Vietnam War Introduction

1. Vietnam War Introduction Ms. Humes

2. Vietnam Basics • Location: • In Southeast Asia, near Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and parts of China • Population • 83 Million People • Mostly Buddhist • Strong minority of Catholics • Resources • Very fertile, hot and wet climate, many resources

3. Vietnam History (Key Points) • Vietnam-Chinese Relations • Not a good relationship • One of few Asian Countries to defeat the Mongols at the time of Kubali and Genghis Khan • Victim of Chinese Colonialism • Indochina & French Colonialism • Vietnam gains independence from China, ends in the mid-19th century, when Vietnam is colonized by the French Empire. • The French exploited Vietnam’s resources and people, introduced Catholicism, western education,and French language and customs. • Vietnamese strongly resisted imperialism from – Chinese, Mongols, French, and Japanese. Many American military and political leaders were ignorant of this aspect of Vietnamese history.

4. WWI & Vietnam • At the end of WWI, American President Woodrow Wilson promises to end colonialism. • A young Ho Chi Minh attends Versaillies Conference hoping to gain Vietnamese Independence from France. • Viet Minh – founded by Ho Chi Minh. • Communist/Nationalist group that opposed the French and later Japanese. • Nationalism – pride in your country, desire for independent homeland for your people.

5. WWII & Vietnam • At the beginning of the War, French still control Vietnam. Vietnamese resistance grows. • Ho Chi Minh • Leader of the Viet Minh • Wants an independent Vietnam • Opposes French, Japanese, and AMERICAN • Trains in China and USSR • Helps rescue Americans during WWII • Communist/Nationalists

6. Declaring Independence • WW2 Ends and September 2, 1945, Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam independent. • Ho Chi Minh reads from US Declaration of Independence • Some see Ho Chi Minh’s Declaration of Independence as evidence of being a nationalists rather than being a communist. They refer to this example has him expressing his interest in having a relationship with the United States. • BUT, the French want Indochina back, and they do not recognize Vietnamese independence. Reclaim colony. • What should the US do? Support Vietnamese or help France regain its colonial empire?

7. Divided American State Department • European Experts in American Government support backing France. • Asia Experts in American Government support backing Ho Chi Minh • Feel he is a Nationalists or “Asian Tito” SO? US Backs France. Truman Adminstration then Eisenhower Administration back France. Due to the following factors:-Korean War, Loss of China to communists, Idea of monolithic communism, Cold War, Strong France helps stop communism in Western Europe, Containment, and belief that Ho Chi Minh was more of a communist than nationalists!

8. First Indo-China War • 1945-1954 • France vs. Viet Minh • French try to keep Vietnam, Viet Minh fight for Independence • 70% of French costs are paid by US • Dien Bien Phu • 1954 • Final defeat of French by Vietnamese, French Surrender • 1954 Geneva Conference • End Hostilities between French and Vietnamese • Temporarily divide Vietnam at 17th parallel until French leave. • Elections in 1956 • Realities of Geneva Conference • Dominated by Soviets and Chinese • America doesn’t directly participate or recognize results, since US won’t negotiate with communist China. • Americans Know Ho Chi Minh & Communists will easily win election.

9. If Vietnam turns Communist… • Containment theory fails • Domino Theory, feat of monolithic communist alliance of China, Vietnam, and USSR

10. South Vietnam • Instead of supporting Geneva Agreement and allowing unification elections and a Communist victory, US supports creation of a non-Communist, South Vietnam. • American war in Vietnam is fought to keep South Vietnam Non-Communist!

11. JFK & Vietnam • Views Vietnam as important to Cold War like Truman and Eisenhower • Begins Escalation of Troops • Overall picture unsure due to assassination • JFK believed the best way to stop communists in Vietnam was to build South Vietnam into a nation.

12. Ngo Dinh Diem • First leader of South Vietnam • Nationalist but strongly anti-Communist • Catholic • Receives strong support from Eisenhower & Kennedy • Massive military and financial aid from US • Brutal to communists • Upsets Buddhist Majority • Brother & Sister-in-Law are unpopular • Adminstration is very corrupt

13. Assassination of Diem • November 1963 • Kennedy either knew of the plot and ignored it or supported it. • South Vietnamese government would never be stable. • Increased American involvement in South Vietnam’s Internal Affairs.

14. Check in # 1 • When Eisenhower left office, less than 1,000 US soldiers were in Vietnam • At the time of Kennedy’s assassination, over 16,000 solders were in Vietnam. • By 1969, Vietnam had 543,000 US soliders • Many of the solders under JFK were Special Forces and under Johnson, regular ground troops were introduced.

