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Vietnam

Explore the origins, key events, and eventual end of America's involvement in the Vietnam War. Learn about the political decisions, military strategies, and social impact of this divisive conflict.

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Vietnam

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  1. An Overview of America’s Longest War Vietnam

  2. “There are 1.1 billion brown people. In many Eastern countries they are ruled by a handful of whites and they resent it. Our goal must be to help them achieve independence. 1.1 billion potential enemies are dangerous.” -FDR in response to European imperialism before WWII

  3. The Beginning • After WWII, the French began to reassert power over its colonies in Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia) • This was going to be difficult since some independence had been achieved by the Vietnamese during WWII • Ho Chi Minh formed the Viet Minh to stand up against the French, using guerilla tactics extensively • Initially, the United States was not prepared to participate in the French war effort, but after the Korean War and sweeping influence of McCarthy, stopping Communism around the world seemed more urgent • US began providing financial aid to the French in 1950 • The French severely underestimated the Vietnamese, and after their loss at Dien Bien Phu, they pulled out of Vietnam

  4. Peace? • 1954- In the Geneva, the treaty negotiations split Vietnam at the 17th parallel, Ho Chi Minh controlling the North, and the French leader Ngo Dinh Diem in the South • The nation would remain divided until the 1956 elections • Both the South and US had objections to the treaty, but the US agreed not to interfere • During the interim period, Diem cracked down on Communist sympathizers in the South, arresting over 100,000, many of whom were tortured and executed • Nicknamed the northern Communists the Viet Cong • July of 1955, Diem states that the South was not bound by the Geneva treaty- cancelled the elections • Since the North could not peacefully reunite the country, fighting resumed • By 1959, South Vietnam amassed an army to oppose the North

  5. JFK and Vietnam • JFK had a new military focus- away from buildup of nuclear weapons- more air force and special forces (such as the Green Berets) • Foreign policy • Monolithic Communism – belief that all Communist movements in the world were connected to Moscow and the USSR • Domino Theory- belief that if one country fell to Communism, others in the region would fall as well “like dominos” • Kennedy committed 18,000 US advisors to Vietnam, along with almost 9,000 troops, although it was not the full might of the US military • Protests in South Vietnam against the corruption of Diem’s government- immolation of Buddhist priests

  6. JFK and Vietnam Cont. In response to the protests, Kennedy approved a covert mission to remove Diem Diem and his brother were murdered in 1963 Led to a chain of political instability in the south

  7. Johnson and Vietnam After the assassination of Diem (just before Kennedy’s death) , instability in the South convinced Johnson and his Secretary of State McNamara to increase military support Each step made it harder to turn around Johnson campaigned in 1964, promising not to send American soldiers to Vietnam

  8. The Gulf of Tonkin • August 2, 1964 • US Destroyer Maddox was fired upon by North Vietnamese torpedo boats • The Maddox was spying on North Vietnamese activities • Johnson gathered congressional leaders, and accused the North Vietnamese of “open aggression on the high seas” • He didn’t explain the circumstances surrounding the attack • The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (passed on Aug 7, 1964) allowed “all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.” • The US was now militarily committed to Vietnam

  9. Escalation • Operation Rolling Thunder • Bombing campaign from 1965-1968 • Focused on strategic points that could force the North to give up • Johnson tried to take the middle ground- resisting aggression without committing the entirety of American military power- 210,000 troops to Vietnam in 1965 • Promised that it would be brief- 6 months • But as the war progressed and the Viet Cong forces increased, Johnson added men- 470,000 men by 1967

  10. The Tet Offensive • 1968- Massive series of attacks launched by the North Vietnamese on over 100 cities across Vietnam • Coincided with the Vietnamese new year (Tet) • Enormous psychological impact on the US • Convinced America that this war was not being won • Surge of unhappiness with Johnson’s administration • After Tet, Johnson knew he was finished in Washington and did not attempt to run in 1968

  11. Nixon and Vietnam When he was elected, Nixon claimed to have a plan to end our involvement in Vietnam “Peace with honor” Involved placing more responsibility on the South Vietnamese to reduce American casualties

  12. The End • Nixon’s strategies led to more and more unpopular results • Bombings of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Cambodia • Invasion of Laos and Cambodia- set off a bloody civil war • Large scale bombings • January of 1973 • Cease-fire was reached between the North and South • US agreed to completely withdraw from Vietnam • Historians agree that Nixon knew the South didn’t have a real chance after the Americans pulled out • April 30, 1975- Northern troops took over the Southern capital of Saigon- reuniting the country under Communist rule

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