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Ch. 30: Vietnam

Ch. 30: Vietnam. Vietnam War created bitter divisions throughout the country 58,000 soldiers died Today: U.S. is reluctant to commit troops War Powers Act can limit a president’s power. Vietnamese Nationalism. French Indochina Japanese rule WWII Ho Chi Minh Traveled Europe

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Ch. 30: Vietnam

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  1. Ch. 30: Vietnam • Vietnam War created bitter divisions throughout the country • 58,000 soldiers died • Today: U.S. is reluctant to commit troops • War Powers Act can limit a president’s power

  2. Vietnamese Nationalism • French Indochina • Japanese rule WWII • Ho Chi Minh • Traveled Europe • Backer of communism • 1930: Indochinese Communist Party • 1941: Vietminh

  3. U.S. supports France • Ho Chi Minh drafts Dec of Independence • France returns to Vietnam 1946 • Fighting escalates • U.S. didn’t think France should rule, but didn’t want Vietnam to be communist either

  4. U.S. supports France • U.S. convinced that USSR is imposing communism on E. Asia • Korean War • China = communist • Domino Theory – if one state falls under the influence of communism, the surrounding states would follow

  5. French Withdraw • Guerilla Warfare – small groups of “irregulars” use ambushes, sabotage, raids, & the element of surprise to harass a larger, less mobile army • French withdraw May 1954 • Dien Bien Phu

  6. Geneva Accords • Temporarily divides Vietnam at the 17th parallel • Vietminh control North • Pro-West in South • 1956 elections would unite • Cambodian & Laos independence

  7. Geneva Accords • U.S. becomes principal protector of South • Ngo Dinh Diem refuses 1956 elections (Ho Chi Minh wouldn’t run fair) • Eisenhower supports Diem • N & S headed toward civil war

  8. Going to War in Vietnam • Vietcong vs. S. Vietnam • Eisenhower sends hundreds of advisors • Many Vietnamese oppose Diem’s gov. • Vietcong use terror • S. Vietnam depends on U.S. involvement

  9. Kennedy and Vietnam • 1961: Kennedy continues support • JFK = tough on communism • 1961 = 2,000 advisors 1963 = 15,000 advisors • Diem – strategic hamlets • Fortified villages to which officials moved peasants

  10. Diem Overthrown • Buddhist’s arrest • Lodge with Diem • Diem (Catholic) discriminates against Buddhism • Lodge supports coup of Diem, Nov. 1, 1963 • Diem executed

  11. John F. Kennedy • JFK assassinated 3 weeks later • U.S. is deeply involved trying to support a fledgling S. Vietnam • LBJ takes over the presidency Nov. 22nd, 1963 The Salute: JFK, Jr.

  12. Johnson and Vietnam • “We seek no wider war” -but- • “The battle against communism must be joined …with strength and determination.” • Democrats cannot “lose” Vietnam • It might cause a “mean and destructive debate that would shatter my Presidency, kill my administration, and damage our democracy.”

  13. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution • Aug. 2, 1964: U.S. destroyers fired upon • Authorizes the President to “take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.”

  14. U.S. sends troops • Vietnam Airstrikes • Vietcong attack advisors • U.S. responds w/ airstrikes • LBJ approval 41%-60% • “Once on the tiger’s back, we cannot be sure of picking the place to dismount.” • March 1965, Operation Rolling Thunder

  15. U.S. Ramps Up • 1965: 180,000 U.S. troops 1966: 360,000 U.S. troops • “We saw ourselves as the champions of a cause that was destined to triumph.” • Vietcong uses guerilla tactics

  16. Frustration • Search and Destroy • Booby traps • Ambushes • Blend in with general population then escape into countryside & jungle • “Search and Destroy” • Find enemy • Bomb • Destroy supply lines • Force into open combat • Napalm • Jellied gas that explodes • Agent Orange • Chemical strips vegetation making wasteland

  17. Enemy’s Determination • Vietcong were willing to accept enormous loss of human lives • NVA & VC vs. South Vietnam & U.S. • Ho Chi Minh Trail

  18. Lyndon B. Johnson • Refuses full scale attacks on H.C.M. Trail • Trail in countries not directly involved • Refuses full scale invasion of N. Vietnam • Attack might bring China into war • U.S. forced to fight war of attrition • Slowly wear enemy down

