The Cold War 1960 1975 The Vietnam War

The Cold War 1960 -1975

The Vietnam War Begins • In 1960, North Vietnam began a program of mass, mandatory enlistment of all available bodies, and a year later, got the support of Nikita Krushchev • United States and South Vietnam sign a treaty of military and economic aid in response, leading to the arrival of US troops in 1961 • Kennedy refuses to send more troops, but will send advisors, helicopters, and military personnel to maintain them

Operation Ranchland • This operation was to clear roadways and paths of vegetation so that the Viet Cong could not as easily conceal themselves from travelling units • Agent Orange, a potent Herbicide with the poisonous chemical Dioxin is released, clearing roads, paths, and bases, as well as destroying all crops that could be useful to the Viet Cong forces. • Chemical Warfare like this, had long-lasting effects on the nature of war • Kennedy signs US Foreign Assistance Act to “provide military assistance to countries on the rim of the Communist world and under direct attack”

Vienna Summit, and the Berlin Wall • The Vienna Summit was the first meeting of Khrushchev and Kennedy, and was focused on what to do with Berlin. • Khrushchev intended to sign a treaty with East Germany that would barricade West Germany from West Berlin, keeping outsiders out of Berlin. • This meeting ended with no resolution

The Berlin Wall • The Berlin Wall surrounded West Berlin, effectively cutting it off from the rest of Germany, and all roads were cut off but a few necessary all travel in and out was barred unless absolutely necessary • This wall served as a symbol of oppression to the Berliners, and to the rest of the non-Communist world, and showed just how far the Soviets would go • Kennedy gives a speech in West Berlin, calling himself and all free men citizens of Berlin, ending by calling himself a Berliner

The Gulf of Tonkin Incident • Three North Vietnamese patrol boats attack the USS Maddox, • US Destroyers open fire on the Gulf of Tonkin, during a storm that made electronics on the ship malfunction, making their readings accuracy worsen, believing that they’ve come under fire • Because of this, White House aides push for escalation of the war effort in Vietnam

North Vietnamese Bombings • In retaliation for an attack on an American helicopter base, President Johnson approves Operation Flaming Dart, a series of bombings on North Vietnamese army installations • Operation Rolling Thunder begins, bombing the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and other areas of interest to American bombers, this operation lasts for 3 years • First American combat troops arrive at China Beach

The War at Home • Counterculture movement (Hippies and the New Left) Protest the war, advocate and live a new, liberal lifestyle of sex, drugs, music, and are attributed as communist, anti-American, and are dismissed by most • The Draft grows in unpopularity as more and more are pulled into the war, and those who come back rely on drugs, or are severely disabled, and with the war being publicly broadcast, public opinion drops heavily over time, eventually turning against the war entirely

The Great Society • A system of societal actions meant to make the country better • Promoted Civil Rights, declared a war on poverty: Peace Corps and Upward Bound, and the Food Stamp Act • Higher Education Facility Act made colleges more accessible to everyone • Expanded Welfare for the poor

The Space Race • Launched when the Soviets launch the first satellite: Sputnik, in 1957, beginning the decade-long Space Race • The next year, Explorer I is launched, and America is in space • NASA is formed, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics explode within the country, propelling us to a technological dominator • 1969: Apollo 11 lands on the Moon, the Space Race is won by the Americans

The Tet Offesive • Massive attacks on South Vietnamese cities under the Saigon Regime by the Viet Cong • Broadcasted to the public, the Battle of Hue, a long, brutal battle, that completely eroded American support for the war • Beginning of the end: The long, slow withdrawal from Vietnam by American forces begins

Paris Peace Accords • Treaty used to bring an end to the Vietnam war • Signed between the United States, South Vietnam under Saigon, and the Provisionary Revolutionary Government, and the North Vietnamese • Regularly flouted, ignored, but to no American response • Vietnam united under Communism almost immediately

Watergate • Burglary initiated by Nixon’s men, to gather information on the Democratic National Convention • Led to impeachment proceedings, and ultimately his resignation • As a result of this event, the American public’s trust in Government and the President disappeared, eroding even further from the lows the Vietnam War brought