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The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was initially aimed at containing the spread of communism, but it quickly became unpopular. This article explores key events, such as the Domino Theory, the division of Vietnam, the rise of the Vietcong, the unpopularity of Diem, the Gulf of Tonkin incident, the escalation of the war, and its impact on the nation.

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The Vietnam War

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  1. The Vietnam War Goal 11

  2. Essential Idea • The Vietnam War aimed to contain the spread of communism but quickly became unpopular.

  3. Domino Theory • Domino Theory: • China’s fall to communism threatened containment • Domino Theory – the idea that if Vietnam fell, the rest of East Asia would follow

  4. Dividing Vietnam • Geneva Accords: • In 1954, Vietnam won independence from France • Geneva Accords – Vietnam was divided into North and South Vietnam at the 17th Parallel

  5. North and South Vietnam • North Vietnam: • Leader: Ho Chi Minh • Government: Communist • Events: Minh wanted to make South Vietnam communist • Vietcong – group of South Vietnamese communists that Minh armed

  6. Diem is Unpopular • South Vietnam • Leader: Ngo Dinh Diem • Government: Anti-communist • Events: Diem used oppressive rule to stop communism • Diem outlawed Buddhism, leading to famous protests by Buddhist monks

  7. The Vietcong, Buddhist Protests

  8. Diem Killed • JFK used CIA “advisors” to overthrow and execute Diem • South Vietnam became unstable and vulnerable to communism • When Lyndon Johnson became president, he wanted to show strength against communism

  9. Gulf of Tonkin • Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: • Johnson (LBJ) reported that the North Vietnamese had attacked two American ships in the Gulf of Tonkin

  10. Gulf of Tonkin • LBJ did not reveal that the American ships were helping the South Vietnamese • Gulf of Tonkin Resolution – Congress gave LBJ authority to take “all necessary measures” • The Result: • The Vietnam War began • Causes of Vietnam War

  11. Fighting Begins • Operation Rolling Thunder – this was a sustained bombing campaign on North Vietnam

  12. Fighting Begins • Johnson sent in over 350,000 troops to fight with the South Vietnamese • American and Vietcong forces became locked in bloody stalemate

  13. Vietcong Tactics • Fighting took place in dense jungle, which the Vietcong knew well • Vietcong used guerilla attacks, booby traps, and ambushes against Americans • Vietcong could blend in with civilians, and fighting became very frustrating for Americans

  14. American Tactics • America used “search and destroy” missions to destroy the landscape and expose hiding Vietcong • Napalm – a jellied gasoline used to burn down jungles • Agent Orange – a chemical used on jungles that had terrible side-effects on humans

  15. Effects of Agent Orange

  16. Vietnam Divides the Nation • Issue #1: The “TV” War • General William Westmoreland told Americans that the war was successful • However, TV showed images of many dead or injured soldiers

  17. Media vs. Government? • Distrust in American government grew

  18. Anger at the Draft • Issue #2: The Draft • Many citizens burned their draft cards in protest

  19. Opposing the Draft • Many opposed 18 year olds being drafted when they could not vote • 26th Amendment – lowered the voting age from 21 to 18

  20. Hawks and Doves • Who: Hawks • Position: favored the Vietnam War • Who: Doves • Position: opposed the Vietnam War

  21. The Tet Offensive • 1. The Tet Offensive • The American government had led the public to believe that they were winning • Tet Offensive – Vietcong launched a surprise attack on American airbases and major cities (in South Vietnam) • It was a political victory for the Vietcong because it showed they could mount a massive attack

  22. Trust in Government Declines More • General Westmoreland requested more troops, making it seem that America was losing • Public opinion turned against the war

  23. “Are we losing?”

  24. LBJ Steps Down • 2. The Election of 1968 • LBJ decided not to run for reelection • Robert Kennedy, JFK’s brother, ran for election, and opposed the war

  25. Another Kennedy is Assassinated • Kennedy was assassinated, and Democrats called for another anti-war candidate

  26. The 1968 Democratic National Convention and Chicago Riot • At the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, thousands of anti-war protesters gathered • Chicago Riot – violence erupted between police and protesters

  27. Nixon Wins the Election • Republican Richard Nixon, promising to end the Vietnam War, easily won the election

  28. The Massacre at My Lai • 3. My Lai Massacre • At My Lai, Americans massacred a village of women, children, and elderly • The My Lai Massacre is a dark spot on the Vietnam War

  29. Troops Withdraw, Nixon Bombs Cambodia • 4. Cambodia • Vietnamization – process of gradual withdrawal of troops from Vietnam • However, Nixon secretly began bombing of Cambodia

  30. Kent State Massacre • 5. Kent State Massacre • Many people accused Nixon of expanding the war • Many student protesters gathered at Kent State University • Kent State Massacre – the National Guard shot and killed four protesters

  31. The Fall of Saigon • 6. Fall of Saigon • Two years after leaving Vietnam, Gerald Ford was president • North Vietnam invaded South Vietnam and captured the capital, Saigon • South Vietnam fell to communism • Fall of Saigon

  32. Legacy of Vietnam • 7. Legacy of the Vietnam War • The Vietnam War, along with the Watergate Scandal, made Americans distrust the government • Many Vietnam veterans felt unappreciated, and many people felt that America had lost • Ken Burns discusses legacy • of Vietnam

  33. War Powers Act • War Powers Act – limited the power of the executive branch during war

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