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The Vietnam War 1954 - 1975

The Vietnam War 1954 - 1975. Background to the War. France controlled “Indochina” since the late 19 th century Japan took control during World War II With U.S. aid, France attempted re-colonization after WWII. Background to the War.

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The Vietnam War 1954 - 1975

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  1. The Vietnam War 1954 - 1975

  2. Background to the War France controlled “Indochina” since the late 19th century Japan took control during World War II With U.S. aid, France attempted re-colonization after WWII

  3. Background to the War The French lost control to Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minhforces in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu President Eisenhower declined to intervene on behalf of France.

  4. Background to the War International Conference at Geneva Vietnam was divided at 17th parallel Ho Chi Minh: leader of nationalist forces controlled the North Ngo Dinh Diem: French-educated, Catholic. Claimed control of the South

  5. Background to the War Democratic elections to reunify Vietnam set… Diem backed out of the elections, leading to civil war between North and South

  6. U.S. Military Involvement Begins Dictatorial rule by Diem Diem’s family holds all power Wealth is hoarded by the elite Buddhist majority persecuted Torture, lack of political freedom prevail The U.S. aided Diem’s government Ike sent financial and military aid 675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 1960.

  7. Early Protests of Diem’s Government Self-immolation by a Buddhist Monk

  8. U.S. Military Involvement Begins Kennedy elected 1960 Increases military “advisors” to 16,000 1963: JFK supports military coup d’etat Coup by the ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam)generals. US said it would not interfere ARVN overthrew the government on November 1, 1963. Diem and his brother are murdered (Nov. 2) Kennedy was assassinated 20 days later (Nov. 22)

  9. Lyndon Baines Johnson • Johnson assumes presidency after Kennedy’s death • Vietnam plagued his presidency • 1968 states he decides against running for reelection

  10. Johnson Sends Ground Forces Remembers Truman’s “loss” of China Domino Theory revived I’m not going to be the president who saw Southeast Asia go the way China went.

  11. Johnson Sends Ground Forces Advised to rout the communists by Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara Tonkin Gulf Incident  1964(acc. to Johnson, the attacks were ‘unprovoked’) Tonkin Gulf Resolution “The Blank Check” * A joint resolution of Congress Gave Johnson authorization for war - without a formal declaration of war What is a Joint Resolution?

  12. U.S. Troop Deployments in Vietnam

  13. The Ground War 1965-1968 No clear territorial goals for the US. Body counts on TV every night (first “living room” war) Viet Cong supplies over the Ho Chi Minh Trail a path from North Vietnam to South Vietnam via Laos & Cambodia . Provides manpower and weapons, etc to the Vietcong/National Liberation Front/ NVA

  14. The Air War1965-1968 1965: Sustained bombing of North Vietnam Operation Rolling Thunder (March 2, 1965) 1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi nonstop for 3 years. targets the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Carpet Bombing – napalm

  15. The Air War:A Napalm Attack

  16. Who Is the Enemy? Vietcong: Farmers by day; guerillas at night. Willing to accept many casualties. US underestimated resolve and resourcefulness. The guerilla wins if he does not lose, the conventional army loses if it does not win. -- Mao Zedong

  17. Who Is the Enemy?

  18. The Ground War1965-1968 General Westmoreland, late 1967: We can see the“light at the end of the tunnel.”

  19. The Tet Offensive, January 1968 N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack South simultaneously (67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, and the US embassy in Saigon) Take every major southern city U.S. + ARVN beat back the offensive Viet Cong all but destroyed BUT the IMPACT….

  20. The Tet Offensive, January 1968

  21. Impact of the Tet Offensive Domestic U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson Administration Johnson’s popularity dropped in 1968 from 48% to 36%. • ‘Hey, Hey LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?’

  22. American Morale Begins to Dip Disproportionate representation of poor people and minorities. Severe racial problems. Officers in combat6 mo.; in rear 6 mo. Enlisted men in combat for 12 mo.

  23. Are We Becoming the Enemy? Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry • Mylai Massacre, 1968 • 200-500 unarmed villagers • Lt. William Calley,Platoon Leader • Convicted of premeditated murder of 22 Vietnamese civilians. Calley was sentenced to life imprisonment at hard labor

  24. Nixon on Vietnam Nixon’s campaign promised : Peace with Honor Vietnamization: Encouraged the South Vietnamese to take more responsibility for fighting the war. Hoped to enable the United States to withdraw (gradually) from ‘Nam BUT… The “Secret War” Cambodia – US forces famously invade & bomb. Destabilize the nation. Laos

  25. “Pentagon Papers,” 1971 Daniel Ellsberg leaked govt. docs. about the Johnson administration and Vietnam Docs. Govt. misled Congress & Americans about Vietnam during mid-1960s. Fighting not to eliminate communism, but to avoid humiliating defeat.

  26. The Costs 3,000,000 Vietnamese killed 58,000 Americans killed; 300,000 wounded Under-funding of Great Society programs $150,000,000,000 in U.S. spending U.S. morale, self-confidence, trust of government, decimated

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