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Vietnam War History: Draft Exemption & Legacy

Explore the Vietnam War history, from French colonization to Ho Chi Minh's leadership, escalating tensions, US involvement, protests against the war, and the eventual outcome. Learn about the draft exemption debate and the war's enduring legacy.

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Vietnam War History: Draft Exemption & Legacy

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  1. Warm up #713.25.2014 • Who should be exempt from the draft? • Should people who believe the war is wrong be forced to fight? • Should people with special skills be exempt? • How can a draft be made fair?

  2. The Vietnam War 1959 – 1975

  3. History of Vietnam • Indochina – controlled by French since the mid 19th century • Sought independence during early 1900s

  4. History (cont) • Ho Chi Minh led nationalist movement in Vietnam • Formed the Indochinese Communist Party in 1930 • Tried to overthrow the French • Was exiled to the Soviet Union & China

  5. History (cont) • Japan controlled Vietnam when Ho Chi Minh returned in 1941 • Organized Vietminh to force the Japanese out

  6. History (cont) • After WWII, Ho Chi Minh declared independence • France tried to regain control • Asked for U.S. help • U.S. agreed because it did not want another communist nation

  7. Roots of the Conflict • Domino Theory – if Vietnam fell to communism, other nations in Southeast Asia would do the same

  8. Roots (cont) • Vietminh used guerrilla tactics, irregular troops who blend with civilians against French • Difficult to find/fight • Use hit-and-run & ambush tactics

  9. Roots (cont) • North Vietnam – controlled by Ho Chi Minh (communist) • South Vietnam – pro-Western (democratic)

  10. Roots (cont) • Ngo Dinh Diem, leader of the South • Pro-Westerner and anti-Communist • Corrupt Government • Did not want elections

  11. Roots (cont) • Ho Chi Minh forms the Vietcong – new guerrilla army with the goal of unifying Vietnam • Vietcong grew in power

  12. Roots (cont) • Diem assassinated in CIA supported coup d’état– violent overthrow by a small group • 10 different leaders over next 20 months

  13. Roots (cont) • August 2, 1964, Johnson announced N. Vietnamese torpedo boats fired on two American destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin • Similar event occurred 2 days later • Congress passed Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which authorized LBJ to use any force necessary

  14. Full-Scale War (cont) • To burn away the jungle and expose the Vietcong, Americans dropped napalm and Agent Orange – a chemical that strips away leaves and shrubs

  15. Agent Orange

  16. http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/cu-chi-tunnels

  17. Full-Scale War (cont) • Fearing China would get involved, LBJ refused to order full-scale invasion of N. Vietnam • Also refused to attack the Vietcong supply line, known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail • Traveled through Laos & Cambodia

  18. Full-Scale War (cont) • At first, many Americans supported the Vietnam War • As the war dragged on, support decreased • Difficult to believe what LBJ admin said about the war • Credibility gap

  19. Full-Scale War (cont) • January 1968, during the Vietnamese New Year, the Vietcong launched a surprise attack known as the Tet offensive • Military disaster for the Communists, but a political victory • LBJ’s approval ratings plummeted

  20. Opposition to the War • College students began to protest the war • Many believed the draft system was unfair & biased against poor & minorities

  21. Hawks & Doves

  22. Opposition (cont) • 1968 - LBJ announced he would not run for reelection • Robert Kennedy entered the race as a “dove” candidate • That year both Kennedy and MLK are assassinated • Violence erupts at the Democratic National Convention

  23. Opposition (cont) • Republican Richard Nixonpromised to regain order and end the war in Vietnam

  24. Election of 1968

  25. The End of the War • Henry Kissinger was Nixon’s National Security Advisory • His job was to find a way to end the war with Vietnam • Linkage – Kissinger’s policy to improve relations with China & the Soviet Union

  26. End of War (cont) • Nixon began Vietnamization– gradual withdrawal of American troops, allowing S. Vietnam to assume more of the fighting • Peace negotiations were started • Nixon continued air strikes on N. Vietnam

  27. End of War (cont) • 1969 – Americans learned of the My Lai massacre, 200 Vietnamese women and children were killed by an American platoon

  28. End of War (cont) • May 1970 – 4 Kent State students killed by National Guard while protesting the invasion of Cambodia

  29. End of War (cont) • Pentagon Papers were leaked by a former Defense Department worker • Govt officials privately questioned the war • The public had been deceived about Vietnam

  30. End of War (cont) • Nixon wins re-election with news of a peace treaty • Peace talks end • Operation Rolling Thunder– new bombing campaign • 1973 – both sides agree to end the war and restore peace

  31. End of War (cont) • March 1975, N. Vietnamese launched invasion of the South • Congress refused to send aid to S. Vietnam • April 30, Saigon is captured and renamed Ho Chi Minh City

  32. The Legacy of Vietnam • War cost over $170 billion • 58,000 deaths • Many returning soldiers faced psychological problems • POWs and MIAs • 26th Amendment– Lowered voting age to 18

  33. The War Powers Act

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