slide 1 vietnam, 1946-75 (the 10, 000 day war). slide 2 where is vietnam?

VIETNAMVIETNAM, 1946-75 , 1946-75 (the (the 10, 000 Day War10, 000 Day War))

Where is Where is Vietnam?Vietnam?

PHASE 1 PHASE 1 - A WAR OF COLONIAL INDEPENDENCE- A WAR OF COLONIAL INDEPENDENCE

AGAINST THE FRENCHAGAINST THE FRENCH

Vietnam had been a French colony under the name of French Indochina (along withCambodia and Laos)

Vietnam began to fight for its independence from France during WWII (when France was preoccupied with European conflict)

Vietnamese revolutionary leader was Ho Chi Minh, a leader of an independent, communist Vietnam

Ho received support from both the USSR and “Red” China

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB-sNSiY8Vc

Colonial war raged 1946-54Colonial war raged 1946-54 Culminating in the French defeat Culminating in the French defeat

at at Dien Bien PhuDien Bien Phu France decided it wanted out and France decided it wanted out and

called a peace conference in called a peace conference in Geneva, Switzerland (attended by Geneva, Switzerland (attended by France, Vietnam, the US, and the France, Vietnam, the US, and the USSR)USSR)

Decision – partitionDecision – partition(17(17thth parallel) parallel) Vietnam into a communist North Vietnam into a communist North led by Ho and a “democratic” led by Ho and a “democratic” South Vietnam led by South Vietnam led by Ngo Dinh Ngo Dinh DiemDiem

Settlement was an outgrowth of Settlement was an outgrowth of basic Cold War tensions between basic Cold War tensions between the Americans and Soviets and the Americans and Soviets and clearly reflected the US policy of clearly reflected the US policy of containmentcontainment with respect to with respect to Soviet communist expansionismSoviet communist expansionism

US had come to see South US had come to see South Vietnam as a “Vietnam as a “dominodomino” that they ” that they couldn’t afford to losecouldn’t afford to lose

Containment Policy in ActionContainment Policy in Action

In 1950, the U.S. established the U.S. In 1950, the U.S. established the U.S. Military Advisory Group-Indochina. Military Advisory Group-Indochina. In the In the same year, the Soviet Union and the same year, the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China officially People’s Republic of China officially recognized the DRV and sent aid to Ho recognized the DRV and sent aid to Ho Chi Minh. Chi Minh.

From 1950-52, the U.S. spent $50 million From 1950-52, the U.S. spent $50 million in military and economic aid to support in military and economic aid to support nation-building and fight the communists nation-building and fight the communists in South Vietnam. in South Vietnam.

Bell RingerBell Ringer“Why are we in South Vietnam? We are there because we have a promise to keep. Since 1954 every American President has offered support to the people of South Vietnam. We have helped to build, and we have helped to defend. Thus, over many years, we have made a national pledge to help South Vietnam defend its independence. And I intend to keep our promise.To dishonor that pledge, to abandon this small and brave nation to its enemy, and to the terror that must follow, would be an unforgivable wrong. . . .” — Lyndon B. Johnson, April 26, 1965Vietnam War Under JohnsonUse the excerpt below to answer the following question.According to this document, what are two reasons President Lyndon B. Johnson sent troops to Vietnam?

PHASE 2 PHASE 2 – AMERICAN ESCALATION AND MILITARY – AMERICAN ESCALATION AND MILITARY INVOLVEMENTINVOLVEMENT

Phase originated with Phase originated with ““Ike” and JFK but was Ike” and JFK but was intensified under Lyndonintensified under LyndonBaines Johnson (LBJ) Baines Johnson (LBJ)

The U.S. never formally The U.S. never formally issued a declaration of warissued a declaration of war

Gulf of Tonkin IncidentGulf of Tonkin Incident - 2 American - 2 Americandestroyers were apparently destroyers were apparently fired upon by the North fired upon by the North VietnameseVietnamese

Congress passed the Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Gulf of Tonkin Resolutions (August 1964)Resolutions (August 1964)- - herehere Congress gave LBJ Congress gave LBJ their support in sending their support in sending American personnel and materielAmerican personnel and materiel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah1IXMy8VCM

Administration Date Military Forces Kennedy (Democrat) 1961 3,200 Kennedy 1962 11,300 Kennedy 1963 16,300 Johnson (Democrat) 1964 23,300 Johnson 1965 184,300 Johnson 1966 385,300 Johnson 1967 485,600 Johnson 1968 536,100 Nixon (Republican) 1969 475,200 Nixon 1970 334,600 Nixon 1971 156,800 Nixon 1972 24,200

Gulf of Tonkin TimelineGulf of Tonkin Timeline French colonialism in Vietnam: 1800s-1941.French colonialism in Vietnam: 1800s-1941. Japan took over Vietnam during WWII, but when Japan was Japan took over Vietnam during WWII, but when Japan was

defeated in 1945, Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnamese defeated in 1945, Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnamese independence.independence.

