The Vietnam War The Vietnam War Moving Toward

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The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War Moving Toward Conflict 1941 Vietminh is formed. Had been colonized by

The Vietnam War Moving Toward Conflict 1941 Vietminh is formed. Had been colonized by the French in late 1800 s; Seized by Japan at onset of WWII; After Japan surrendered in 1945, French attempted to resume control, but met stiff resistance from the Vietnamese What did the Vietminh declare as its main goal? • Vietnam’s independence

The Vietnam War Moving Toward Conflict 1945 Japan is forced out of Vietnam. What

The Vietnam War Moving Toward Conflict 1945 Japan is forced out of Vietnam. What did Ho Chi Minh declare after Japan was forced out? That Vietnam was a nation Real name = Nguyen Tat Thanh; Ho Chi Minh means “Bringer of Light” Former teacher who became leader of Vietnam’s Communist Party; During the Japanese occupation, organized a nationalist resistance group known as the Vietminh

The Vietnam War Moving Toward Conflict 1946 French troops return to southern Vietnam. How

The Vietnam War Moving Toward Conflict 1946 French troops return to southern Vietnam. How did Ho Chi Minh respond to the return of the French? • Vowed to fight from North Vietnam to liberate the South

The Vietnam War Moving Toward Conflict 1950 U. S. begins its involvement in the

The Vietnam War Moving Toward Conflict 1950 U. S. begins its involvement in the Vietnam struggle. During WWII, the US sent military aid to the Vietminh, but once the war was over, the US supported the French efforts to reclaim Vietnam Who did the U. S. support? • France (US did not support colonialism, but feared communism more – picked what it considered to be the lesser of two evils) What aid did the U. S. provide? • Economic aid (for military purposes) Why did the U. S. get involved in the struggle? • To prevent another Asian country from becoming Communist (containment) US policy was reinforced after China and North Korea both became communist states

The Vietnam War Moving Toward Conflict 1954 Eisenhow er introduce s the domino theory.

The Vietnam War Moving Toward Conflict 1954 Eisenhow er introduce s the domino theory. Vietminh overruns Dien Bien Phu. What did Eisenhower compare to a row of dominoes? • Countries verging on communism What did this Vietminh victory cause the French to do? • • Geneva Accords are reached. Despite extensive US support, the French were defeated by the Vietminh, who waged a campaign of guerrilla warfare In May of 1954, the French lost the battle of Dien Bien Phu and decided to withdraw from Vietnam How did the Geneva Accords change Vietnam? • Divided it along the 17 th parallel (a communist North Vietnam, led by Ho Chi Minh, and a pro-western South Vietnam, led by Ngo Dinh Diem) • guaranteed future elections (but U. S. DID NOT sign; feared Communists would win the election)

The Vietnam War Moving Toward Conflict 1956 Elections are cancelled. 1957 Vietcong begins attacks

The Vietnam War Moving Toward Conflict 1956 Elections are cancelled. 1957 Vietcong begins attacks on Diem government. Who canceled the Vietnam elections? Why? Ngo Dinh Diem Refused to consider allowing elections to reunite Vietnam into a single state out of fears that such elections would not be conducted legitimately in the communist North and Ho Chi Minh would win • Diem is VERY unpopular oppressive, repressed Buddhists, etc. ); Did little to improve to help the mostly peasant population of the South and his popularity quickly faded

US Response to Vietcong's 1957 • As tensions rose between North and South, Ho

US Response to Vietcong's 1957 • As tensions rose between North and South, Ho Chi Minh organized a new guerrilla army to conduct raids against the South • The US responded by sending military advisors to train the South’s military US response • After taking office in 1961, John Kennedy made the protection of South Vietnam a top US priority • During his presidency, the number of American military personnel in Vietnam jumped from 2000 to 15, 000 • Kennedy also pressured Diem to create a more democratic government in the South

Diem’s Downfall • In Nov. 1963, the US decided to support a coup led

Diem’s Downfall • In Nov. 1963, the US decided to support a coup led by Diem’s generals against him, believing that Diem’s regime was no longer viable • The overthrow led to a weakening of the South’s government, forcing the US to assume more responsibility for maintaining the South’s independence

The Vietnam War Moving Toward Conflict 1963 Diem is overthrown. 1964 U. S. Congress

