Vietnam

1. Vietnam Unit 5 Lesson 4

2. Objectives • Explain how the US became involved in Vietnam’s struggle for independence. • Describe the expansion of US involvement and military tactics used. • Trace the roots of opposition to the war and describe the antiwar movement. • Analyze the impact and legacy of the Vietnam War.

3. The Vietnamese Nationalist Movement • French colony “Indo-China” (1858-1940) . • Occupied by Japan WW2 (1940-45). • Ho Chi Minh leads Vietminh independence movement.

4. First Indochina War • 1946-1954 • Vietminh (supported by China) vs • French (with US aid) • Dien Bien Phu falls • Geneva Accords divide Vietnam at 17th parallel, to be reunited in 1956 elections

5. North Vietnam Communist Hanoi Ho Chi Minh Increased army Nationalized economy Russian and Chinese aid South Vietnam Anti-Communist Saigon Ngo Dinh Diem Corrupt, controlling govt Rejected national elections US aid A Divided Vietnam

6. Domino Theory • Ike, JFK, LBJ all help S Vietnam • If one goes, they all may fall to communism • Form SEATO- defense alliance SE Asian nations • Must stop aggression, appear “tough”

7. Kennedy in Vietnam • $ and military advisors • RVN, RVNAF • VC and NLF resist Diem regime • Ho Chi Minh Trail • Strategic Hamlet • Self-immolation Buddhist monks • Diem coup & assassination

8. Johnson and the Americanization of Vietnam • Gulf of Tonkin Resolution • Operation Rolling Thunder • Draft- 500K US troops 1967 • Westmoreland- Attrition, Seek and Destroy • Napalm, Agent Orange to “expose” enemy

9. Jungle Warfare • Elusive Enemy • Ambush tactics • Terrain, environment • Hidden in general pop • Camo weapons • No front lines • Elaborate tunnel systems • Booby traps • Land mines

10. Living Room War • 1st Televised War- Unedited, nightly news • Combat footage of Tet Offensive and rising US death toll contradict what govt was saying about the war (Credibility Gap) • Fulbright Hearings challenge US policy in Vietnam, force change in military leadership • American public opinion begins to waiver!

11. Student Protest Movement • New Left • Students for Democratic Society • Free Speech Movement • Sit-ins, Teach-ins, Marches, Civil Disobedience, Draft Dodgers/Bonfires

12. Working Class War • Selective Service • Medical/Education exemptions • Conscientious Objectors • National/Coast Guard • Draftees • Lower class whites and minorities

13. Counterculture • Opposed to war, racial injustice • “Turn on, Tune in, Drop out” of mainstream • Movement bucks tradition • Sexuality • Dress and Hair • Drugs • Music and Art • Communal Living

14. Johnson Bows Out • Tet Offensive • Drop US support • Political unrest • McNamara resignation • Failure of Great Society • Opposition within party • Can’t win war and election… • Deescalation on both sides • Oct Peace talks begin

15. 1968 Election • (D) Humphrey • (R) Nixon • (I) Wallace • Intense political process • Nixon wins on “law and order at home, peace with honor abroad”

16. Nixon in Vietnam • Plan: Vietnamization- gradual withdrawal, hand over to S. Vietnam • Reality: Expands action into Laos and Cambodia! • Renewed protests • Kent State

17. A Forced Peace • Operation Linebacker II • Dec 18-31 • Intense bombing of Hanoi force N to table • Paris Peace Accord • Jan 23, 1973 • Kissinger and Le Duc Tho • Ceasefire, Withdrawal, POW’s, Reconciliation talks

18. Aftermath • US leaves bases and planes to RVNAF • Fall of Saigon 1975 • North captures South, reunites as Communist nation • US cuts all econ/political recognition until 1995 • Continued bombings Laos and Cambodia • Cambodian Civil War (Khmer Rouge) • Vietnamese Boat People and Amerasians • Pentagon Papers • Dept of Defense study which revealed decades of govt deception about US involvement in Vietnam

19. Impact of War • Unofficial 30 year war • 58K dead, 300K wounded (PTSD) • Abolished draft • $158 billion • Divided nation • Less faith in govt • Question role of US in world affairs • War Powers Act

20. Closure • Compare and contrast US efforts in Vietnam to 21st century war on terror efforts.