But French came back in and tried to take over again; U.S. But French came back in and tried to take over again; U.S. supported French. The French lost in 1954.supported French. The French lost in 1954.

1954: Geneva Convention split the country into North and South, 1954: Geneva Convention split the country into North and South, with the idea that there would be free elections in the near future.with the idea that there would be free elections in the near future.

(U.S. DID NOT sign Geneva Accords, for fear that Communists (U.S. DID NOT sign Geneva Accords, for fear that Communists would win the general elections).would win the general elections).

U.S. supported South Vietnam leader, Diem. But Diem turned out U.S. supported South Vietnam leader, Diem. But Diem turned out to be oppressive and unpopular. He canceled elections, to be oppressive and unpopular. He canceled elections, repressed Buddhists; caused major discontent in South Vietnam.repressed Buddhists; caused major discontent in South Vietnam.

Gulf of Tonkin TimelineGulf of Tonkin Timeline U.S. feared that Diem’s unpopularity will push more South Vietnamese U.S. feared that Diem’s unpopularity will push more South Vietnamese

to support Communists. So they supported a coup and Diem was to support Communists. So they supported a coup and Diem was overthrown and assassinated—Nov. 1, 1963.overthrown and assassinated—Nov. 1, 1963.

JFK assassinated only weeks later. LBJ inherited the problem in JFK assassinated only weeks later. LBJ inherited the problem in Vietnam.Vietnam.

Under new weak South Vietnam government, support for Communism Under new weak South Vietnam government, support for Communism grewgrew

North Vietnam smuggled weapons into South Vietnam to support North Vietnam smuggled weapons into South Vietnam to support Communist insurgents through a Communist insurgents through a network of trails network of trails through Laos and through Laos and Cambodia (Cambodia (Ho Chi Minh trailsHo Chi Minh trails).).

Aug. 2, 1964- North Vietnamese attacked U.S.S. Maddox; Aug. 4. –Aug. 2, 1964- North Vietnamese attacked U.S.S. Maddox; Aug. 4. –another attack provided grounds for Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (second another attack provided grounds for Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (second attack turned out to be fake—never happened).attack turned out to be fake—never happened).

President Johnson asked Congress to pass Gulf of Tonkin Resolution President Johnson asked Congress to pass Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which gave him which gave him authorization to use military force in Vietnam (not a authorization to use military force in Vietnam (not a declaration of war).declaration of war).

Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail In spite of ongoing escalation In spite of ongoing escalation

throughout the 1960s, the USthroughout the 1960s, the USexperienced a lack of successexperienced a lack of successagainst the Vietnamese against the Vietnamese guerrilla forces in S.guerrilla forces in S.Vietnam (the Vietnam (the VietcongVietcong) as the) as theUS Army was unprepared forUS Army was unprepared for

their tactics and mentality their tactics and mentality

The US was also never entirely The US was also never entirely successful in shuttingsuccessful in shutting

down the down the Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail, a, a supply line that ran betweensupply line that ran between North and South Vietnam viaNorth and South Vietnam via difficult jungle terrain, difficult jungle terrain,

often underground and often underground and through neighboring nationsthrough neighboring nations

like Cambodia and Laoslike Cambodia and Laos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poE_nNW9-yk

Quagmire and Attrition Quagmire and Attrition In 1965, General Westmoreland began to In 1965, General Westmoreland began to

implement a search-and-destroy strategy that implement a search-and-destroy strategy that sent U.S. troops out into the field to find and kill sent U.S. troops out into the field to find and kill Viet Cong members Viet Cong members

War of attrition—a strategy of extended combat War of attrition—a strategy of extended combat meant to inflict so many casualties on the enemy meant to inflict so many casualties on the enemy that it could no longer continuethat it could no longer continue

U.S. commanders were instructed to begin U.S. commanders were instructed to begin keeping body counts of enemy soldiers killed keeping body counts of enemy soldiers killed

Viet Cong’s guerrilla tactics frustrated and Viet Cong’s guerrilla tactics frustrated and demoralized U.S. troops demoralized U.S. troops

Vietnam on TVVietnam on TV War definitely turned against War definitely turned against

the US in 1968, when the NVA’s the US in 1968, when the NVA’s General Giap began the General Giap began the Tet Tet OffensiveOffensive

Tet OffensiveTet Offensive - surprise - surprise offensive by offensive by North Vietnamese North Vietnamese Army and the Viet CongArmy and the Viet Cong - - attacking nearly thirty U.S. targets attacking nearly thirty U.S. targets and dozens of other cities in and dozens of other cities in South Vietnam at once. South Vietnam at once.

