The Vietnam War

OriginsFrench Indochina War (1946-54)

• Vietnamese nationalists (Vietminh) waged a war of national liberation against the French. Ho Chi Minh, a Communist, was the leader.

• Due to “containment” and NSC-68 the Americans supported the French, funding 80% of the war in the final year.

• Despite this, the French were defeated after being routed at the decisive Battle of Dien Bien Phu.

Geneva Accords• Peace agreement after the war called for:

• French withdrawal and creation of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

• Temporary division of Vietnam at 17th parallel (due to divisions between Communists and non-Communists).

• “free” elections to unite the country in 1956

• USA refused to sign the Geneva Accords. They believed it would lead to a Communist Vietnam. Instead, they strengthened Non-Communist forces in the south.

Regime in South Vietnam

• Corrupt elections were held in the south, Ngo Dinh Diem became the leader in 1955.

• He was pro-American but also corrupt. His family members received important posts and wealth.

• He made few beneficial reforms for the poor.

• Majority of Vietnamese were Buddhists, Diem was Catholic. Regime discriminated against Buddhists.

• Diem was very unpopular. Communists within the south (called the Viet Cong) organized revolts and a civil war began.

• Ho Chi Minh supported the Viet Cong.

US Involvement• President Kennedy believed that Diem regime would

collapse without US support. This would lead to a “domino effect” in SE Asia.

• Kennedy sent aid and increased military advisors from 1000 in 1961 to 16,000 in 1963.

• US “Green Berets” were sent to assist in search and destroy missions against the Vietcong. The first US troops in war.

• In 1963 Diem was assassinated. US hoped to install a more popular leader.

• Kennedy was assassinated soon after. Some claim he was prepared to pull American support out of Vietnam.

President Johnson & Escalation• The South faced increasing attacks from the Vietcong

and the North Vietnamese army (NVA).

• Johnson had to decide whether to abandon Vietnam, or escalate American involvement.

• He decides that letting the South fall would be unacceptable to American interests.

Gulf of Tonkin Incident

• In Aug. 1964, NV patrol boats fired on a US ship in the Gulf of Tonkin.

• Two days later a second attack allegedly occurred. This led to:

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

• Congress gave President the

authority to “take all necessary

measures” to prevent aggression

against American interests in

Vietnam.

• Johnson could now escalate

US involvement.

Operation Rolling Thunder – 1965

• Johnson ordered a massive air force bombing campaign of Northern Vietnam in response to the “open aggression on the high seas” at Tonkin.

• For three years, NV was turned to rubble. (By the end of the war US dropped more firepower on NV than total bombings by all sides in WW2).

• US used “Agent Orange” – napalm bombs that removed vegetation cover for VietCong. Led to burns and poisoning of peasants.

• March 1965 – the first US ground combat troops arrived in the South (500,000 by 1968)

• In 1968, the NVA launched the massive Tet Offensivewhich was a turning point in the war.

Why did America Fail in Vietnam?1) South Vietnam regime was unpopular

• Support for the Vietcong was very high amongst the peasants. They supported and hid Vietcong in villages.

• S Vietnam regime had forced peasants into strategic hamlets (monitored camps) to try and stop this -unpopular

• This led to frustration amongst US troops. Led to violence against villagers which increased hostility towards American troops.

• EX. In May 1968 – Lt. William Calley’s troops massacred 400 civilians at My Lai.

2) NVA and Vietcong tactics superior to US tactics

• They were more committed. Fighting for their independence and their country.

• Used jungle to their advantage – guerrilla type fighting. Americans claimed they were “invisible”.

• Had elaborate system of tunnels and supply routes through Cambodia and Laos (Ho Chi Minh Trail).

• US bombing was ineffective, very few targets.

• US troops became disillusioned as casualties increased. Conditions were terrible. No motivation to fight. Drug use and prostitution became problems.

• US inflicted more casualties but Americans were less willing to pay the price necessary to win.

3) Anti-War Movement in USA

• During Vietnam, men between the ages of 18-26 were eligible to be drafted.

• Over 89,000 troops deserted and up to 100,000 escaped to places like Canada to avoid the draft (draft dodgers)

• Morale amongst troops was low.

• Massive demonstrations against the war sparked violence. In 1970 four students were killed at Kent University, sparking further strikes and protests.

• “peace and love” NOT war – music was influential.

• Media coverage demonstrated atrocities, public did not feel like the regime in the South was worth defending.