AMERICAAMERICA’’S LONGEST WARS LONGEST WAR

U.S. Involvement beginsU.S. Involvement begins

Vietminh: freedom fighters who fought the Vietminh: freedom fighters who fought the Japanese and worked with the U.S. during World Japanese and worked with the U.S. during World War II. They wanted independence. Led by Ho War II. They wanted independence. Led by Ho Chi Minh.Chi Minh.

After World War II France wants to reclaim After World War II France wants to reclaim Vietnam as a colony. U.S. supports France in Vietnam as a colony. U.S. supports France in exchange for French participation in NATO. exchange for French participation in NATO.

Ho turns to China and Russia for assistance. We Ho turns to China and Russia for assistance. We help Francehelp France

By end of the first Indo-China War the U.S. will By end of the first Indo-China War the U.S. will have given $2.6 billion in aid to France-to help have given $2.6 billion in aid to France-to help them keep their colony AND stop communism.them keep their colony AND stop communism.

Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh

Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh defeated the French in 1954 and defeated the French in 1954 and Vietnam was temporarily divided into North and Vietnam was temporarily divided into North and South pending elections. By wars end, Ho was South pending elections. By wars end, Ho was getting help from Russia and China and we getting help from Russia and China and we were paying for 90% of France’s war.were paying for 90% of France’s war.

The U.S. knew Ho Chi Minh would win and The U.S. knew Ho Chi Minh would win and instead of elections, set up a separate instead of elections, set up a separate government in South Vietnam.government in South Vietnam.

The Vietnam War is a war for national The Vietnam War is a war for national reunification for the North.reunification for the North.

The Vietnam War is a war to stop spreading The Vietnam War is a war to stop spreading communism for the U.S.communism for the U.S.

Diem was an autocratic and repressive Diem was an autocratic and repressive leader. Many South Vietnamese opposed leader. Many South Vietnamese opposed U.S. backed Diem.U.S. backed Diem.

Diem was Catholic and considered by Diem was Catholic and considered by many to be a puppet of the French and many to be a puppet of the French and U.S.U.S.

VietcongVietcong were South Vietnamese guerrillas who were South Vietnamese guerrillas who were backed by the North and fought against were backed by the North and fought against the Souththe South’’s governments government

Saigon police chief shoots a VC suspect on the street.

E. President John F. Kennedy believed in the E. President John F. Kennedy believed in the Domino TheoryDomino Theory, the idea that if one Southeast , the idea that if one Southeast Asian country fell to communism, the rest Asian country fell to communism, the rest would also, like a row of dominos.would also, like a row of dominos.

F. In 1961, he sent military advisors to help Diem fight the Vietcong

G. 1963- Lyndon Johnson became President and sent G. 1963- Lyndon Johnson became President and sent more aid to South Vietnammore aid to South Vietnam

H. 1964- H. 1964- Gulf of Tonkin ResolutionGulf of Tonkin Resolution- after a U.S. ship is - after a U.S. ship is attacked, Congress passed this which allowed President attacked, Congress passed this which allowed President Johnson to take Johnson to take ““all necessary measuresall necessary measures”” to prevent to prevent another attackanother attack

I. Thus, the war escalated and by 1968 there were over I. Thus, the war escalated and by 1968 there were over 500,000 troops fighting in the Vietnam War.500,000 troops fighting in the Vietnam War.

J. American soldiers faced many hardships J. American soldiers faced many hardships fighting a fighting a ““guerilla warguerilla war”” in unfamiliar territory, in unfamiliar territory, against an insurgency.against an insurgency.

Who is the enemy?Who is the enemy?A Viet Cong prisoner awaits interrogation at a Special A Viet Cong prisoner awaits interrogation at a Special

Forces detachment.Forces detachment.

Troops of the 1st Air Cavalry Division check houses. The mission was Troops of the 1st Air Cavalry Division check houses. The mission was designed to clear out a mountain range where two battalions of North designed to clear out a mountain range where two battalions of North Vietnamese were believed to be preparing for an attack on an airstrip.Vietnamese were believed to be preparing for an attack on an airstrip.

