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The Vietnam War 1954 - 1975

The Vietnam War 1954 - 1975. Background to the War. The French lost control to Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minh forces in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu President Eisenhower declined to intervene on behalf of France. Background to the War. International Conference at Geneva

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The Vietnam War 1954 - 1975

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  1. The Vietnam War 1954 - 1975

  2. Background to the War The French lost control to Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minhforces in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu President Eisenhower declined to intervene on behalf of France.

  3. Background to the War International Conference at Geneva Vietnam was divided at 17th parallel Ho Chi Minh: leader of nationalist forces controlled the North Ngo Dinh Diem: French-educated, Catholic. Claimed control of the South

  4. U.S. Military Involvement Begins Kennedy elected 1960 Increases military “advisors” to 16,000 1963: JFK supports military coup d’etat Coup by the AVRN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam)generals. US said it would not interfere AVRN overthrew the government on November 1, 1963. Diem and his brother are murdered (Nov. 2) Kennedy was assassinated 20 days later (Nov. 22)

  5. Johnson Sends Ground Forces Advised to rout the communists by Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara Tonkin Gulf Incident  1964(acc. to Johnson, the attacks were unprovoked) Tonkin Gulf Resolution “The Blank Check” * A joint resolution of Congress that gave Johnson authorization - without a formal declaration of war -for the use of military force in Southeast Asia.

  6. The Ground War 1965-1968 No clear territorial goals for the US. Body counts on TV every night (first “living room” war) Viet Cong supplies over the Ho Chi Minh Trail a path that ran from North Vietnam to South Vietnam through of Laos & Cambodia . It provided support (manpower and weapons, etc) to the Vietcong/National Liberation Front/North Vietnamese Army (NVA)

  7. 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. Downed Pilots: P.O.W.s Carpet Bombing – napalm

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

  9. 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 Viet Cong destroyed N. Vietnamese army debilitated BUT…it’s seen as an American defeat by the media

  10. 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?’

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

  12. 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):

  13. Nixon on Vietnam Nixon’s 1968 Campaign promised an end to the war: Peace with Honor Appealed to the great “Silent Majority” Vietnamization: Encouraged the South Vietnamese to take more responsibility for fighting the war. Hoped to enable the United States to withdraw (gradually) all their soldiers from Vietnam. Expansion of the conflict  The “Secret War” Cambodia – US forces famously invade & bomb. Destabilize the nation. Laos

  14. “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) *

  15. The Ceasefire, 1973 Peace is at hand Kissinger, 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)

  16. Peace Negotiations • US & Vietnamese argue for 5 months over the size of theconferencetable! Dr. Henry Kissinger & Le Duc Tho

  17. 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

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

  19. Anti-War Demonstrations Student Protestors at Univ. of CA in Berkeley, 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago, 1968

  20. Anti-War Demonstrations • May 4, 1970 • 4 students shot dead. • 11 students wounded • Jackson StateUniversity • May 10, 1970 • 2 dead; 12 wounded Kent State University

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