US casualties and losses saw US casualties and losses saw an increase inan increase in anti-war anti-war sentimentsentiment on the American on the American Home FrontHome Front

VietnamVietnam was a was a TV WarTV War where where American audiences saw the American audiences saw the brutality of war firsthandbrutality of war firsthand

Backlash again LBJ’s Backlash again LBJ’s AmericanizationAmericanization of the war of the war

American atrocities at American atrocities at My Lai -1968 My Lai -1968 TV audiences witnessed the usage of TV audiences witnessed the usage of

weapons that devastated the weapons that devastated the environmentenvironment

Morale among U.S. troops also hit an all-Morale among U.S. troops also hit an all-time low after Tet Offensivetime low after Tet Offensive

Frustrated U.S. soldiers killed hundreds of Frustrated U.S. soldiers killed hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese civilians in a small unarmed Vietnamese civilians in a small village village

napalm napalm ((a highly flammable jellied a highly flammable jellied substance)substance) andand

Agent OrangeAgent Orange((herbicide defoliant)herbicide defoliant)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSKA_Ce4lBg (5:20-8:05)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H69nExfUh34 (21:40 – 32:40)

CountercultureCounterculture Gathered momentum (Hippies, Gathered momentum (Hippies,

Flower Children, etc.), protests Flower Children, etc.), protests became widespread and began became widespread and began to polarize the nationto polarize the nation

This was intensified after the This was intensified after the Kent State MassacreKent State Massacre– National Guardsmen opened National Guardsmen opened

fire on student protestors in fire on student protestors in Ohio, Ohio, killing four studentskilling four students

– Senator William Fulbright’s Senator William Fulbright’s (Chairman of the Senate (Chairman of the Senate Armed Forces Committee) Armed Forces Committee) admission that the war was a admission that the war was a “mess”“mess”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K94oOhUcvHE

Johnson - NixonJohnson - Nixon Increasingly the Increasingly the

American people came to American people came to perceive the “perceive the “Credibility Credibility GapGap”, i.e. they no longer”, i.e. they no longerbelieved that LBJ was believed that LBJ was telling them the truth telling them the truth about events in the warabout events in the war

War cost = estimated $3 War cost = estimated $3 billion a month billion a month

1968- LBJ chose not to 1968- LBJ chose not to run for president run for president

Republican Republican Richard M. Richard M. NixonNixon was elected on a was elected on a platform of “Peace with platform of “Peace with HonorHonor””

VietnamizationVietnamization President Richard M. Nixon, President Richard M. Nixon, declared that a “silent majority” declared that a “silent majority” of Americans still supported the of Americans still supported the war war

Nixon wanted the South Nixon wanted the South Vietnamese to play a greater role Vietnamese to play a greater role in the war, a policy he labeled in the war, a policy he labeled VietnamizationVietnamization - -promising to promising to withdraw U.S. troops gradually and withdraw U.S. troops gradually and hand over management of the war hand over management of the war effort to the South Vietnamese effort to the South Vietnamese

Nixon continues Nixon continues carpet bombing carpet bombing Hanoi and orders a secret Hanoi and orders a secret invasion of invasion of Cambodia and Laos Cambodia and Laos (without Congressional approval)(without Congressional approval)

He relied on the diplomacy of He relied on the diplomacy of Henry Kissinger to achieve peace Henry Kissinger to achieve peace and/or an American withdrawaland/or an American withdrawal

Pentagon Papers Pentagon Papers U.S. newspapers in 1971 U.S. newspapers in 1971 Papers revealed that the U.S. Army, as well as Papers revealed that the U.S. Army, as well as

presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson, had authorized a number of covert Johnson, had authorized a number of covert actions that increased U.S. involvement in actions that increased U.S. involvement in Vietnam unbeknownst to the American public Vietnam unbeknownst to the American public

Supreme Court ruled in Supreme Court ruled in New York Times v. U.S. New York Times v. U.S. that the government must prove an immediate that the government must prove an immediate threat to national security to censure the threat to national security to censure the papers. papers.