In Long Khanh province, soldiers await the helicopter that In Long Khanh province, soldiers await the helicopter that will airlift their dead comrade, 1966will airlift their dead comrade, 1966

Swampy TerrainSwampy Terrain

Soldiers carry a wounded comrade to safety, 1969 Soldiers carry a wounded comrade to safety, 1969

Search-and-clear operation- Who is who?Search-and-clear operation- Who is who?A Marine from 1st Battalion, 3rd A Marine from 1st Battalion, 3rd MarinesMarines, moves a Viet Cong suspect , moves a Viet Cong suspect

to the rear during a search-and-clear operationto the rear during a search-and-clear operation

Traversing the jungleTraversing the jungle: leeches and immersion foot: leeches and immersion footDuring Operation Hastings, Marines of Company H, 2nd Battalion, 4th During Operation Hastings, Marines of Company H, 2nd Battalion, 4th

Marine Regiment take to the water as they move to join other Marine Regiment take to the water as they move to join other elements of their battalion in Dong Ha, Vietnam, July 1966elements of their battalion in Dong Ha, Vietnam, July 1966

Burning campBurning camp: destroy the enemies ability by burning the : destroy the enemies ability by burning the villages of the people we’re saving from communismvillages of the people we’re saving from communism

Helicopter WarHelicopter War

Tet was a major North Vietnamese Army Tet was a major North Vietnamese Army (NVA) offensive launched on the New (NVA) offensive launched on the New Year’s Holiday.Year’s Holiday.

Though a Though a costlycostly defeat, images of Tet on defeat, images of Tet on television convinced many Americans television convinced many Americans that we were losing the war.that we were losing the war.

TET OFFENSIVE- January 1968TET OFFENSIVE- January 1968

November 1968- Richard Nixon is elected November 1968- Richard Nixon is elected President- promises to end the warPresident- promises to end the war

Should it be allowed?Should it be allowed?

Anti-War MovementAnti-War Movement

1965 25,000 protestors march on 1965 25,000 protestors march on WashingtonWashington

1969 250,000 march on Washington1969 250,000 march on Washington ““Elite” universities-Harvard, Madison, Elite” universities-Harvard, Madison,

Berkeley, Columbia lead protestsBerkeley, Columbia lead protests Massive unrest after Kent State Massive unrest after Kent State

shootings-California Gov. Reagan shootings-California Gov. Reagan shuts down entire university systemshuts down entire university system

Ohio LyricsOhio Lyrics » Neil Young » Neil Young

Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,We're finally on our own.We're finally on our own.This summer I hear the drumming,This summer I hear the drumming,Four dead in Ohio.Four dead in Ohio.

Gotta get down to itGotta get down to itSoldiers are cutting us downSoldiers are cutting us downShould have been done long ago.Should have been done long ago.What if you knew herWhat if you knew herAnd found her dead on the groundAnd found her dead on the groundHow can you run when you know?How can you run when you know?

Gotta get down to itGotta get down to itSoldiers are cutting us downSoldiers are cutting us downShould have been done long ago.Should have been done long ago.What if you knew herWhat if you knew herAnd found her dead on the groundAnd found her dead on the groundHow can you run when you know?How can you run when you know?

Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,We're finally on our own.We're finally on our own.This summer I hear the drumming,This summer I hear the drumming,Four dead in Ohio.Four dead in Ohio.

1973- Cease-fire is reached1973- Cease-fire is reached 1974- Last U.S. troops leave Vietnam1974- Last U.S. troops leave Vietnam 1975- South Vietnam falls to North Vietnamese 1975- South Vietnam falls to North Vietnamese

communist forcescommunist forces

Costs of the WarCosts of the War

Divided country-100,000 flee to avoid Divided country-100,000 flee to avoid servingserving

50,000 troops desert50,000 troops desert 58,000 Americans killed, 303K wounded, 58,000 Americans killed, 303K wounded,

1.5 million Vietnamese killed1.5 million Vietnamese killed 3.4 million served, about 40% in South 3.4 million served, about 40% in South

Vietnam combat areas, average age 19Vietnam combat areas, average age 19 V.A. estimates 830,000 vets with PTSDV.A. estimates 830,000 vets with PTSD Cost of war from JFK-Nixon: $176 billionCost of war from JFK-Nixon: $176 billion

Effects of the WarEffects of the War

Loss of confidence in Loss of confidence in government-”credibility gap”government-”credibility gap”

Split and weakened Democratic partySplit and weakened Democratic party 18 year olds got the right to vote18 year olds got the right to vote Divided the nation-was it a “good Divided the nation-was it a “good

war”? Could we have won?war”? Could we have won? All-volunteer armyAll-volunteer army Created reluctance to get involved in Created reluctance to get involved in

foreign affairs-”another Vietnam”foreign affairs-”another Vietnam”