  19. Vietnam • American bombing kills 220,000 btwn ‘65-’67 • No sign of surrender • By 1966: 6,700 Americans killed • Americans grow weary; begin to question our involvement in the war • Vietnam in HD ‘68-’69 • Khe Sanh

  20. A Divided Nation • 1967, “The enemy’s hopes are bankrupt” and “we have reached an important point where the end begins to come into view.” • Gen. Westmoreland • Television War • Dead soldiers on news • People doubted Johnson • Credibility Gap

  21. Antiwar Movement: 1965 • Teach-Ins begin • 1st at U. of Michigan • Faculty and students missed classes together and discuss the issues surrounding the war • Opposition: • It was a civil war • S. Vietnam was corrupt • Unfair draft system

  22. The Draft • College student could often defer military service until after graduation • Low-income families were more likely to send young men to Vietnam • Minorities were disproportionately represented in the draft • 1967: AA accounted for 20% of deaths (2x the percentage of the population) • Muhammad Ali

  23. The Draft • 500,000 draftees dodged • ‘65-’68: 3,300 prosecuted • 1969 introduced lottery • Protests held across the country • 26th Amendment

  24. Hawks and Doves • 1968 • Johnson felt antiwar protestors were naïve • 53% favored stronger military action • 24% wanted an end

  25. 1968: The Turning Point • U.S. Embassy & Saigon • The Tet Offensive – surprise attack on all U.S. airbases in S. Vietnam • Vietcong/NVA sustained huge losses, but was a political victory • How could an enemy on the brink of defeat launch such an attack?

  26. 1968 • Gen. Westmoreland asks for 209,000 more troops • Could U.S. win this war? • Mainstream media openly criticizes war • Johnson • Approval rating: 35% • War policy: 26%

  27. 1968 Presidential Politics • Democrats look for alternative • Senator Eugene McCarthy (MN)? • Senator Robert Kennedy (NY) • Johnson drops out

  28. 1968 violence • MLK Cronkite Report • Robert F. Kennedy • Democratic Nat. Conv. • James Earl Ray kills Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis • Riots ensue across country • Sirhan Sirhan kills Bobby Kennedy in California • Protesters and police clash at DNC in Chicago • “The whole world is watching!” • ( Detroit, 1968)

  29. Richard Nixon (R) Wins • Campaign promises to unify the country and restore law and order • Has plan to end the war • Defeats Wallace (Ind.) 13% Humphrey (D) 42% • Nixon (R) 43%, 100 more electoral votes

  30. The War Winds Down • Nixon appoints Henry Kissinger • Linkage – improving relations with the Soviet Union and China to persuade them to cut back aid to NVA • Opened peace talks with NV • Vietnamization – gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops while S. Vietnam assumed more of the fighting.

  31. Turmoil at Home: 1968-1971 • America learns of massacre at My Lai • Platoon kills 200 unarmed SV civilians • Invasion of Cambodia • Destroying VC bases • Widening war? • Kent State (4 dead) • Pentagon Papers • Deception of Congress, the press, and the public • Kent State (OH) D.C., fall 1969

  32. U.S. Pulls Out of Vietnam Nixon and Kissinger Paris, 1972 • 1971: 67% of Americans wanted out of Vietnam • Nixon no longer insists that NV withdraw from SV • People tired of antiwar rhetoric re-elect Nixon over McGovern • Peace talks break down • Christmas bombings

  33. Peace Talks • Nguyen Van Thieu allows NVA to remain in SV • Jan. 1973: agreement to end the war and restore peace • U.S. withdraw • Exchange of POWs • Future of SV uncertain • Le Duc Tho & Kissinger

  34. South Vietnam Falls • Fall of Saigon 1975 • March 1975 • NV full scale invasion of SV • Nixon had resigned • Ford denied funds • April 30th, NVA captured Saigon -> Ho Chi Minh City • Vietnam united under communist rule

  35. Costs • $170 Billion • Indirect economic expenses • 58,000 American deaths • 300,000 injured • 1,000,000 NV, SV died • PTSD • Sacrifices of Vets went unrecognized

  36. The War’s Impact • War Powers Act 1973 – president must inform Congress of any commitment of troops abroad with 48 hours, and withdraw them in 60-90 days, unless Congress approves • No president has recognized those limits • American cynicism about gov. is reinforced by Vietnam &Watergate

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