The Vietnam Conflict Early Involvement French colony 1861

The Vietnam Conflict

Early Involvement • French colony— 1861 -1940’s • Natural resources • Japan attempted to take over Vietnam from the French • Vietnamese people revolted with the blessings of the United States • Rebel leader was Ho Chi Minh • Vietminh—communist • Minh as politician

We hold these truths to be self evident…

Vietnam • • Japan is out France returns Minh fights France The U. S. won’t fight against their ally

Cold War Politics • • Truman Doctrine Containment Minh had lived in Russia Vietnam became the “Berlin of Asia”

US Involvement in the War • US aids the French • 1954 --$2 billion • French surrender in 1954 at Dien. Bien. Phu • Divides Vietnam in ½ at the 17 th parallel • North—Communist • South—Democratic

South Vietnam • Diem – 1955 -61: $1 billion in aid – Trained the army – Depended on U. S. – Saigon – Democratic

South Vietnam Diem’s dictatorship Shut down newspapers Jailed critics No free elections US was still there as advisors People began to protest Diem

South Vietnam • 1963— 16, 700 advisors • 489 Americans killed

South Vietnam • CIA and South Vietnamese troops assassinated Diem

Lyndon B. Johnson “I want to leave the footprints of American in Vietnam. I want them to say, ‘This is what Americans left— schools and hospitals, and dams”

LBJ “I am not going to lose Vietnam. I am not going to be the president that saw southeast Asia go the way China went”

LBJ “Our boys won’t be doing the fighting for the Asian boys” Planned a buildup of forces

Tonkin Gulf Resolution • August 1964 • USS Maddox is fired upon by a patrol boat

Tonkin Gulf Resolution Johnson’s “blank check” from Congress "take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression. "

LBJ Johnson begins the bombing of North Vietnam immediately after he is elected Operation Rolling Thunder Dropped more bombs in Vietnam than aircraft did in WWII Fragmentation bombs Napalm bombs

Bombs

Bombs

Agent Orange

Americanization • Began bombing the North • Sent more troops into the South • Each American increase = Vietcong increase • Troop #s = 543, 000 soldiers

Search and Destroy

“It became necessary to destroy the town to save it” Quote from an American Officer in Vietnam

My Lai Massacre US Forces—Lt. William Calley led him men to destroy an entire village of unarmed women and children after he lost several men to a booby trap

Private Paul Meadlo “We huddled them up. We made them squat down…I poured about four clips into the group…The mothers were hugging their children…well, we kept right on firing. They was waving their arms and begging…I still dream about it. About the women and children in my sleep. Some days…some nights…. I can’t even sleep

Problems within the Military Race Fragging Drug usage Opposition to the war

Senate Hearings--1966

TET Offensive • Vietnamese New Year • Vietcong offensive all over the South • Lost territory; but regained it • TET offensive made a huge impact on public opinion

Johnson’s March 31 st Speech • Announced he would stop the bombing and attempt to negotiate a peace agreement • Announced he would not seek reelection to the presidency

Nixon “The travail of the long war was etched on the faces around me. They had no new approaches to recommend to me. I sensed that, despite the disappointment of defeat, they were relieved to be able to turn this morass over to someone else. ” Nixon on his meeting with Johnson and his advisors

Vietnamization Began to withdraw troops very slowly Handed the war over to the South Vietnamese govt. Security Advisor—Henry Kissinger

Jugular diplomacy Attempted to pound them into making concessions Little progress Operation Phoenix Cambodia Christmas Bombings

The War Ends Le Duc Tho---North Vietnamese representative Kissinger—US January 27, 1973—Cease Fire was reached US completely out by 1975—Saigon becomes Ho Chi Minh City

The War Ends 25 years 57, 000 soldiers $150 billion “How could so many with so much seek so little for so long against so few? ”