The Vietnam War Years

1. The Vietnam War Years • The United States becomes locked in a military stalemate in Southeast Asia. U.S. forces withdraw after a decade of heavy war casualties abroad and assassinations and antiwar demonstrations at home. NEXT

2. Section 1 Moving Toward Conflict To stop the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, the United States uses CIA advisorsto support South Vietnam. NEXT

3. SECTION Moving Toward Conflict 1 America Supports France in Vietnam French Rule in Vietnam • Late 1800s–WW II, France rules most of Indochina • Ho Chi Minh—leader of Vietnamese independence movement - helps create Indochinese Communist Party • 1940, Japanese take control of Vietnam • Vietminh—organization that aims to rid Vietnam of foreign rule • Sept. 1945, Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam an independent nation Continued . . . NEXT

4. SECTION 1 continuedAmerica Supports France in Vietnam France Battles the Vietminh • French troops in Vietnam; fight, regain cities, in the South • 1950, U.S. begins economic aid to France to stop communism The Vietminh Drive Out the French • Domino theory—countries can fall to communism like row of dominoes • 1954, Vietminh overrun French at Dien Bien Phu; France surrenders • • Geneva Accordsdivide Vietnam at 17th parallel; Communists get north. President Eisenhower fails to lead decisively while paying over 80% of French military costs. • Election to unify country called for in 1956 NEXT

5. SECTION 1 The United States Steps In Diem Cancels Elections • Open and fair elections throughout the whole of Vietnam would have placed Ho in charge. Ho has brutal, repressive regime – over 9000 flee N. Vietnam. • S. Vietnam’s anti-Communist president Ngo Dinh Diemrefuses election. Knew N. Vietnam had bigger population so Ho would win. Diem was French-educated Catholic in mostly Buddhist nation. • U.S. promises military aid for stable, reform government in South • Diem stifles opposition, restricts Buddhism • Vietcong(Communist opposition group in South)assassinated government disease-control squads sent out to spray malarial swamps; killed doctors traveling from hospitals to the villages; and killed pro-government village chiefs after hacking off the arms of their children, displaying impaled heads on stakes outside the village as a warning to others. Continued . . . NEXT

6. SECTION 1 continued The United States Steps In Kennedy and Vietnam • Like Eisenhower, JFK backs Diem financially; sends CIA advisers • Diem’s popularity plummets from oppressive practices. • Diem starts strategic hamlet program to fight Vietcong - villagers resent being moved from ancestral homes • Diem presses attacks on Buddhism; monks burn themselves in protest • Kennedy worried that he can’t control Diem. US & Western press reports on Diem’s persecution of Buddhists. • U.S. (CIA) supported military coup topples government; Diem assassinated by Gen. Duong Van Minh after promising safe passage. NEXT

7. SECTION 1 continued The United States Steps in Kennedy and Vietnam • Kennedy shocked at coup outcome. • Leader of the Viet Cong called Diem’s assassination a “gift from Heaven for us.” • Kennedy & Sec. of Defense McNamara isolate JCS – not always briefing them. • JCS in disarray because each military branch wanted to take lead role in Vietnam. • Kennedy first president to order military troops to Vietnam – secretly sends 500 Green Berets. • By 1963 almost 17,000 U.S. military forces were stationed in South Vietnam, along with helicopters and naval units. • Final Press Conference Kennedy said, “For us to withdraw . . . would mean a collapse not only of South Vietnam but Southeast Asia. . . . So we are going to stay there.” NEXT

8. SECTION 1 President Johnson Expands the Conflict The South Grows More Unstable • Succession of military leaders rule S. Vietnam; country unstable • LBJ thinks U.S. can lose international prestige if communists win The Tonkin Gulf Resolution • Alleged attack in Gulf of Tonkin; LBJ asks for power to repel enemy (2 attacks, 1 probable, 1 no evidence) • 1964 Tonkin Gulf Resolution gives him broad military powers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd6zKqGcaOM • 1965 8 Americans killed, LBJ orders limited bombing of North • U.S. combat troops sent to S. Vietnam to battle Vietcong NEXT

9. Section 2 U.S. Involvement and Escalation The United States sends troops to fight in Vietnam, but the war quickly turns into a stalemate. NEXT

10. SECTION U.S. Involvement and Escalation 2 Johnson Increases U.S. Involvement Strong Support for Containment • LBJ hesitates breaking promise to keep troops out; works with: - Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, Secretary of State Dean Rusk • Congress, majority of public support sending troops The Troop Buildup Accelerates • General William Westmoreland—U.S. commander in South Vietnam • Thinks southern Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) ineffective • Requests increasing numbers; by 1967 500,000 U.S. troops NEXT

11. SECTION 2 Fighting in the Jungle An Elusive Enemy • Vietcong use hit-and-run, ambush tactics, move among civilians • Tunnels help withstand airstrikes, launch attacks, connect villages • Terrain laced with booby traps, land mines laid by U.S., Vietcong A Frustrating War of Attrition • Westmoreland tries to destroy Vietcong morale through attrition • Vietcong receive supplies from China, U.S.S.R.; remain defiant • U.S. sees war as military conflict – not war; Vietcong as battle for survival Continued . . . NEXT

12. SECTION 2 Fighting in the Jungle - Continued • United States could have won • 1995 - Colonel Bui Tin of the North Vietnamese Army said – • “Cut the Ho Chi Minh Trail. If Johnson had granted General Westmoreland’s request to enter Laos and block the Ho Chi Minh Trail, Hanoi could not have won the war.” Continued . . . NEXT

13. SECTION 2 continuedFighting in the Jungle The Battle for “Hearts and Minds” • U.S. wants to stop Vietcong from winning support of rural population • Weapons for exposing tunnels often wound civilians, destroy villages - napalm:gasoline-based bomb that sets fire to jungle - Agent Orange: leaf-killing, toxic chemical • Search-and-destroy missionsmove civilian suspects, destroy property • Villagers go to cities, refugee camps; 1967, over 3 million refugees Continued . . . NEXT

14. SECTION 2 continuedFighting in the Jungle Sinking Morale • Guerrilla warfare, jungle conditions, lack of progress lower morale • Somesoldiers turn to alcohol, drugs; some kill (fragging) superior officers • Government corruption, instability lead S. Vietnam to demonstrate Fulfilling a Duty • Most U.S. soldiers believe in justice of halting communism • Fight courageously, take patriotic pride in fulfilling their duty NEXT

15. SECTION 2 The Early War at Home The Great Society Suffers • War grows more costly with more troops; inflation rate rising • LBJ gets tax increase to pay for war, check inflation - has to accept $6 billion funding cut for Great Society The Living-Room War • Combat footage on nightly TV news shows stark picture of war • Critics say credibility gapbetween administration reports and events • Senator J. William Fulbright’s hearings add to doubts about war NEXT