The Cease-fire and the Fall of SaigonThe Cease-fire and the Fall of Saigon After secret negotiations between U.S. emissary After secret negotiations between U.S. emissary Henry A. Kissinger Henry A. Kissinger and North and North

Vietnamese representative Vietnamese representative Le Duc Tho Le Duc Tho in 1972, Nixon engaged in diplomatic in 1972, Nixon engaged in diplomatic maneuvering with China and the USSR—and stepped up bombing of North maneuvering with China and the USSR—and stepped up bombing of North Vietnam—to pressure the North Vietnamese into a settlement. Vietnam—to pressure the North Vietnamese into a settlement. The Paris Peace The Paris Peace Accords Accords were finally signed in January 1973, and the last U.S. military were finally signed in January 1973, and the last U.S. military personnel left Vietnam in March 1973. personnel left Vietnam in March 1973.

Nixon pledged to withdraw all remaining military personnel from VietnamNixon pledged to withdraw all remaining military personnel from Vietnam and allow the tens of thousands of NVA troops in South Vietnam to remain there, and allow the tens of thousands of NVA troops in South Vietnam to remain there, despite the fact that they controlled a quarter of South Vietnamese territory. despite the fact that they controlled a quarter of South Vietnamese territory.

However, Nixon promised to intervene if North Vietnam moved against the South. However, Nixon promised to intervene if North Vietnam moved against the South. In exchange, In exchange, North Vietnam promised that elections North Vietnam promised that elections would be held to would be held to determine the fate of the entire country. Although determine the fate of the entire country. Although Nixon insisted that the Nixon insisted that the agreement brought “peace with honor,” South Vietnamese leaders agreement brought “peace with honor,” South Vietnamese leaders complained that the terms amounted to little more than a surrender for complained that the terms amounted to little more than a surrender for South Vietnam. South Vietnam.

The U.S. government continued to fund the South Vietnamese army, but this The U.S. government continued to fund the South Vietnamese army, but this funding quickly dwindled. funding quickly dwindled.

PHASE 3 PHASE 3 – VIETNAMESE CIVIL WAR – VIETNAMESE CIVIL WAR 1973-751973-75

President Nixon became embroiled in the President Nixon became embroiled in the Watergate Watergate scandal scandal that led to his resignation in August 1974.that led to his resignation in August 1974.

He was in essence a “lame duck”!He was in essence a “lame duck”! North Vietnamese forces stepped up their attacks on the North Vietnamese forces stepped up their attacks on the

South and finally launched an all-out offensive in the spring South and finally launched an all-out offensive in the spring of 1975. of 1975.

On April 30, 1975, the South Vietnamese capital of On April 30, 1975, the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese, who reunited the country under fell to the North Vietnamese, who reunited the country under Communist rule as the Communist rule as the Socialist Republic of VietnamSocialist Republic of Vietnam, , ending the Vietnam War. ending the Vietnam War.

The US abandoned its embassy in The US abandoned its embassy in SaigonSaigon, which was, which was renamed renamed Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City in the newly unified and in the newly unified and communist Vietnamcommunist Vietnam

Administration Date Military Forces Kennedy (Democrat) 1961 3,200 Kennedy 1962 11,300 Kennedy 1963 16,300 Johnson (Democrat) 1964 23,300 Johnson 1965 184,300 Johnson 1966 385,300 Johnson 1967 485,600 Johnson 1968 536,100 Nixon (Republican) 1969 475,200 Nixon 1970 334,600 Nixon 1971 156,800 Nixon 1972 24,200

Troop Reductions by Nixon

The War Powers Resolution The War Powers Resolution Restricted presidential powers during wartime by requiring Restricted presidential powers during wartime by requiring the president to notify Congress upon launching any U.S. the president to notify Congress upon launching any U.S. military action abroad military action abroad

Twenty-Sixth Amendment Twenty-Sixth Amendment was ratified in 1971 to lower the was ratified in 1971 to lower the U.S. voting age from twenty-one to eighteen, on the grounds that U.S. voting age from twenty-one to eighteen, on the grounds that the young men serving in Vietnam should have a say in which the young men serving in Vietnam should have a say in which politicians were running the war. politicians were running the war.

Congress also ended the draft in 1973 and stipulated that the military Congress also ended the draft in 1973 and stipulated that the military henceforth consist solely of paid volunteers (Stopped Anti-War Protesters)henceforth consist solely of paid volunteers (Stopped Anti-War Protesters)

slide 1 vietnam, 1946-75 (the 10, 000 day war). slide 2 where is vietnam?

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