The Vietnam War Moving Toward Conflict 1963 Diem is overthrown. 1964 U. S. Congress adopts Tonkin Gulf Resolution What authority did the Tonkin Gulf Resolution grant to the U. S. president? • In August 1964, US warships off the Vietnamese coast were attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo boats • The US ships had been assisting the South in espionage against the North, but were attacked without direct provocation • Aug. 7, 1964: Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, authorizing President Johnson to take “all necessary measures” to repel any threat to US forces in the region

Was the U. S. planning to go to war with North Vietnam before the

Was the U. S. planning to go to war with North Vietnam before the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (August 1964)? Document A 1. According to this document, what did the North Vietnamese do? 2. Why did the United States feel compelled to respond at this point? 3. According to this document, was the U. S. planning to go to war in Vietnam before August 1964? Explain your answer. Document B 1. When was this document written? Who wrote it? 2. What did Bundy suggest to the President? 3. What are three reasons why Bundy made this recommendation? 4. According to this document, was the U. S. planning to go to war in Vietnam before August 1964? Explain your answer. Document C 1. When was this document written? Who wrote it? 2. How did Rusk feel about the South Vietnamese government’s ability to fight the Communists? Support your answer with evidence. 3. Why did Rusk think attacking the North Vietnamese is not a smart idea? 4. According to this document, was the U. S. planning to go to war in Vietnam before August 1964? Explain your answer. Document D 1. What type of document is this? How trustworthy do you think this type of document is? 2. What is the dilemma facing President Johnson? 3. According to this document, was the U. S. planning to go to war in Vietnam before August 1964? Explain your answer.

The Vietnam War Moving Toward Conflict 1965 Operation Rolling Thunder is launched. What did

The Vietnam War Moving Toward Conflict 1965 Operation Rolling Thunder is launched. What did Operation Rolling Thunder do in North Vietnam? • Johnson decided to respond to attacks on US forces with a sustained bombing campaign against the North, beginning in March 1965; The same month, Johnson ordered US combat troops into Vietnam

The Ho Chi Minh Trail • Network of jungle paths which allowed for arms,

The Ho Chi Minh Trail • Network of jungle paths which allowed for arms, supplies, and soldiers to move south out of North Vietnam, often through the neighboring nations of Laos or Cambodia • US could not strike at these supply lines because they passed through countries not involved in the war

The Vietnam War What role did each of the following play in the decision

The Vietnam War What role did each of the following play in the decision to escalate U. S. military involvement in Vietnam? Lyndon B. Johnson President – Made decision to escalate U. S. involvement in Vietnam Robert Mc. Namara Secretary of Defense – Advised Johnson on the escalation policy Dean Rusk Secretary of State – Advised Johnson on the escalation policy William Westmoreland Commander of American forces in Vietnam – Requested troops in Vietnam U. S. Congress Democratic Majority – Approved of Johnson’s policies American public opinion Still unhappy with the result of Chinese Civil War and Korean conflict – Approved of Johnson’s policies

The Vietnam War U. S. Military Strategies Result in a Bloody Stalemate What military

The Vietnam War U. S. Military Strategies Result in a Bloody Stalemate What military advantages did the Americans have over the Vietcong? • Superior weaponry What military advantages did the Vietcong have over the Americans? • Knowledge of the terrain • Ability to blend in with civilians • Willingness to pay any price for victory (even high # of causalities) What military strategies did the Americans use against the Vietcong? Americans? • Bombings • War of attrition • Preventing Vietcong support by South Vietnam’s rural population • The use of napalm and Agent Orange • Search-and-destroy missions • Hit-and-run ambushes • Booby traps and land mines • Surprise attacks • Guerilla warfare • Often wore no military uniforms so that they could blend in with the local population

US Policy Makes the War Unwinnable • President Johnson was unwilling to order a

US Policy Makes the War Unwinnable • President Johnson was unwilling to order a fullscale invasion of North Vietnam due to fears that it would provoke China into entering the war directly • Johnson’s refusal to act to cut off the Ho Chi Minh Trail meant that supplies would continue to flow uninterrupted

