VIETNAM Dien Bien Phu 1954 French defeated at

VIETNAM

Dien Bien Phu (1954) • French defeated at Dien Bien Phu • Geneva Agreement (1954) – Divides Vietnam at 17 th parallel • Ike uses Domino Theory as justification for intervention – Support Diem in S. Vietnam

Diem Regime (54 -63) • Ngo Dinh Diem president – JFK has 16, 000 men in S Vietnam. • Diem’s popularity fades – Attacks Buddhist – Nepotism • Results – Vietcong grows in South – Diem overthrown by military coup (63)

Tonkin Gulf Incident (1964) • LBJ’s standing shot up • In a few years, his credibility will be destroyed

U. S. Role Increases • Vietcong attack U. S base at Pleiku (1965) • Operation Rolling Thunder (1965 -68) • Limited War – Not invade the North. Don’t want China or Soviets involved • Decided on war of attrition and pacification (hamlets) – Alienate peasants

Jungle Warfare • Dangers – – – – – Ambushes Booby Traps Land Mines Heat Malaria Foliage Napalm Agent Orange Ho Chi Minh Trail Limited War • Wins based on body count • Other issues – drugs • The enemy: Vietcong – Farmer and guerilla – Willing to accept high causalities – Resolved • Who truly is the enemy? – They all look the same – Search and destroy missions • Unsuccessful • Alienate peasants

1968: A Pivotal Year • The Tet Offensive – Jan. 30, 1968 • Effects – LBJ outlines plans to end the war peacefully – Escalation stops – LBJ not run for Prez – Divided Democrats

Morale Low • No territorial gains • Body counts on T. V every night (MEDIA PLAYS A BIG ROLE!!!) – 1968 = 500 dead a week • Wonder what we were fighting for – Were we becoming the enemy?

Protest: Hawks vs Doves Columbia University 1968 March on the Pentagon 1967

Protest: African American

Nixon’s War • “Peace with honor” • “Vietnamization” • Nixon’s Doctrine – U. S honor existing commitments, but in future, Asia will have to fight their own wars (no troops) • Secret War w/ Cambodia • Appeals to “silent majority” – Tough on crime – Not push Civil Rights policies • “Southern Strategy”

My Lai Massacre (Spring ’ 68) • 200 -400 villagers massacred by U. S. soldiers • Revealed in Nov. ’ 69, increasing protest

Student Protest (1970) • Kent State (Ohio) • Jackson State (Miss. ) • Possible Results – Congress repealed Gulf of Tonkin Resolution – 26 th Amendment (1971) – lowering the voting age to 18

Pentagon Papers (1971)

End of War • “Christmas Bombings” (’ 72) • Paris Accords (Jan. ’ 73) – U. S withdraw in 60 days – 17 th parallel divide N and S – POWs released • War Powers Act (‘ 73) – Prez must notify Congress within 48 hrs of deploying troops – Must withdraw troops unless gets Congress approval within 90 days • Saigon falls 1975 (under Carter)

The Cost • 3 mill Vietnamese killed • 58, 000 Americans killed • 300, 000 wounded • 2, 583 POW/ MIA • $118 billion • Lose of trust in govt • Genocide in Cambodia