15. Golf of Tonkin Resolution • North Vietnamese “attack” on two US ships in the Gulf of Tonkin is Johnson’s excuse to get congressional approval for major escalation in Vietnam. • TERMS: • Hanoi – refers to North Vietnamese government • NVA – North Vietnamese Army • VC/Charlie- Viet Cong: Communist rebels in South Vietnam • ARVN – South Vietnamese Army • POW – Prisoner of War • MIA – Missing in Action

16. Who did America Fight in Vietnam? • Viet Cong • North Vietnamese Army • Both groups were heavily supplied from USSR via China

17. Johnson & Limited War • Johnson was afraid of conflict spreading to involve USSR & China. • Strict rules of engagement – limited targets for US Troops and Air Strikes • Areas of North Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos • North Vietnamese Communists can attack, move supplies from and retreat • AMERICAN TROOPS CANNOT GO • North Vietnam • Wants a unified, Communist Vietnam • Wants Americans Out • Wants One Vietnam

18. Early American Support for War in Vietnam • Americans initially supported the war • Hit Song “The Green Berets” • Public is told troops will be home soon, and the war is almost over. • Vietnam is the first war that is heavily covered by television networks. • American public sees daily images of casualties • Public begins to turn against the war.

19. Escalation • Johnson attempts to limit the war while at the same time constantly increasing the number of soldiers in Vietnam • Over 500,000 soldiers by 1969 • LBJ would attempt negotiations at the same time he would scale back offensive operations in Vietnam • North Vietnamese take advantage of this.

20. Tet Offensive • Tet – most important holiday in Vietnam, Vietnamese New Year. It is the most popular festival in Vietnam. • 1968 Cease Fire • 1968 • Viet Cong attack every major US base in South Vietnam • North Vietnamese Army takes city of Hue and kills many inhabitants. • US Embassy in Saigon is attacked.

21. Effects of Tet • Major Military victory for the US • Viet Cong is devasted • American media turns against the war. • American public turns against the war. • Political and psychological victory for North Vietnam. • American Anti-War Movement • Strong anti-war movement in US • War divides American population

22. Richard Nixon • Elected in 1968 • Claims to have a “secret plan” to end war in Vietnam

23. Cambodia • Neutral • Viet Cong & North Vietnamese use Cambodia as a sanctuary • US troops cannot enter • Cambodian government is powerless from preventing Communists from entering • Bad history between Vietnam & Cambodia

24. Nixon & Cambodia • Nixon: • Supports coup that puts strong anti-Communist government in charge • Expands conflict • Secretly bombs and invades Cambodia • Bombing & Invasion fails to make any significance in war • Cambodian communists go deeper into Cambodia • Vietnamese were using Cambodia to attack Americans • Public Opinion: • War is illegal • Public is outraged at expansion of the conflict • Massive protests

25. Nixon & Ending Vietnam War • Uses combination of increased bombing of North Vietnam and Secret Negotations • Diplomacy with China and USSR • Vietnamization – Nixon’s Plan • Turn the war over to the South Vietnamese • Train & equip South Vietnamese to fight the North • US Troops withdraw • Last US troops leave by 1973 • South Vietnam Betrayed? • South Vietnam is promised that the US would send troops, money, and supplies if North Vietnamese launched a massive attack. • Nixon resigns due to Watergate • Congress and American people do not support further involvement

26. 1975 & Results of War • North Vietnam takes over South Vietnam • US doesn’t prevent the take over. • Vietnam is unified under one communist state • Results: • 60,000 Americans killed • US reluctant to use military power • American public is divided • Americans don’t trust government • Vietnam is Communist • Cambodia falls to Communists • Khmer Rouge/Cambodian Communist take power • Pol Pot is leader • Killing Fields – Genocide of 1/3 of the Cambodian population • Vietnam invades and occupies Cambodia to defeat Khmer Rouge

27. Vietnam & China • 1979 War between Vietnam & China • China improved relations with US after Nixon’s visit • Vietnam moved closer to USSR • China supports Khmer Rouge and is upset that Vietnam defeats it. • China attempts to invade Vietnam to “teach lesson” • Chinese leave after 1 month • Vietnamese put up much stronger fight than Chinese expected

28. Closing Questions • On a separate sheet of paper, answer the following: • How was Tet a turning point in the Vietnam War? • How did TV affect people’s view of the Vietnam War? • What country did President Nixon expand the Vietnam War into? • Which US President is associated with escalating the number of US troops in Vietnam? • What year did the last US troops leave Vietnam?