The Vietnam War “One of the greatest Public support for the war begins to

The Vietnam War “One of the greatest Public support for the war begins to waver as a casualties of the war in Vietnam is the Great “credibility gap” grows. Society…shot down on the What role did each of the following play in this changebattlefield of Vietnam. ” of public support? The U. S. economy • The costs of the war led to an increase in inflation and taxes • Reduction in funding for the Great Society programs Television • Public support for the war had been high in the mid-60 s, but as the reality of the war was displayed nightly on television news programs, American’s enthusiasm quickly eroded • Viewers had to decide whether to believe the government’s claims that we were winning, or trust what they saw on TV – they chose television The Fulbright Hearings • Contributed to the average American’s growing ambivalence about the war

A Nation Divided Defending the War By 1967, how did most Americans feel about

A Nation Divided Defending the War By 1967, how did most Americans feel about U. S. involvement in the Vietnam War? • Supported U. S. involvement Why did “hawks” criticize the Johnson administration’s policies in Vietnam? Hawks supported escalating the war as a noble fight against communism, buying into the “domino theory” that if Vietnam fell, so would all of Southeast Asia Doves opposed the war and called on the government to pull out of Vietnam completely

A Nation Divided Opposing the War What organizations and groups of Americans tended to

A Nation Divided Opposing the War What organizations and groups of Americans tended to oppose the war? • New Left organizations • Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) (urged ordinary Americans to stop idly standing by while the nation was run by wealthy elites and powerful corporations who oppressed the poor and other minority groups) • The Free Speech Movement (FSM) • College students • The young What were some of the reasons the “doves” opposed the war? • Johnson’s revoking college deferments for those not in good academic standing • The belief that the war did not concern the U. S. • The belief that the war was draining U. S. strength • The belief that the war was immoral In what ways did they show their opposition to the war? • Held anti war demonstrations in public areas • Publicly burned draft cards & refused to register • Fled to Canada and Sweden • Marched on Washington • Some refused to serve when drafted, choosing to do time in prison over fighting

Free Speech Movement • In 1964, the Univ. of California moved to restrict students’

Free Speech Movement • In 1964, the Univ. of California moved to restrict students’ rights to distribute literature and recruit for political causes on campus • Students responded by boycotting classes and staging a sit-in at the school’s administration building, prompting police to arrest over 700 protesters • Eventually, the Supreme Court upheld the students’ right to free speech on campus

Teach-Ins • Beginning with the University of Michigan and spreading to hundreds of college

Teach-Ins • Beginning with the University of Michigan and spreading to hundreds of college campuses nationwide, professors and students joined together in abandoning their courses in favor of holding serious debates over whether or not the war in Vietnam was ethical

High Profile Protests • April 1965: SDS organized a march on Washington of more

High Profile Protests • April 1965: SDS organized a march on Washington of more than 20, 000 protestors • April 1967: MLK spoke out in protest of the war, especially its high toll on poor minorities • Oct. 1967: A second protest in Washington drew thousands more than the one two years before

A Nation Divided Avoiding the War What were some of the ways that young

A Nation Divided Avoiding the War What were some of the ways that young American men avoided military service in Vietnam? • • Found doctors to give medical deferments Looked for lenient draft boards Joined the National Guard or Coast Guard Enrolled in college In what sense was the Vietnam War a “working class” war? How did it become one? • Nearly 80% of U. S. soldiers came from lower income levels • A common way to get deferment was by enrolling in college, which generally required having money • African Americans made up about 10% of the US population, but accounted for 20% of US casualties during the war

Ending the Vietnam War 1968: A Tumultuous Year Causes Events of 1968 Effects •

Ending the Vietnam War 1968: A Tumultuous Year Causes Events of 1968 Effects • The Vietnam War • The Vietcong’s push to capture cities in South Vietnam Tet Offensive (Vietnamese New Year) the Vietcong launched a surprise attack, hitting nearly every US base and major South Vietnamese city at the same time • The Vietcong even attacked the US Embassy in the capital of Saigon • A military defeat for the Vietcong • A dramatic fall in the popularity of Johnson and the war b/c the American public was deeply shocked that such an attack could have occurred from an enemy the government claimed was nearly beaten • Johnson’s decisions to change his Vietnam policy and not to seek reelection

