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Vietnam War 1954 - 1975

Vietnam War 1954 - 1975. KEY TERMS. NLF – National Liberation Front – communist rebel group in S. Vietnam Vietcong – guerilla fighters of the NLF ARVN – Army of the Republic of Vietnam. U.S. Involvement – Why?. After WWII, French reasserted colonial control in S.E. Asia

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Vietnam War 1954 - 1975

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  1. Vietnam War 1954 - 1975

  2. KEY TERMS • NLF – National Liberation Front – communist rebel group in S. Vietnam • Vietcong – guerilla fighters of the NLF • ARVN – Army of the Republic of Vietnam

  3. U.S. Involvement – Why? • After WWII, French reasserted colonial control in S.E. Asia • Ho Chi Minh led nationalist movement • Cold War • U.S. needed French support • Sent economic aide to help France • Containment Policy and Domino Theory • Geneva Accords – 1954 • Vietnam was split until 1956

  4. U.S. Involvement (cont’d) • Ngo Dinh Diem refuses to allow elections in 1956 (with U.S. support) • President Kennedy sends Special Forces to assist/ advise ARVN • USS Maddox fired upon by North Vietnamese • President Johnson ordered airstrike • Gulf of Tonkin Resolution – expanded war powers of President Johnson • Operation Rolling Thunder • U.S. continues to commit more troops each year

  5. War Divides Americans • Congress – Hawks vs. Doves • Military Draft – over 1.5 million draftees • Tet Offensive – massive attack against U.S. troops • President Johnson orders bombing of Ho Chi Minh Trail – expands war into Cambodia • My Lai Massacre

  6. Tet Offensive

  7. My Lai Massacre

  8. My Lai Massacre

  9. War Divides Americans (cont’d) • Credibility Gap • Johnson vs. Press • Television War • Showed shocking footage • Protests and Counterculture • Kent State University shooting • Jackson State University • Woodstock • Pentagon Papers

  10. End of War • Paris Peace Accords – January 1973 cease-fire • By 1975, Vietnam unified under Communist government

  11. End of War (cont’d) • Communism spread to Laos, Cambodia • Effects within the United States • 58,000 U.S. soldiers died • 300,000 wounded • Vets return home • Felt unappreciated • Physical and Psychological disorders

  12. End of War (cont’d) • Effects within the United States (cont’d) • Public opinion • 2 out of 3 Americans view the war as “a mistake” • Over half didn’t know what war was about • About 1/3 didn’t know which side we supported • Affected Domestic policies (less money) • War Powers Act 1973 – restricted Presidential powers • Americans less likely to support future foreign entanglements

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