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Vietnam Conflict

Vietnam Conflict. Colonial History of Vietnam fitting into the Cold War Era. Influence of WWII. French had colonized “Indochina” for hundreds of years, but post WWI Ho Chi Minh pushed for independence.

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Vietnam Conflict

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  1. Vietnam Conflict Colonial History of Vietnam fitting into the Cold War Era

  2. Influence of WWII • French had colonized “Indochina” for hundreds of years, but post WWI Ho Chi Minh pushed for independence. • During WWII Japan kicked out the French, and the Vietnamese sided with Americans to fight against Japan.

  3. French are back? • After WWII the French wanted to re-colonize, and US supported it to keep France as an ally.

  4. Indochina War • Vietnamese forces fought against the French for independence and won in 1954. • Vietminh - insurgent force who later became the Vietcong • Led by Ho Chi Minh - Communist leader.

  5. Dien Bien Phu

  6. Vietnam Independence • The U.S. stepped in to mediate peace and split the country into 2.

  7. North Vietnam • Communist government led by Ho Chi Minh

  8. South Vietnam • Non-communist government led by Ngo Dinh Diem • Dictatorship?

  9. Elections • Elections were promised by 1956 to reunite the country… but they never happened. • Was it because popular vote would have probably gone to Ho Chi Minh and the Communist Party?

  10. Domino Theory • If the U.S. allows one country to become Communist, then it will lead to others becoming Communist.

  11. What was wrong with S. Vietnam? • U.S. helped Ngo Dinh Diem to power in S. Vietnam – except he was an aristocrat who didn’t really connect to the people. Also, most of the money the U.S. gave to the S. Vietnam govt. didn’t go to the people • He also rigged elections and there were many protests against him… so he was overthrown.

  12. So how did the U.S. get invovled? • Starting in the early 1960s the U.S. sent “advisers” to assist S. Vietnam - ARVN • When Lyndon Johnson became president in 1963 he proclaimed: “I will not let Vietnam go the way China did.”

  13. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution • In response to an alleged attack on U.S. ships by N. Vietnamese ships (debatable whether it happened or not); Johnson asked Congress for authority to do whatever was necessary to stop armed attacks against the U.S.

  14. What did it mean? • It was not a specific declaration of war, but it did give the president the authority to make war. • Similar to the Congressional Authorization to the War in Iraq

  15. Operation Rolling Thunder and Escalation • Going into the war the US did not want major conflict, but losses to the VC in ‘64 led to escalation. • Rolling Thunder - bombing campaign for 4 years on N. Vietnam. • Open-ended commitment for troops - up to 500,000 soldiers by ‘68. - to keep up US credibility?

  16. Soldiers in Vietnam • Largely a young person’s war, and driven by the draft (which initially excluded college students). • Meant that a higher %age of poorer less educated people were drafted.

  17. War of Attrition • Point was to be a War of Attrition – force the other side to lose so many soldiers through fighting that they would eventually have to give up their hope of making South Vietnam communist. • Body Count strategy. • Ia Drang Valley - casualty ratio of 11:1 in favor of the U.S. - We Were Soldiers

  18. Criticism of the War • War protest became tied to student, hippie, and civil rights movements. • Even some in the US govt. questioned the reasoning of the war - Kennan, McNamara.

  19. Fighting in Vietnam

  20. 1968 Tet Offensive • Organized attack by NVA and VC all across S. Vietnam. • Eventually SV and US forces recaptured most ground that was lost.

  21. Media Impact • In the US people began to seriously question the war effort. • After 4 years of being told the war was going well, how could Tet happen?

  22. Nixon and Cambodia • Nixon elected in 1968 vowing to end the war - but did not follow through. • Vietnamization - build S. Vietnamese forces to replace the US. • Began peace talks and withdrew US soldiers. • But also increased bombing of N. Vietnam and Cambodia.

  23. Failures of Insurgency • My Lai Massacre • Kent State and Jackson State protests • “Fragging” • Pentagon Papers

  24. Cease-fire Agreement • Operation Linebacker - 1972, bombing campaign in response to NVA offensive. • Cease-fire 1973 - NVA could remain in S. Vietnam, but also had to recognize the S. Vietnam govt. • But what if they don’t follow it?

  25. Pull-out from Saigon

  26. Lessons of Vietnam • “Empire Shock” - US power around the world was limited? • How to fight an effective counter-insurgency? • Americans unwilling to go for future military conflicts? • Checks and balances system?

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