Vietnam Years

1. Vietnam Years Ch 14 p. 434

2. Let’s think…. • Is dealing with other people difficult sometimes? • What kind of people are more difficult to deal with? • Imagine having to deal with a whole other country? • Which ones do you think would be easier to deal with?

3. 14.1 JFK and Foreign Policy • JFK was against the spread of communism from the Cold War (US v USSR) so he maintained a strong military and invested in nuclear weapons • JFK started the Peace Corps (1961) sending volunteers to developing countries to help with building schools and digging wells • JFK invested in other countries in hopes of preventing them from committing to communism – the fear created after WW2

4. Bay of Pigs • Fidel Castro, dictator of Cuba (90 miles from US) led a revolution which overthrew the govt. Castro established a communist govt and allied with the Soviet Union • Dwight Eisenhower led CIA operation to overthrow Castro – Cuban exiles invaded Cuba by boat but were unsuccessful – they were captured or killed

5. Berlin Wall • Many (2+M) skilled workers and educated people escaped Eastern Berlin to the free Western Berlin “handy escape route” • Stalin had been replaced with Nikita Khrushchev – he demanded the border closed to prevent any other escapes • Khrushchev also threatened to take over Western Berlin but the US and JFK refused to leave • The wall of concrete and barbed wire between East and West Berlin was built by the USSR and Khrushchev • The wall stood as a strong symbol of Cold War for 3 decades because JFK didn’t stop it

6. Cuban Missile Crisis • US spy planes discovered Soviets installing nuclear missiles in Cuba (1962) that could destroy any US cities within minutes • US Navy formed a blockade around Cuba preventing USSR ships from bringing any more weapons • Khrushchev agreed to remove weapons from Cuba so JFK agreed not to attack Cuba & to remove our missiles in Italy and Turkey (near USSR) The whole tense event lasted 13 days! • JFK and Khrushchev set up a “hotline” for direct instant contact • Signed Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty-banning nucs above ground

7. Race to the Moon “Space Race” • NASA was created in 1958 but space travel was NOT common in the 50s and 60s • 60’s US & USSR competed to see which country could get to space first. Yuri Gagarin from USSR was first in 1961. He orbited Earth once. • Alan Shepard was the first American in space; John Glenn was first American to orbit Earth.

8. Apollo Look at p. 437 • Billions of dollars were invested in NASA • Project Apollo had a goal of landing on the moon • Three pieces were used: rocket that escapes Earth’s gravity; spacecraft that can orbit the moon; and a lander that could place the astronauts on the moon (the Eagle) • 1969 Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were first people to walk on the moon- they planted an American flag in it and collected moon rocks • “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

9. Vietnam Conflict Map on p. 438 • Before WW2 France controlled Vietnam. Vietnam declared independence after WW2 Japanese control. Ho Chi Minh led a Communist revolution. • France moved in to prove Vietnam was under its control & US Pres Truman and D Eisenhower allied with France- sent aid. They feared communism spreading with a Vietnamese victory. • Vietnam used guerrilla tactics to weaken French. The French surrendered at Dien Bien Phu. • Geneva Accord (agreement) split Vietnam temporarily

10. Separated Vietnam • North became communist with dictator Ho Chi Minh • South became democratic supported by the US and led by Ngo Dinh Diem • 1956 election should unite North and South Vietnam • Even though Diem did things the US disapproved of, there was no other hope to prevent communism spreading • No election occurred in 1956 and by 1960 N Vietnam formed a group to recruit S Vietamese

11. National Liberation Front (NLF) • NFL relied on communist groups called Vietcong as their army • Vietcong were supplied and funded by N Vietnam • Both S Vietnam and N Vietnam used torture for their enemies

12. American Involvement • JFK & Eisenhower sent aid, weapons and advisors to S Vietnam • Diem was becoming less poplar in S Vietnam and several groups tried to overthrow Diem’s leadership but failed • Within weeks (1963) Diem was captured and killed, JFK was assassinated and Lyndon Johnson became Pres of the US • Johnson was forced to make some difficult decisions immediately

13. 14.2 Escalation in Vietnam p. 441 • Pres Johnson also was against the spread of communism • Tonkin Gulf Resolution: 1964 US and Vietnam exchanged gunfire in Gulf of Tonkin. Two days later more torpedoes were seen by radar so Johnson asked Congress to take action. • US troops were sent to Vietnam in 1965. Air strikes began-Operation Rolling Thunder-designed to disrupt he Ho Chi Minh Trail • Ho Chi Minh Trail was in neutral nearby countries to destroy supply lines to N Vietnam. Planes released Agent Orange to kill dense forests to increase visibility for US

