The Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War

Background of the WarBackground of the WarFrench colonyFrench colonyHo Chi Minh leads Ho Chi Minh leads resistance against resistance against FranceFranceVietminhVietminhGeneva ConferenceGeneva Conference– North VietnamNorth Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh (Comm)Ho Chi Minh (Comm)

– South VietnamSouth VietnamNgo Dinh Diem (US)Ngo Dinh Diem (US)U.S. “advisors”U.S. “advisors”

Kennedy’s Vietnam PolicyKennedy’s Vietnam Policy1963 (JFK) – 16,000 1963 (JFK) – 16,000 military advisers; military advisers; Green BeretsGreen Berets

Diem’s governmentDiem’s government– AuthoritarianAuthoritarian– Buddhist monks – self-Buddhist monks – self-

immolationimmolation

Kennedy allows for Kennedy allows for Diem to be Diem to be overthrownoverthrown– Diem assassinatedDiem assassinated

Johnson’s WarJohnson’s WarThe The VietcongVietcong (VC; Charlie) (VC; Charlie)– Communist guerillas in Communist guerillas in

South VietnamSouth Vietnam

Intensifying the WarIntensifying the War– U.S. ships attacked in Gulf U.S. ships attacked in Gulf

of Tonkinof Tonkin– Gulf of Tonkin Resolution – Gulf of Tonkin Resolution –

19641964– Gave authority to send Gave authority to send

troops; 1965 Marines land troops; 1965 Marines land in DaNangin DaNang

– Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail– Pleiku – Am. killed; Pleiku – Am. killed;

increases US involvementincreases US involvementThe Tet Offensive 1968The Tet Offensive 1968

The Brutality of WarThe Brutality of WarBrutal battlefield Brutal battlefield conditions – guerilla war, conditions – guerilla war, traps, pitstraps, pitsEffects on CiviliansEffects on Civilians– B-52 Bombers – B-52 Bombers –

saturation bombingsaturation bombing– Agent OrangeAgent Orange– Napalm 5,000 Napalm 5,000

degreesdegreesThe My Lai Massacre – The My Lai Massacre – 19681968Lt. William Calley – Lt. William Calley – convicted of war crimesconvicted of war crimesConviction reduced to Conviction reduced to 20; serves 320; serves 3Scapegoat to someScapegoat to some

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Vietnam Nurses’ MemorialVietnam Nurses’ Memorial

Items left at the Vietnam Wall (now

found in the Smithsonian Museum of American History)

Kent State 1970