the vietnam war 1954 - 1975
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The Vietnam War 1954 - 1975. Background to the War. The French lost control to Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minh forces in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu President Eisenhower declined to intervene on behalf of France. Background to the War. International Conference at Geneva - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Vietnam War 1954 - 1975
The Vietnam War 1954 - 1975
Background to the WarBackground to the War
The French lost control to The French lost control to Ho Chi Minh’s Ho Chi Minh’s Viet MinhViet Minh forces in 1954 at forces in 1954 at Dien Bien Dien Bien PhuPhu
President Eisenhower declined President Eisenhower declined to intervene on behalf of France.to intervene on behalf of France.
Background to the WarBackground to the War
International Conference at International Conference at GenevaGeneva Vietnam was divided at 17Vietnam was divided at 17thth
parallelparallelO Ho Chi Minh: Ho Chi Minh: leader of leader of
nationalist nationalist forces controlled the Northforces controlled the North
O Ngo Dinh DiemNgo Dinh Diem: : French-French-educated, Catholic. Claimed educated, Catholic. Claimed control of the control of the SouthSouth
U.S. Military Involvement BeginsU.S. Military Involvement Begins
Kennedy elected 1960Kennedy elected 1960 Increases military “advisors” to 16,000Increases military “advisors” to 16,000
1963:1963: JFK supports military JFK supports military coup d’etatcoup d’etat Coup by the AVRN (Army of the Republic of Coup by the AVRN (Army of the Republic of
Vietnam)Vietnam) generals. generals. US said it would not interfereUS said it would not interfere AVRN overthrew the government on AVRN overthrew the government on
November 1, 1963.November 1, 1963. Diem and his brother are murdered Diem and his brother are murdered
(Nov. 2)(Nov. 2) Kennedy was assassinated 20 days Kennedy was assassinated 20 days
later (Nov. 22)later (Nov. 22)
Johnson Sends Ground ForcesJohnson Sends Ground Forces
Advised to rout the communists by Advised to rout the communists by Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Defense, Robert S. Robert S. McNamaraMcNamara
Tonkin Gulf Incident Tonkin Gulf Incident 1964 1964(acc. to Johnson, the attacks were (acc. to Johnson, the attacks were unprovoked)unprovoked)
Tonkin Gulf ResolutionTonkin Gulf Resolution ““The Blank Check” The Blank Check” ** A joint resolution of Congress that gave Johnson A joint resolution of Congress that gave Johnson
authorization - authorization - without a formal declaration of without a formal declaration of warwar -for the use of military force in Southeast -for the use of military force in Southeast Asia. Asia.
The Ground War 1965-1968The Ground War 1965-1968
No clear territorial goals for the US. No clear territorial goals for the US. Body counts on TV every night (first Body counts on TV every night (first
“living room” war“living room” war)) Viet Cong supplies over the Viet Cong supplies over the Ho Chi Ho Chi
Minh TrailMinh Traila path that ran from North Vietnam a path that ran from North Vietnam to South Vietnam through of Laos to South Vietnam through of Laos & Cambodia .& Cambodia .It provided support (manpower and It provided support (manpower and weapons, etc) to the weapons, etc) to the Vietcong/National Liberation Vietcong/National Liberation Front/North Vietnamese Army (NVA)Front/North Vietnamese Army (NVA)
The Air War1965-1968The Air War1965-1968
1965: Sustained bombing of North 1965: Sustained bombing of North VietnamVietnam
Operation Rolling Thunder Operation Rolling Thunder (March 2, (March 2, 1965)1965)
1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi 1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi nonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets the nonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets the Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail..
Downed Pilots: P.O.W.sDowned Pilots: P.O.W.s Carpet Bombing – Carpet Bombing – napalmnapalm
The Ground War1965-1968The Ground War1965-1968
General WestmorelandGeneral Westmoreland, late 1967:
We can see theWe can see the“light at the end of the tunnel.”“light at the end of the tunnel.”
The Tet Offensive, January 1968The Tet Offensive, January 1968
N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack South simultaneously attack South simultaneously (67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, (67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, and the US embassy in Saigon)and the US embassy in Saigon)
Take every major southern cityTake every major southern city U.S. + ARVN beat back the offensiveU.S. + ARVN beat back the offensive Viet Cong destroyedViet Cong destroyed N. Vietnamese army debilitatedN. Vietnamese army debilitated BUT…it’s seen as an American BUT…it’s seen as an American
defeat by the mediadefeat by the media
Impact of the Tet OffensiveImpact of the Tet Offensive
Domestic U.S. Reaction: Domestic U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson AdministrationJohnson Administration
‘‘Hey, Hey LBJ! Hey, Hey LBJ! How How many kids did many kids did youyou kill today?’ kill today?’