Ending the Vietnam War 1968: A Tumultuous Year Causes Events of 1968 • The

Ending the Vietnam War 1968: A Tumultuous Year Causes Events of 1968 • The Tet Offensive Johnson’s poor showing in • The unpopularity of the New Hampshire Vietnam policy primary • The growing popularity of Eugene Mc. Carthy’s antiwar message • The Wall Street Journal began to openly criticize the war as a failure • CBS Evening News anchorman Walter Cronkite declared “It is more certain than ever that the bloody experience in Vietnam is to end in a stalemate” • President Johnson’s approval rating plummeted to 26% Effects • Robert Kennedy’s decision to run for president • Johnson’s decision not to run for reelection; Johnson surprised everyone when he announced in March 1968, "I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President. “

Ending the Vietnam War 1968: A Tumultuous Year • • Causes Events of 1968

Ending the Vietnam War 1968: A Tumultuous Year • • Causes Events of 1968 Racism Hatred Intolerance An atmosphere of violence Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Effects • Feelings of anger and despair among his followers • Violent riots in more than 100 U. S. cities

Ending the Vietnam War 1968: A Tumultuous Year Causes • Hatred • An atmosphere

Ending the Vietnam War 1968: A Tumultuous Year Causes • Hatred • An atmosphere of violence in the country Events of 1968 Effects The top candidate to win the Democratic • Feelings of despair nomination, JFK’s younger brother and hopelessness Robert, was shot and killed on June 6, 1968 by a Palestinian who was angry among his followers over Kennedy’s support of Israel “Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not. ”

Ending the Vietnam War 1968: A Tumultuous Year Causes Events of 1968 • Disagreements

Ending the Vietnam War 1968: A Tumultuous Year Causes Events of 1968 • Disagreements among Democrats over Vietnam • The presence of 10, 000 demonstrators with different goals • The poor judgment and brutality of the Chicago police Disorder at the Democratic National Convention Democrats nominate LBJ’s Vice. President Hubert Humphrey to run against Rep- Richard Nixon George Wallace ran as an independent Effects • The negative image of the Democratic Party • A Republican presidential victory (Nixon)

Ending the Vietnam War 1968: A Tumultuous Year Causes Events of 1968 • Weakened

Ending the Vietnam War 1968: A Tumultuous Year Causes Events of 1968 • Weakened Democratic candidate (Humphrey) • The desire for peace, law, and order that Nixon had promised • The entry of Wallace into the race (segregation candidate who won Southern Democratic votes) Richard M. Nixon’s presidential victory Effects

Ending the Vietnam War What was the political party of each of the following

Ending the Vietnam War What was the political party of each of the following and describe the position that each held or sought in 1968. Person Who They Were Party Position They Sought Clark Clifford Eugene Mc. Carthy Hubert Humphrey George Wallace Replaced Robert Mc. Namara as Secretary of Defense Senator from Minnesota D Johnson’s VP D Alabama governor who ran as a third-party candidate D Ind. Called Vietnam a “sinkhole” and looked for a way out Pledged to run against President Johnson to end the war Became the Democratic candidate for president in 1968 Pro-segregation; considered the “white backlash” candidate against urban violence and antiwar protesters

Richard Nixon • 1913 – 1994 • 37 th President (1969 – 74) •

Richard Nixon • 1913 – 1994 • 37 th President (1969 – 74) • Had been Eisenhower’s Vice. President and had lost the 1960 presidential election • Nixon also lost the 1962 election for Governor of California, after which he temporarily withdrew from politics, pledging "You won't have Nixon to kick around anymore” • Entered the 1968 presidential election at the urging of his many Republican supporters

The End of the Vietnam War and Its Legacy Ending the Vietnam War Nixon

The End of the Vietnam War and Its Legacy Ending the Vietnam War Nixon adopts a policy of Vietnamization- To gradually scaling back the number of US ground troops in Vietnam, turning the war over to US trained South Vietnamese troops Nov. 1969 -The My Lai Massacre story shocks Americans. US soldiers labeled as “baby killers” American platoon massacred over 200 unarmed Vietnamese civilians, mostly • To establish “peace with honor”- Nixon wanted the US to be able to negotiate an end children and the elderly, in the village of My to the war with the North from a position of Lai. strength, so a complete US withdrawal wasn’t practical

