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The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War. US History. The Root of the Problem. Ho Chi Minh Declares indep. from Japan – 1941 Communism would be the path By 1945 – 5,000 soldiers anchor North Vietnam French given control of Indochina (1946) Truman backs the French Containment policy = $2.6 billion.

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The Vietnam War

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  1. The Vietnam War US History

  2. The Root of the Problem • Ho Chi Minh • Declares indep. from Japan – 1941 • Communism would be the path • By 1945 – 5,000 soldiers anchor North Vietnam • French given control of Indochina (1946) • Truman backs the French • Containment policy = $2.6 billion

  3. The Root of the Problem • Geneva Accords (May 1954) • Vietnam divided along 17th Parallel • French agree to leave abandon South Vietnam • Ho & Vietminh – victorious at Dien Bien Phu • National Elections to reunify (1956) • US refuses to sign • Eisenhower announces Domino Theory as justification

  4. The Root of the Problem • US backs Diem (1954) • Send another $1 billion during Eisenhower’s Admin. • Diem cancels promised Geneva elections • Vietcong rise up against Diem, demand • Reunification with North Vietnam • Economic reform • JFK expands the US’s role in Vietnam • Advisors, weapons & technology sent • Increased civil unrest • Agrees to assassination of Diem (Aug. 1963)

  5. “Hey, hey LBJ – How many kids you kill today?” • LBJ – “I’m not going to be the president who saw SE Asia go the way China went.” • Gulf of Tonkin Resolutions (Aug. 1964) • Fearful Congress gives LBJ unlimited control • Operation Rolling Thunder (Feb. 1965) • Vietcong attack US military based • Offensive strategy into North Vietnam • Air raids: military bases, Ho Chi Minh Trail, villages • Three continuous years

  6. “Hey, hey LBJ – How many kids you kill today?” • Gen. W. Westmoreland & US Marines • Ordered to Vietnam (March 1965) • LBJ: “Peace on the Horizon” • Optimism results in Overconfidence • Success different in Vietnam • # of Vietcong killed misconception • Territory gained insignificant • Ho’s Philosophy • “You can kill 10 of my men for every 1 I kill of yours, but even at those odds, you will lose and I will win.”

  7. “Hey, hey LBJ – How many kids you kill today?” • A different type of war • Operation Rolling Thunder • Why – less causalties • Results: 108,000 air raids in 1967 alone • More bombs in 3 years than in all of WW II • Ground Offensive • Search & Destroy Missions • Guerilla Tactics • Pacification Program - backfires

  8. “Hey, hey LBJ – How many kids you kill today?” • 1968 – Things Getting Worse • Contrary to Gen. Westmoreland’s Speech • Ho, Vietminh & Vietcong launch Tet Offensive • Tet = Jan. 20, 1968 – Vietnamese New Year • Communists strike military & civilian targets • 100 South Vietnam cities & 12 US bases attacked • US uses brute force to counter • Huge casualties • 33,000 – VC • 16,000 – US & Allies • “We had to destroy the village to save it.”

  9. Criticism Begins to Mount • Media • First war in which the media was on the front lines • Evolution • 1962-3: Diem great leader, We’re stopping communism • Walter Cronkite (CBS) – 1968 • “What the hell is going on? I thought we were winning the war! It seems no more than ever that Vietnam is to end in a stalemate.” • LBJ: “If we’ve lost Walter, we’ve lost Mr. Average Citizen.” • My Lai Massacre (March 1968 – November 1969) • Reporters uncover senseless execution of 350 Vietnamese • Editorials call for settlement & withdrawal

  10. Criticism Begins to Mount • Students Protest • SDS – Students for a Democratic Society • “We are people of this generation, bred in at least modest comfort, housed in universities, looking uncomfortably on the nation we now inherit.” • April 1965 – March on Washington – 20,000 students • Deferment, Consciences Objectors & Draft Dodgers

  11. Criticism Begins to Mount • LBJ’s approval rating – 26% • Euguen McCarthy & Robert Kennedy challenge LBJ for President • March 31: “I’ve decided that I shall not seek and I will not accept the nomination of my party for another term as our President.” • Same Speech • Will limit bombing • Seek Negotiations • Westmoreland has asked for 200,000 more troops • Other Generals counter – “No amount of troops will help.”

  12. Johnson’s War Becomes Nixon’s War • Nixon narrowly defeats H.H. Humphrey (VP) • New Philosophy: Vietnamization • Train & equip S. Vietnamese to replace US Soldiers • Nixon Doctrine: no more troops, just $ and weapons • Withdrawal Begins (Nov. 1969) • 60,000 troops return home • Plan – 400,000 to evacuate in next 3 years • Escalation • Madman Theory: secretly orders more bombings • Carrot & Stick Policy: sending troops to Cambodia & Laos

  13. Johnson’s War Becomes Nixon’s War • Students Rise-up Again (May 1970) • Kent State • Students protest at ROTC – not so civil • Governor calls in National Guard to disperse students • National Guard fires into the student protesters • 4 killed, 9 wounded • Jackson State • All black school in Mississippi • 1 week after Kent State • National Guard called in b/c of vandalism in the city • Confrontation results in 2 killed & 12 wounded

  14. Johnson’s War Becomes Nixon’s War • Nixon continues “Diplomacy through Terror” • Christmas Bombings (Dec. 1972) • January 1973 – Peace Talks • South Vietnamese President Thieu signs cease-fire with the Vietcong • US to provide $1 Billion in military aid and will respond will full force if cease-fire violated • March 1973 – last US troops exit Vietnam • March 1975 – Vietcong launch offensive • Saigon falls by April • US does nothing, dealing with aftermath of Watergate (Ford)

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