Day 1 Notes US Gets Involved in Vietnam

1. Day 1 Notes US Gets Involved in Vietnam

2. The Early Days: French Indochina • 1880s to WWII- Vietnam part of French Indochina • WWII • Japan occupies Indochina • Ho Chi Minh leads a group opposing foreign occupation (Viet Minh) • After WWII • Ho Chi Minh creates Democratic Republic of Vietnam

3. France refuses to accepts Vietnamese independence • First Indochina War (8 yrs) • Truman supports the French- believes they are keeping communism in check • War not going well for the French • Eisenhower warned that if Vietnam fell to communism, they rest of SE Asia would topple like “a row of dominoes” • Domino Theory would provide a strong motive for US intervention in Vietnam

5. Geneva Accords • France, US, USSR, China, GB, Laos, Cambodia all meet in Geneva, Switzerland • Geneva Accords drawn up • Divides Vietnam into two parts at the 17th Parallel • N. Vietnam – Communist, led by Ho Chi Minh • S. Vietnam – Nationalist, capital Saigon • Elections for unification government scheduled for 1956

6. Diem • US put Diem in charge • Built an army with US military advisers • Elections coming up, Ho Chi Minh most likely to win • Diem, w/ US approval, blocked vote and held elections only in the south • Diem (President of South Vietnam) attacked his opponents and jailed people without trial • Viet Minh communists in south launched a guerilla war against Diem’s gov’t formed the Viet Cong; North Vietnam supporting the rebels

7. Kennedy • Viet Cong insurgency (rebellion) threatened to overwhelm S. Vietnamese army • US sent more supplies and military advisers; Kennedy resisted sending combat soldiers • Diem’s discrimination against Buddhists  protests • Kennedy realizes Diem failed as a leader • US approved coup • Diem killed

9. Kennedy killed; Pres. Johnson takes over • North Vietnam sending weapons and supplies to the Viet Cong over the Ho Chi Minh Trail • Passed through Laos and Cambodia

10. Gulf of Tonkin • SV attacks radar stations on NV coast (w/ help from CIA) • NV fire at US ship in Gulf of Tonkin (not damaged) • LBJ says “unprovoked” attacks would bring consequences • Aug 1964- stormy weather; US sailors think they are under attack and fire back- no enemy ever seen (no attack had taken place) • US officials (w/ Pres) concluded that a 2nd attack occurred, approves air strikes against NV

11. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution • Gave permission to President to expand US role in the conflict • NOT a declaration of war

12. Debate over Increased Involvement • Most advisers were hawks- favored expanding US involvement • Crucial in struggle against communism • Domino theory • US credibility- ‘tough on communism’

13. Doves- advocates of a peaceful solution in Vietnam • No more troops, war is un-winable • Would undermine LBJ’s Great Society programs • Not in nation’s interest • US involvement might draw China and USSR into conflict

14. Johnson sends more and more troops • Bases authority to act on the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution • US takes over main responsibility for fighting the war • “Americanization” of the Vietnam War

15. Day 2 Notes Frustration in Vietnam

16. Hawks are becoming doves; counsel Johnson to cut back • By 1968, most Americans blaming Johnson for a war that was out of control

17. Difficult Conditions • By 1968, most soldiers were drafted into the army- dim view of the war • Geography and climate • Hot and humid • Swamps, mountains, jungles • Enemy knew lands and could conceal themselves • Agent Orange • Helped kill jungles that gave enemy cover • Contaminated soil and water • Long-term health risks

18. Guerilla warfare • Underground tunnels used by enemies • Enemy could also “hide in plain sight” • “search and destroy missions” • Small groups of soldiers (platoons) would search for insurgents • Call for air strikes to destroy enemy force • N. Vietnamese and Viet Cong • Determined to fight on, no matter how long

19. Opposition to the War • Role of television on public support of the war; “living room war” • Costs (human and economic) • Led to inflation and higher taxes • Credibility Gap- difference between the reality of the war and the Johnson administration’s portrayal of it

20. Hawks and doves • Evenly divided in 1967 • Peace movement on college campuses • Protests; sit-ins • Tinker v. Des Moines • Civil disobedience- burning draft cards; draft dodgers (Muhammad Ali) • Complaint that men can be sent to war yet they are not old enough to vote 26th Amendment lowers the voting age to 18.

21. College deferment • If you are a full-time college student, you don’t have to go to war • Once you are done with school, you can be drafted  reason why protests are often on college campuses • War fell primarily on poor and minorities to fight • “rich mans war, poor mans fight”

26. 1968 • N. Vietnamese army attacks S.V. cities on Tet holiday • Tet Offensive shocked American people and became psychological defeat for US • Widening of credibility gap • Walter Cronkite- most respected TV news anchor • Says Pres. Johnson has misled the American people • War will end in a “stalemate” • Led to a loss of support for Johnson

27. Election of 1968 • Democrats: Eugene McCarthy, Robert Kennedy, Hubert Humphrey • Johnson says he will “deescalate the conflict” and will not run for president again; supports his VP Humphrey • MLK Jr. and Robert Kennedy both killed this year • Violence at democratic convention

28. Republicans • Richard Nixon • 3rd Party- George Wallace • Segregationist • Attracted Democratic votes allowing a Republican victory • Republicans (Nixon) win election

31. Why were people unwilling to fight for this cause? • The conflict in Vietnam was a civil war and the US had no business there • The oppressive S. Vietnamese regime was no better than the Communists they were fighting • US could not police entire globe • Morally unjust

33. Day 3Getting Out of Vietnam

34. 1968- Nixon promises to end war in Vietnam • 1975- All American personnel ordered to leave S.V. • SV had fallen to communists and enemy was bearing down on Saigon • Many flee

35. Nixon’s Dilemma • Sought to achieve “peace with honor” • Carrot and stick approach • Carrot- actions that reward • Stick- actions that punish

36. Carrot: • Peace talks- Kissinger (sec. of state) proposed ending the bombing of the North- the CARROT- in exchange for BOTH sides leaving SV- not accepted • Vietnamization- SV would gradually take over the fighting of the war, while American GIs withdrawn; CARROT- troop reductions

37. Stick: • To pressure NV to negotiate • Widening the air war • Invade Cambodia • Intercepting supplies and enemy bases • Communists boycotted peace talks until US pulled out of Cam.

38. Expanded War Sparks Protests • My Lai Massacre • US Platoon massacred village • 200 innocent people were killed • reduced U.S. support at home for the Vietnam War • 1969- Vietnam Moratorium Day • Rallies, marches, candlelight vigil at White House

39. Kent State • Students protesting against the American invasion of Cambodia and others merely walking nearby or observing the protest from a distance are shot by National Guard • National response to the shootings: hundreds of universities closed throughout the United States due to a student strike of eight million students • Many Americans supported the National Guard

41. Pentagon Papers • Documents revealed that gov’t had plans for entering war even as Pres. Johnson promised he would not send troops • Confirmed that the gov’t had not been honest

42. Peace? • 1973- US troops left Vietnam • War continued without us • US sent $, but not troops • Fall of Saigon- N. Vietnam captured S. Vietnam capital • S. Vietnam surrendered

43. Legacy • 58,000 Americans killed; 503,000 wounded • SE Asia remained unstable • Affected the way Americans viewed the gov’t and the world • More cautious outlook on foreign affairs • Health issues of veterans

44. Changes • Draft abolished • War Powers Act • Curbed president’s war-making powers • Passed in response to Gulf of Tonkin Resolution • Vietnam Syndrome • Americans now consider risk to own interests before interfering in affairs of other nations • Cynicism of leaders