The Vietnam EraThe Vietnam Era

Chapter 30Chapter 30

John F. KennedyJohn F. Kennedy

Chapter 30 Sec. 1Chapter 30 Sec. 1

Election of 1960Election of 1960 Kennedy vs. NixonKennedy vs. Nixon

Kennedy – young, good looking, war hero, Kennedy – young, good looking, war hero, wealthy, political family, wanted change, wealthy, political family, wanted change, Catholic, DemocratCatholic, Democrat

Nixon – Vice President, older, wanted to Nixon – Vice President, older, wanted to continue with Ikes plans, Republicancontinue with Ikes plans, Republican

Very close raceVery close race Kennedy winsKennedy wins

“… ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

- John F. Kennedy(Inauguration Speech)

JFK and CommunismJFK and Communism Kennedy increased spending on Nukes, but Kennedy increased spending on Nukes, but

worked to stop all nuclear testingworked to stop all nuclear testing Communist armies began using Communist armies began using guerilla guerilla

warfarewarfare – small armies using ambush tactics – small armies using ambush tactics Flexible ResponseFlexible Response – US plan to combat guerilla – US plan to combat guerilla

warfare – Green Berets warfare – Green Berets Created Peace Corp to help countries in needCreated Peace Corp to help countries in need

Bay of PigsBay of Pigs Plan to overthrow Fidel CastroPlan to overthrow Fidel Castro

Using armies of Cuban Using armies of Cuban exilesexiles – people – people forced from their homesforced from their homes

April 17, 1961 – troops land in southern April 17, 1961 – troops land in southern CubaCuba

Exiles quickly defeated - embarrassingExiles quickly defeated - embarrassing

The Berlin WallThe Berlin Wall Continued disputes in East and West Continued disputes in East and West

Germany as well as BerlinGermany as well as Berlin Khrushchev & Kennedy discuss Khrushchev & Kennedy discuss

problems – Berlin major issueproblems – Berlin major issue US troops to BerlinUS troops to Berlin Khrushchev closes border between East Khrushchev closes border between East

and West Berlinand West Berlin Berlin Wall is builtBerlin Wall is built

Cuban Missile CrisisCuban Missile Crisis Oct. 1962 – US spy plane finds Soviets Oct. 1962 – US spy plane finds Soviets

building nuclear launch sites in Cubabuilding nuclear launch sites in Cuba Massive fear of attack in USMassive fear of attack in US

US US blockadeblockade of Cuba until missiles removed of Cuba until missiles removed close off close off

US and Soviet ships have close encounterUS and Soviet ships have close encounter The world sits and waitsThe world sits and waits

Missile Crisis ResolvedMissile Crisis Resolved Agreement made between US and Agreement made between US and

SovietsSoviets Soviets remove nukes and launch sitesSoviets remove nukes and launch sites No US invasion of CubaNo US invasion of Cuba

2 new advancements2 new advancements1.1. Hot LineHot Line – direct phone line from – direct phone line from

Washington D.C to MoscowWashington D.C to Moscow2.2. No nuclear testingNo nuclear testing

Space Race ContinuesSpace Race Continues Yuri Gagarin – 1Yuri Gagarin – 1stst man to orbit the Earth, man to orbit the Earth,

Alan Shepard – 1Alan Shepard – 1stst American in space American in space John Glen – 1John Glen – 1stst American to orbit the Earth American to orbit the Earth

July 20, 1969 – Apollo 11 landed on the July 20, 1969 – Apollo 11 landed on the moonmoon Neil Armstrong – 1Neil Armstrong – 1stst man on the moon man on the moon

“One small step for man, one giant leap for man kind”

War in VietnamWar in Vietnam

Chapter 30 Section 2Chapter 30 Section 2

Origins of WarOrigins of War Ho Chi Minh and Communist army win Ho Chi Minh and Communist army win

independence from Franceindependence from France Geneva AccordsGeneva Accords

Split Vietnam north/southSplit Vietnam north/south North communist – South Free (United States)North communist – South Free (United States)

