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Vietnam Conflict. 1964-1973. Background. 1884-1948 French Colonial Domination Ho Chi Minh Democratic Republic of Vietnam Declared Minh and followers - Vietminh. Following WWII. 1945-1950 France tries to reclaim lost territory Vietnam divided North- Follow Ho Chi Minh
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Vietnam Conflict 1964-1973
Background • 1884-1948 French Colonial Domination • Ho Chi Minh • Democratic Republic of Vietnam Declared • Minh and followers - Vietminh
Following WWII • 1945-1950 France tries to reclaim lost territory • Vietnam divided • North- Follow Ho Chi Minh • South- fertile south French take over • 1946 given free state on French terms emplace Bao Dai.
Advisory Period • 1950-1963 Beginning US intervention • Truman • Military Assistance Advisory Group- MAAG • Funding War • SU and China- Vietminh
Eisenhower • Containment • Brinkmanship • Trade agreements and alliances • Covert operations • “New Look” • Eisenhower Doctrine- power of pre-emptive war without congressional approval. • Confrontational • containment
Battle of Dien Bien Phu • 1954- French attack Vietminh • US aid- money and supplies • French surrender 1954
Geneva Accords • Meet in Geneva, Switzerland to decide French Indo-China war. • Vietnam divided at 17th Parallel- DMZ • Democratic Republic of Vietnam takes north • Elected government takes South • Elections in two years to determine who would rule united country. • SEATO- prevent the spread of Communism in that region
Problems after Geneva- End of Advisory Period • Problems • Vietcong • Guerilla tactics • Relocating to Hamlets • Strategic Hamlet Program- attempted to separate rural peasants from communist insurgents by creating fortified villages and forcing the peasants to take an active role in the civil war.
Ho Chi Minh Trail • North Vietnamese were being supplied by the Soviets and the Chinese • Vietcong(Charlie) were being supplied by the North Vietnamese via the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Vietnam: Phase II Escalation Period 1963-1974
Lyndon’s War • 1963-1969 • Lyndon Johnson inherits Vietnam • His view: he hated the war • no way out. He inherited the “imperial presidency” • With that kind of power and the world looking up to you would you have followed your instinct and pulled the US out? • weak president
Gulf Tonkin Incident • secret naval missions into North Vietnam via the Gulf Tonkin • USS Maddox • No hard evidence has ever been produced to confirm that Joy was being torpedoed at. • Johnson had found his way to escalate the war. • Golf Tonkin Resolution: • Johnson requested a blank Check (power, money, and personnel) to “repel any armed attack on American Forces and to prevent future aggression.” Resolution passed
Bombing North Vietnam • Operation Rolling Thunder – Jan. 1965: systematic bombing of North Vietnam and other targets. • Chemical and biological warfare: used chemicals to destroy the foliage and dense cover that the NVA used for the their guerilla tactics. • Napalm: jellied gasoline • Agent orange: code name for a herbicide developed for the military, primarily for use in tropical climates.
The Draft • Use the Draft- calling all 18-26 yr olds. • medical and college deferments or joined the Coast Guard. • Many found a legal way out by declaring themselves conscientious objectors • Grunts vs. Officers -Fragging Vietnam war protestors burn draft cards at the 1968 Democratic Party Convention on August 1, 1968, in Chicago, Illinois.
Covert Operations • Phoenix program: CIA wanted to locate, interrogate and assassinate Vietcong leaders. • Meo Allies: CIA recruited Meo tribes of Laos • Meo were actually Hmong: • Attacked NVA on trail • Directed US bombing missions • Flew combat missions • Rescued downed pilots • Gathered intelligence on NVA. • Hmong fled to Thailand from Laos to avoid extermination by the communist and are now being brought to the US.
Vietnam and US in 1968 Tet offensive
Tet offensive • Tet, Vietnam’s new year holiday North Vietnam and Vietcong launch surprise attack. • The Vietcong were defeated • the psychological and political standpoint the Vietcong were successful. • The Tet offensive changed Americans opinions that the war • Walter Cronkite
Loss • Johnson addressed the nation • Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. • In June Robert Kennedy was fatally shot • Protests- College • In Chicago, thousands of antiwar demonstrators came to the city to protest the Democratic National Convention in August. • http://abcnews.go.com/Archives/video/aug-28-1968-anti-vietnam-protests-10690501 • Hubert Humphrey was meant to be named the Democratic party candidate • Nixon Presidency in 1968 • He campaigned to restore law and order and to end the war in Vietnam.