The End of the Vietnam War and Its Legacy Ending the Vietnam War While

The End of the Vietnam War and Its Legacy Ending the Vietnam War While scaling back the numbers in Vietnam, Nixon stepped up US air strikes against the North and allowed the bombing of Vietcong sanctuaries and supply routes in Cambodia Americans saw this as a widening of the war and as a betrayal of Nixon’s promise to end it • To protest the invasion of Cambodia • Kent State Massacre: an Ohio university where National Guardsmen opened fire on students protesting the Vietnam War on May 4, 1970, wounding nine and killing four. • 10 days later, police killed 2 student protestors at Jackson State College in Mississippi

The End of the Vietnam War and Its Legacy Ending the Vietnam War Nixon

The End of the Vietnam War and Its Legacy Ending the Vietnam War Nixon had not informed Congress of his authorization of the invasion of Cambodia December 1970: Congress repealed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, removing the president’s authority to solely direct the war The “Christmas bombings” take place. - 11 days of bombing in North Vietnam (paused only on Christmas Day). Bombing stop when North agreed to resume talks. Jan 27, 1973 - Paris Peace Accord signed- US promised to: 1. withdraw all troops 2. Both sides agreed to exchange prisoners 3. North Vietnamese troops were NOT required to withdraw from the South No permanent peace was promised between North and South

The End of the Vietnam War and Its Legacy Ending the Vietnam War South

The End of the Vietnam War and Its Legacy Ending the Vietnam War South Vietnam surrenders to North Vietnam veterans receive a cold homecoming. • North Vietnam’s full-scale invasion of South • Americans very torn and bitter about the Vietnam and the capture of Saigon war • No U. S. troops there to prevent the North’s victory

The End of the Vietnam War and Its Legacy Ending the Vietnam War Cambodia

The End of the Vietnam War and Its Legacy Ending the Vietnam War Cambodia erupts in civil war. Congress passes the War Powers Act. • Communist group known as the Khmer Rouge (led by Pol Pot) seized power • To transform Cambodia to a peasant society, all professionals and educated people were executed (at least 1 million) • To curb the president’s war-making powers • Requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of sending forces • Troops cannot remain after 90 days without congressional authorization

The End of the Vietnam War and Its Legacy Ending the Vietnam War Former

The End of the Vietnam War and Its Legacy Ending the Vietnam War Former Dept. of Defense employee Daniel Ellsberg leaked classified documents to the • 26 th Amendment lowered the voting age to New York Times 18. • The Pentagon Papers- These documents revealed that the White House and military had deliberately acted to deceive Congress, the media, and the public about how the war was progressing The draft is abolished. NY Times vs. Nixon- Nixon attempted to prevent the Times from publishing the information, claiming that it was a violation of the Espionage Act to publish classified government papers Ruling- The Supreme Court ruled that 1 st Amendment Freedom of Press rights held, since the government could offer no justification for prior restraint

Vietnam Vocabulary Terms to Know Silent majority a name given by President Richard Nixon

Vietnam Vocabulary Terms to Know Silent majority a name given by President Richard Nixon to the moderate, mainstream Americans who quietly supported his Vietnam War policies. Pentagon Papers a 7, 000 -page document—leaked to the press in 1971 by the former Defense Department worker Daniel Ellsberg— revealing that the U. S. government had not been honest about its intentions in the Vietnam War. Henry Kissinger President Nixon’s top adviser for national security and negotiator in Vietnam Khmer Rouge Ruling Communist party in Cambodia led by Pol Pot

The Counter-culture • Upper and middle class white youth began to abandon the mores

The Counter-culture • Upper and middle class white youth began to abandon the mores of their parents’ generation and create a new society, one that promoted the virtues of “sex, drugs, and rock and roll” • Sometimes these “hippies” lived and worked together in classless communes, pursuing the ideals of tolerance and cooperation, or pursuing new religious experiences such as Unification (a messianic cult) or Hare Krishna (an offshoot of Hinduism)

Woodstock • August 1969 • Music festival, held in upstate New York • Over

Woodstock • August 1969 • Music festival, held in upstate New York • Over 500, 000 hippies attended this celebration of love, peace, and rock and roll that was the pinnacle of the counter-culture movement

The Costs of Vietnam • US spent $168 billion on the war • Over

The Costs of Vietnam • US spent $168 billion on the war • Over 48, 000 American dead and over 300, 000 wounded • Over 1700 Americans remain “Missing In Action” (MIA) • Over 1 million refugees from Southeast Asia emigrated to the US • Americans had lost faith in their government’s ability to be honest with them