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The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War. How Did American Involvement in Southeast Asia Escalate?. 1941 : The Allies sign the Atlantic Charter, which states their post-war goals. 1945 : Vietnam declares its independence after 100 years of occupation. . Involvement, con’t. 1949 : China becomes a Communist state.

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The Vietnam War

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  1. The Vietnam War

  2. How Did American Involvement in Southeast Asia Escalate? • 1941: The Allies sign the Atlantic Charter, which states their post-war goals. • 1945: Vietnam declares its independence after 100 years of occupation.

  3. Involvement, con’t. • 1949: China becomes a Communist state. • 1950: The Korean War begins on June 25. • 1954: France continues to wage war to protect its colonial empire in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

  4. French Indochinese War 1946-1954

  5. France v. Vietnam • The USA begins to provide the French with economic and military aid. • By 1954, the United States funds 75% of all the costs of a war. • French generals make one last stand at Dien Bien Phu. The United States guarantees air support, but domestic political concerns prevent Eisenhower from fulfilling this promise.

  6. France v. Vietnam • After the fall of Dien Bien Phu, the Geneva Conference of 1954 agrees to resolve the problems of Southeast Asia in the following ways: 1. Make Laos and Cambodia independent countries. 2. Temporarily divide Vietnam at the 17th parallel. 3. Guarantee that North and South Vietnam would hold free elections in 1956 to reunite both countries under a single government.

  7. 1956: The United States prevents free elections from taking place in Vietnam. Why?? • The Domino Theory- fear that, like dominos, countries in the region will fall to communism- moving eventually to the Philippines & the west coast of the U.S. • 1960: When JFK enters the White House, 780 American military advisors are in South Vietnam. By the time of his assassination, the United States has more than 17,000 advisors in Vietnam to support the fragile regime of Ngo Dinh Diem.

  8. Why did JFK support the Vietnam War? • After the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, he wanted to reassert American military might. • JFK was an ardent "Cold Warrior”. • He supported "limited brushfire wars" in the age of a nuclear threat. • On the morning of Nov. 22, 1963 he spoke to his aides about his desire to experiment with new troops & weapons in South Vietnam.

  9. Johnson’s Vietnam War • 1964: Congress begins to debate U.S. involvement in Vietnam after North Vietnamese ships allegedly fire on American destroyers patrolling the Gulf of Tonkin. • Gulf of Tonkin Resolution-Pres. Johnson claims North Vietnamese vessels fired at U.S. vessels in the Gulf of Tonkin; Congress empowers Johnson to “take all necessary measures to repel any attack against the forces of the U.S. and prevent further aggression.” WHAT DOES THIS MEAN????

  10. In reality, American ships had violated North Vietnamese waters to support South Vietnamese commandos.

  11. Fall 1964- Johnson needs a way to justify aerial bombing of North Vietnam • February 1965- The Vietcong bomb an American airbase at Pleiku. • March 1965- American Marines are sent in. • March 1965- Ground war begins • June 1965- “search and destroy” missions begin, U.S. commits itself to an all-out war

  12. 1966-1967 • Sanitized versions of the war are broadcast at home. Much of the actual carnage is not shown on TV. • “Hawks” criticize Pres. Johnson’s handling of the war. • “Doves” protest the war & the draft in record numbers. • Pres. Johnson chooses not to run for President in 1968.

  13. 1968, A Very Bad Year • North Vietnamese launch the Tet Offensive- A massive military strike against American bases in 39 Southern Vietnamese cities. • U.S. steps up involvement in the war. • North Vietnamese show they are better equipped, trained & determined to win the war. TURNING POINT!!!!

  14. Major targets of the Tet offensive

  15. Saigon Police chief executes a Vietcong captain; Pulitzer Prize winning photo

  16. My Lai Massacre • March 16 • Charlie Company told that non- Communist would be out of village • Were they ordered to kill women and children? Accounts vary

  17. My Lai, cont. • Soldiers led by Lt. Calley • Hundreds killed, mostly elderly men, women, and children • Attack stopped by other US soldiers • A cover up followed; event not made public until a year later

  18. Johnson decides not to run • March 31st • Shocked the nation • "I shall not seek, and I will not accept the nomination of my party for another term as your President"

  19. Martin Luther King Killed • April 4 • Riots broke out in more than 60 US cities The Lorraine Motel, where King was assassinated, now the site of the National Civil Rights Museum

  20. Robert F. Kennedy Killed • June 4 • Democratic presidential candidate

  21. Democratic National Convention • August • Party is in complete chaos • Johnson out, Kennedy dead • VP Humphrey followed Johnson’s policies • Sen. Eugene McCarthy was anti-war

  22. Convention, cont. • Inside Convention: • Security rough up reporters, caught on tape • Mayor Daley shouts an “F” word at a senator • Outside, on the streets • Massive protest • Mayor ordered police to use force

  23. Election of 1968 • November • Democrats ran Hubert Humphrey • Republicans ran Nixon, who boasted of a secret plan to end war • 3rd party candidate George Wallace won 3 states • Nixon wins

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