Ngo Dinh Diem took control of South in ’55Ngo Dinh Diem took control of South in ’55 Anti-CommunistAnti-Communist Anti-Buddhist – Pro-CatholicAnti-Buddhist – Pro-Catholic

Monks protesting the harsh treatment of Buddhists under Diem

Origins of War Origins of War continued…continued… Communists in the south organize and Communists in the south organize and

form the form the VietcongVietcong US had big fear of the US had big fear of the Domino TheoryDomino Theory – –

one country falls many will followone country falls many will follow Kennedy sends troops to help the southKennedy sends troops to help the south Nov. 1, 1963 the South Vietnamese army Nov. 1, 1963 the South Vietnamese army

staged a staged a coupcoup – overthrow the government – overthrow the government Assassinated DiemAssassinated Diem

Conflict ContinuesConflict Continues President Lyndon B. Johnson takes over President Lyndon B. Johnson takes over

after the death of JFKafter the death of JFK Sec. of Defense Robert McNamaraSec. of Defense Robert McNamara

““I don’t think it’s worth fighting for, but I don’t I don’t think it’s worth fighting for, but I don’t think we can get out.”think we can get out.”

US ships attacked in the Gulf of TonkinUS ships attacked in the Gulf of Tonkin LBJ now has a good reason to fightLBJ now has a good reason to fight

US involvement begins to US involvement begins to escalateescalate – – gradually increasegradually increase 180,000 in ’65 to 500,000 in ‘67180,000 in ’65 to 500,000 in ‘67

Combat in VietnamCombat in Vietnam Guerilla Warfare – jungles, tunnels, trailsGuerilla Warfare – jungles, tunnels, trails

Ho Chi Minh Trail – main supply routeHo Chi Minh Trail – main supply route The US began search – and – destroy The US began search – and – destroy

missions – find the enemy and wipe them missions – find the enemy and wipe them outout Backed by jets and helicoptersBacked by jets and helicopters Napalm – liquid fire Napalm – liquid fire Agent Orange – herbicide - chemical warfareAgent Orange – herbicide - chemical warfare

North Vietnamese/Vietcong frustrated the North Vietnamese/Vietcong frustrated the US by constantly out numbering themUS by constantly out numbering them

Pres. Johnson – “Can we win this war?”Pres. Johnson – “Can we win this war?”

Reaction to the Reaction to the WarWarChapter 20 Section 3Chapter 20 Section 3

Generation GapGeneration Gap A fight between young and old over the A fight between young and old over the

Vietnam WarVietnam War CountercultureCounterculture – a movement that – a movement that

rejected traditional valuesrejected traditional values Long hair, torn blue jeans, Rock N’ RollLong hair, torn blue jeans, Rock N’ Roll

The DraftThe Draft All men must register at 18 years oldAll men must register at 18 years old Some believed if you stop the draft you Some believed if you stop the draft you

can stop the warcan stop the war Protests of burning draft cardsProtests of burning draft cards

Congress made it illegalCongress made it illegal Draft DodgersDraft Dodgers

Doves vs. HawksDoves vs. Hawks Doves – anti-warDoves – anti-war Hawks – pro-warHawks – pro-war The debate moved to congressThe debate moved to congress

““Is this war a mistake?”Is this war a mistake?” Anti-War movement quickly growsAnti-War movement quickly grows

In 1967, 50,000 march on Washington In 1967, 50,000 march on Washington

1968: Year of 1968: Year of CrisesCrisesChapter 30 Section 4Chapter 30 Section 4

Attack on American ShipsAttack on American Ships Jan. 23, 1968 USS Pueblo, a US spy Jan. 23, 1968 USS Pueblo, a US spy

ship and its crew are captured by North ship and its crew are captured by North VietnamVietnam

This attack shocked AmericaThis attack shocked America ““A US boat had been defeated”A US boat had been defeated”

