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Vietnam War until 1968

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  1. Vietnam War until 1968

  2. Vietnam • Controlled by France until WW2 • Japan took it during WW2, opposed by the Viet Minh

  3. Viet Minh • Vietnamese Communists who fought for independence • In WW2, supported by US & China against Japan • Founded by Ho Chi Minh

  4. Ho Chi Minh • Vietnamese Communist Leader • National hero for fighting for Vietnamese independence

  5. French claims to Vietnam • After WW2, France tried to regain control of Vietnam • Indochina War • Viet Minh defeated French in northern city of Dien Bien Phu

  6. Geneva Accords - 1954 • Treaty separated Vietnam into N&S • North – Communist • South – Nationalist • National election to decide which system for unified Vietnam

  7. Conflict inside Vietnam • SV pres Ngo Dinh Diem feared communists would win the nationwide election • Refused to allow the election • US supported him

  8. Ngo regime • Vietnam – majority Buddhist • Diem was Christian, had laws passed that restricted Buddhism

  9. Vietcong (VC) • Organization of Communists living in South Vietnam • Worked to overthrow Diem • Assassinated SV officials

  10. Vietcong (VC) • VC was located in SV • Communist allies in NV helped • Supply line from N to S nicknamed “Ho Chi Minh Trail”

  11. JFK & Vietnam • At first, supported Diem’s rule • Didn’t want to look “soft on communism” so supported strongest anticommunist • Then, Diem’s oppression of the people got worse

  12. Diem & Buddhism • Diem began imprisoning & killing Buddhist monks • Some protested by committing ritual suicide

  13. JFK & Vietnam • US public horrified by repression of Buddhists in SV • JFK approved a US / SV coup to overthrow Diem • Diem was assassinated in the coup

  14. Gulf of Tonkin • US Navy was on patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin area • NV shot torpedoes at USS Maddox

  15. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution • Congress gave LBJ power to expand military presence in Vietnam • US began bombing targets in north • War escalated

  16. US gets involved • Most in US supported involvement in Vietnam at first • Containment doctrine • 1965: 61% • LBJ’s top advisors urged him to  number of US troops

  17. Troop buildup • Gen William Westmoreland wanted more US troops • Said US troops would fight better than US-trained S Vietnamese • Reported battlefield success to convince them to add troops • Credibility Gap – public eventually didn’t trust reports

  18. Gen. William Westmoreland

  19. Troop buildup • Number of US soldiers in Vietnam • Mid-1964 16,000 • End of 1965 180,000 • 1967 500,000

  20. Fighting in the jungle • US had superior weapons, but jungle was very tough to fight in • Provided cover for VC guerilla tactics • Elaborate tunnel systems allowed for escape and/or resupply • VC could blend into villages

  21. Fighting in the jungle • US had superior weapons, but jungle was very tough to fight in • No front line of advance – attacks were hit and run everywhere • Booby traps & land mines • Jungle weather • Ridiculous insects

  22. War of attrition • Gradually wear your enemy down & destroy morale until they quit • Gen Westmoreland’s main strategy • Didn’t work at all – Vietcong were way too committed to their cause

  23. War on rural Vietnamese • Had to keep S Vietnamese from joining Vietcong cause • Very difficult because US had to destroy the jungle to win • To fight out in the open • Angered the locals

  24. Getting rid of jungle • US used Napalm and Agent Orange to destroy the jungle

  25. Napalm

  26. Napalm

  27. Agent Orange

  28. Agent Orange

  29. Morale of US soldiers • US military strategies caused morale of troops to drop • No end in sight • Many became alcoholics & drug addicts • Draftees were drag on morale

  30. War at home • Impact on LBJ’s Great Society programs for the poor • High cost of war = massive debts • $ that would have gone to help poor went to war • Gov had to raise taxes also

  31. How the Draft always worked • Since WWI: • All men register when they turn 18 • Anyone not excluded (usu medical reasons) between 18-26 serves

  32. How Vietnam War Draft worked • People got out of it: • Med exemptions (many were bogus) • National Guard • Coast Guard • College deferment • Most people who avoided service were wealthy & white

  33. African Americans & Vietnam • 10% of total population of USA • 20% of Vietnam deaths • MLK spoke about “cruel irony” • Fighting for others’ freedom & equality when they didn’t have it themselves

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