14. US Soldiers in Vietnam • US increased involvement throughout 1965-1968 - 500K troops in Vietnam and expected quick victory with US technology • Most of the war was fought in jungles of S Vietnam • US General Westmoreland created strategy of “search & destroy” • Vietcong set deadly traps and land mines; knew topography and could attack then disappear quickly • China and Soviet Union allied with Vietnam and sent weapons. S Vietnamese were suspected of supporting N Vietnam (didn’t know who to trust)

15. Typical US soldier in Vietnam • 2+ M soldiers ages 18-21; many minority groups from poor families • Carried 75-90 pounds of equipment through 100 degree rainstorms • Constant land mines and booby traps or enemy fire • Trusted NO ONE –from 5 year old child to 75 year old grandma • Won some battles but rarely could control the land after the battle • In jungle with no GPS – didn’t know the land

16. Vietnam Turning Points • Tet Offensive: Tet means New Year in Vietnam. Previous years held a cease fire for the holiday but in 1968, Vietcong surprise attacked in S Vietnam and the US Embassy in Saigon (capital). • Significance: many thought end was in sight but now knew the enemy was more determined to win; Americans questioned honesty of US govt • Westmoreland asked for more troops but Johnson denied sending more troops

17. Hawks v Doves • About half of Americans were against the Vietnam War • TV reports impacted public opinion-1st time Americans could actually see war in their homes on TV • Americans were labeled hawks (supporters of the war) or doves (opponents of the war)

18. My Lai • US soldiers entered village of My Lai expecting to find Vietcong (1968) • Search and destroy turned into a massacre – killing innocent civilians including children • US military tried to cover it up but were later exposed • Their commander, Lt Calley was tried and convicted of murder • MORE Americans began to question our purpose in Vietnam • View p. 446-447

19. 14.3 End of Vietnam • Antiwar protest began all over America – especially with college age students. Draft cards were burned and some men moved to Canada to avoid being drafted. • Others dropped out of college to defy “status quo” and developed a hippie culture which emphasized individual freedom, nonviolence, and communal sharing. They rejected traditional views.

20. 1968 Election • Due to lack of approval, Johnson chose to not run again for Pres • Robert Kennedy was gaining support but was quickly assassinated • The election ended up being between VP Humphrey and Richard Nixon who promised to restore order to America with “peace and honor” • Nixon won the election

21. Nixon in Vietnam • Nixon and his advisor Henry Kissinger used vietnamization- pulling US out of Vietnam so S Vietnam could continue fighting for their own independence • But soon afterwards he sent troops to Cambodia and continued to bomb Vietcong supply lines – Americans felt that betrayed • Protests everywhere: Kent State University had to use the National Guard to end protest which led to tear gas and death • Pentagon Papers were published in 1971 showing documents proving that govt had been lying to Americans about the war

22. 1972 Election • 26th amendment to the Constitution lowered voting age from 21 to 18 • George McGovern hoped this would help him win but Nixon won again by a landslide (lot) • Nixon won 520 electoral votes while McGovern won 17

23. Vietnam War Ends • 1973 Paris Peace Accords were signed by the U.S. , N Vietnam, S Vietnam, and the Vietcong – cease fire to end the war and return prisoners of war • US withdrew troops from Vietnam • 1975 N Vietnam invaded S Vietnam and the US refused to send troops to help • The US Embassy workers were rescued by helicopter while the entire capital city of Saigon burned • Vietnam War really ended when N Vietnam captured Saigon

24. Socialist Republic of Vietnam Impact • N and S Vietnam are now Socialist Republic of Vietnam and remain communist today. Hanoi is the capital and Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City • S Vietnam citizens were forced into “re-education camps” and enemies of communism were destroyed • The land was ruined and many people on both sides died so life in Vietnam was extremely difficult

25. US Impact (significance) • 58K Americans killed 300K wounded • Millions of dollars spent • Returning soldiers were not welcomed home as heroes- many were disrespected by antiwar protesters • PTSD diagnosis made it difficult to readjust to normal life – nightmares & flashbacks • Less trust in govt so War Powers Act requires Pres to get Congress approval before committing to war

26. Vietnam Veterans Memorial • 1982 in DC • Designer Maya Lin – 21 years old from Ohio, entered a contest to design memorial • Maya Lin also designed the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, AL • DC-Black granite wall lists all American soldiers that were killed or missing in action from the Vietnam War • AL-Black granite wall of names killed in the Civil Rights Movement and a quote from MLK

27. Test Time • Practice Quizlet nightly • Complete and check chapter review p. 455-456 • Know vocabulary and important people • Summarize main ideas • Make an A