The Tet OffensiveThe Tet Offensive Jan 31, 1968 (Vietnamese New Year - Tet) Jan 31, 1968 (Vietnamese New Year - Tet)

the North Vietnamese and Vietcong launched the North Vietnamese and Vietcong launched a massive offensive attacka massive offensive attack targeted southern bases and major cities (Saigon)targeted southern bases and major cities (Saigon) Vietcong drove deep into southern territoryVietcong drove deep into southern territory America launched a strong counter attack and America launched a strong counter attack and

was able to push the Vietcong northwas able to push the Vietcong north Major turning point in the warMajor turning point in the war

Response in AmericaResponse in America After Tet, Americans began to lose faithAfter Tet, Americans began to lose faith The Gov’t developed a The Gov’t developed a credibility gapcredibility gap – –

fewer people trusted their statementsfewer people trusted their statements Johnson ordered reevaluation of the warJohnson ordered reevaluation of the war

““new step towards peace”new step towards peace” Bombings stoppedBombings stopped

Election of 1968Election of 1968 Johnson will not seek reelection Johnson will not seek reelection Democrats: Robert Kennedy, Hubert H. Democrats: Robert Kennedy, Hubert H.

Humphrey, Eugene McCarthyHumphrey, Eugene McCarthy Kennedy Assassinated, Humphrey won Kennedy Assassinated, Humphrey won

nominationnomination Republican: Richard NixonRepublican: Richard Nixon Law and Order: George WallaceLaw and Order: George Wallace Nixon wins a close raceNixon wins a close race

Nixon and VietnamNixon and Vietnam

Chapter 30 Section 5Chapter 30 Section 5

Nixon’s New PlanNixon’s New Plan ““Peace with Honor”Peace with Honor”

1.1. Draft ReformDraft Reform2.2. VietnamizationVietnamization – South Vietnamese army – South Vietnamese army

would take over more of the fightingwould take over more of the fighting3.3. More bombing in Cambodia and LaosMore bombing in Cambodia and Laos

Kept a secret to the American PeopleKept a secret to the American People

New Issues in CambodiaNew Issues in Cambodia Civil War breaks out between Civil War breaks out between

communists and anti-communistscommunists and anti-communists Nixon steps in and attacks Communist Nixon steps in and attacks Communist

basesbases Highly unpopular with AmericansHighly unpopular with Americans

Nixon is overstepping his authorityNixon is overstepping his authority

ProtestsProtests Kent StateKent State

Student burned down a military buildingStudent burned down a military building Governor called for Governor called for martial lawmartial law – emergency – emergency

military rulemilitary rule 3,000 armed troops – riot control3,000 armed troops – riot control 17 students shot – 4 killed, “Reasons that 17 students shot – 4 killed, “Reasons that

are unclear”are unclear” Jackson state – police shot and killed 2Jackson state – police shot and killed 2 America stunned, many colleges shut America stunned, many colleges shut

downdown

““Peace is at Hand”Peace is at Hand” Removal of over 450,000 US troopsRemoval of over 450,000 US troops 11stst peace talks failed peace talks failed

South Vietnamese president did not want South Vietnamese president did not want Northern troops in his countryNorthern troops in his country

Nixon reelectedNixon reelected One final round of bombingsOne final round of bombings

Jan. 27, 1973 – Peace Treaty signedJan. 27, 1973 – Peace Treaty signed

North Vietnam ContinuesNorth Vietnam Continues North Vietnamese army does not stopNorth Vietnamese army does not stop Saigon fell on April 20, 1975Saigon fell on April 20, 1975 Communism takes over VietnamCommunism takes over Vietnam

Legacy of the WarLegacy of the War 1.4 million Vietnamese died1.4 million Vietnamese died 58,000 Americans died – 300,000 wounded58,000 Americans died – 300,000 wounded

2.7 million served2.7 million served No hero’s welcomeNo hero’s welcome

Many Many MIAMIA’s (Missing in Action) – never ’s (Missing in Action) – never foundfound

Vietnam War MemorialVietnam War Memorial