions rejoice that their country is free of foreign control at last!

6. Declaring Independence • WW2 Ends and September 2, 1945, Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam independent !! • Ho Chi Minh reads from US Declaration of Independence • Some see Ho Chi Minh’s Declaration of Independence as evidence of being a nationalist rather than being a communist. They refer to this example has him expressing his interest in having a relationship with the United States. • BUT, the French want Indochina back, and they do not recognize Vietnamese independence. Reclaim colony. • What should the US do? Support Vietnamese or help France regain its colonial empire?

7. Other interests / benefits for the US…?? A secret US govt. memo from 1952 talked about SE Asia’s valuable resources: Rubber Tin Oil were important to the US … if the Vietnam govt. won against France and took over they might be hostile towards the US and not trade with us (Oh NO!)

8. First Indo-China War • 1945-1954 • France vs. Viet Minh • French try to keep Vietnam, Viet Minh fight for Independence • 70% of French costs are paid by US • Dien Bien Phu • 1954 • Final defeat of French by Vietnamese, French Surrender • 1954 Geneva Conference • End Hostilities between French and Vietnamese • Temporarily divide Vietnam at 17th parallel until French leave. • Elections in 1956

9. South Vietnam • Instead of supporting Geneva Agreement and allowing unification elections and a Communist victory, US supports creation of a non-Communist, South Vietnam. • American war in Vietnam is fought to keep South Vietnam Non-Communist!

10. JFK & Vietnam • Views Vietnam as important to Cold War like Truman and Eisenhower • Begins Escalation of Troops • Overall picture unsure due to assassination • JFK believed the best way to stop communists in Vietnam was to build South Vietnam into a nation.

11. Ngo Dinh Diem • First leader of South Vietnam • Nationalist but strongly anti-Communist • Catholic • Receives strong support from Eisenhower & Kennedy • Massive military and financial aid from US • Brutal to communists • Upsets Buddhist Majority • Administration is very corrupt

12. Assassination of Diem • November 2, 1963 • Kennedy either knew of the plot and ignored it or supported it. • American Ambassador promised no American intervention to stop the plot. • South Vietnamese Generals seize power and arrest Diem. • Assassinated following morning in back of an armored vehicle. • South Vietnamese government would never be stable. • Increased American involvement in South Vietnam’s Internal Affairs.

13. Troop Escalation • When Eisenhower left office, less than 1,000 US soldiers were in Vietnam • At the time of Kennedy’s assassination (1963), over 16,000 solders were in Vietnam. • By 1969, Vietnam had 543,000 US soliders • Many of the solders under JFK were Special Forces and under Johnson, regular ground troops were introduced.

14. Who did America Fight in Vietnam? • Viet Cong • North Vietnamese Army • Both groups were heavily supplied from USSR via China

15. Johnson & Limited War • Johnson was afraid of conflict spreading to involve USSR & China. • Strict rules of engagement – limited targets for US Troops and Air Strikes • Areas of North Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos • North Vietnamese Communists can attack, move supplies from and retreat • AMERICAN TROOPS CANNOT GO • North Vietnam • Wants a unified, Communist Vietnam • Wants Americans Out • Wants One Vietnam

16. Early American Support for War in Vietnam • Americans initially supported the war • Hit Song “The Green Berets” • Public is told troops will be home soon, and the war is almost over. • Vietnam is the first war that is heavily covered by television networks. • American public sees daily images of casualties • Public begins to turn against the war.

17. Escalation • Johnson attempts to limit the war while at the same time constantly increasing the number of soldiers in Vietnam • Over 500,000 soldiers by 1969 • LBJ would attempt negotiations at the same time he would scale back offensive operations in Vietnam • North Vietnamese take advantage of this.

18. Tet Offensive • Tet – most important holiday in Vietnam, Vietnamese New Year. It is the most popular festival in Vietnam. • 1968 • Viet Cong attack every major US base in South Vietnam • North Vietnamese Army takes city of Hue and kills many inhabitants. • US Embassy in Saigon is attacked.

19. Effects of Tet • Major Military victory for the US • Viet Cong is devastated • American media turns against the war. • American public turns against the war. • Political and psychological victory for North Vietnam. • American Anti-War Movement • Strong anti-war movement in US • War divides American population

21. Cambodia • Neutral • Viet Cong & North Vietnamese use Cambodia as a sanctuary • US troops cannot enter • Cambodian government is powerless from preventing Communists from entering • Bad history between Vietnam & Cambodia

22. Nixon & Cambodia • Nixon: • Supports coup that puts strong anti-Communist government in charge • Expands conflict • Secretly bombs and invades Cambodia • Bombing & Invasion fails to make any significance in war • Cambodian communists go deeper into Cambodia • Vietnamese were using Cambodia to attack Americans • Public Opinion: • War is illegal • Public is outraged at expansion of the conflict • Massive protests

23. Nixon & Ending Vietnam War • Uses combination of increased bombing of North Vietnam and Secret Negotations • Diplomacy with China and USSR • Vietnamization – Nixon’s Plan • Turn the war over to the South Vietnamese • Train & equip South Vietnamese to fight the North • US Troops withdraw • Last US troops leave by 1973 • South Vietnam Betrayed? • South Vietnam is promised that the US would send troops, money, and supplies if North Vietnamese launched a massive attack. • Nixon resigns due to Watergate • Congress and American people do not support further involvement

24. 1975 & Results of War • North Vietnam takes over South Vietnam • US doesn’t prevent the take over. • Vietnam is unified under one communist state • Results: • Just under 60,000 Americans killed • US reluctant to use military power • American public is divided • Americans don’t trust government • Vietnam is Communist • Cambodia falls to Communists • Khmer Rouge/Cambodian Communist take power • Pol Pot is leader • Killing Fields – Genocide of 1/3 of the Cambodian population • Vietnam invades and occupies Cambodia to defeat Khmer Rouge