Johnson’s Johnson’s popularity popularity dropped in dropped in 1968 from 1968 from 48% to 48% to 36%.36%.
Impact of the Vietnam WarImpact of the Vietnam War
……I shall not seek, I shall not seek, and I will not and I will not accept, the accept, the nomination of my nomination of my party for another party for another term as your term as your President.President.
Johnson announces (March, Johnson announces (March, 1968):1968):
Nixon on VietnamNixon on Vietnam Nixon’s 1968 Campaign promised an end to the war: Nixon’s 1968 Campaign promised an end to the war:
Peace with HonorPeace with Honor Appealed to the great Appealed to the great
“Silent Majority”“Silent Majority” VietnamizationVietnamization: : Encouraged the South Encouraged the South
Vietnamese to take more responsibility Vietnamese to take more responsibility for fighting the war. for fighting the war. Hoped to enable the United States to Hoped to enable the United States to
withdraw (gradually) all their soldiers withdraw (gradually) all their soldiers from Vietnam.from Vietnam.
Expansion of the Expansion of the conflict conflict The “Secret War” The “Secret War” Cambodia – US forces famously Cambodia – US forces famously
invade & bomb. Destabilize the invade & bomb. Destabilize the nation. nation.
LaosLaos
“Pentagon Papers,” 1971“Pentagon Papers,” 1971
Former defense analyst Former defense analyst Daniel EllsbergDaniel Ellsbergleaked govt. docs. regarding war efforts leaked govt. docs. regarding war efforts during Johnson’s administration to the during Johnson’s administration to the New York TimesNew York Times..
Docs.Docs. Govt. misled Congress & Amer. Govt. misled Congress & Amer. People regarding its intentions in Vietnam People regarding its intentions in Vietnam during mid-1960s.during mid-1960s. Primary reason for fighting not to Primary reason for fighting not to
eliminate communism, but eliminate communism, but to avoid to avoid humiliating defeathumiliating defeat. .
New York Times v. United StatesNew York Times v. United States (1971) (1971) **
The Ceasefire, 1973The Ceasefire, 1973
Peace is at handPeace is at hand Kissinger, 1972 Kissinger, 1972 North Vietnam attacks SouthNorth Vietnam attacks South Most Massive U.S. bombing Most Massive U.S. bombing
commencescommences
1973: Ceasefire signed between 1973: Ceasefire signed between U.S., South Vietnam, & North U.S., South Vietnam, & North
VietnamVietnam
Peace with honorPeace with honor (President Nixon) (President Nixon)
Peace Negotiations
Peace Negotiations
US & US & Vietnamese Vietnamese
argue for argue for 5 months 5 months over the over the size of thesize of theconferenceconferencetable!table!
Dr. Henry KissingerDr. Henry Kissinger & Le Duc Le Duc ThoTho
The Ceasefire, 1973The Ceasefire, 1973
Conditions:Conditions:1.1. U.S. to remove all troopsU.S. to remove all troops2.2. North Vietnam could leave North Vietnam could leave
troops already in S.V.troops already in S.V.3.3. North Vietnam would resume North Vietnam would resume
warwar4.4. No provision for POWs or MIAsNo provision for POWs or MIAs
Last American troops left South Last American troops left South Vietnam on March 29, 1973Vietnam on March 29, 1973
1975: North Vietnam defeats South 1975: North Vietnam defeats South VietnamVietnam
Saigon renamed Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City
The Fall of Saigon
The Fall of Saigon
America Abandons Its America Abandons Its EmbassyEmbassy
April 30, 1975April 30, 1975
Democratic Democratic Convention in Convention in Chicago, 1968Chicago, 1968
Student Student Protestors Protestors
at Univ. of CA at Univ. of CA in Berkeley, 1968in Berkeley, 1968
Anti-War Demonstrations
Anti-War Demonstrations
Anti-War Demonstrations
Anti-War Demonstrations
May 4, May 4, 19701970
4 students 4 students shot dead.shot dead.
11 11 students students woundedwounded
Kent State UniversityKent State University
Jackson StateJackson StateUniversityUniversity
May 10, 1970May 10, 1970
2 dead; 12 2 dead; 12 woundedwounded