The Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War

Chapter 33Chapter 33

Vietnam and the FrenchVietnam and the FrenchFrench ColonialismFrench Colonialism– Roads, railroads, and port facilitiesRoads, railroads, and port facilities– Small farms gone and large plantations installedSmall farms gone and large plantations installed– Vietnamese were shipped to France during WWI Vietnamese were shipped to France during WWI

to build trenchesto build trenches– French was the 2French was the 2ndnd official language official language – Schools were closedSchools were closed– 80% were illiterate after 100 years of French rule80% were illiterate after 100 years of French rule– Censored press, restricted freedom of speech Censored press, restricted freedom of speech

and assemblyand assembly

RevolutionRevolutionHo Chi MinhHo Chi Minh organized the Indochina organized the Indochina Communist partyCommunist party– Other nationalists joined Ho and Other nationalists joined Ho and

formed the formed the VietminhVietminh After the Japanese were defeated, After the Japanese were defeated, the Vietminh established the the Vietminh established the Democratic Republic of VietnamDemocratic Republic of VietnamFrench forces fought to keep Vietnam French forces fought to keep Vietnam a colony of Francea colony of FranceHo asked for support from Truman, he Ho asked for support from Truman, he was ignoredwas ignored– Truman believed that communists Truman believed that communists

everywhere were just pawns of everywhere were just pawns of MoscowMoscow

Ho Chi Minh

Vietminh FightVietminh FightGuerrilla warfareGuerrilla warfare

Bao Dai and the French Bao Dai and the French puppet governmentpuppet government

Truman sent Dai 1 Billion in Truman sent Dai 1 Billion in aidaid

Ike believed in the Ike believed in the domino domino theorytheory

1954 US is paying for 80% 1954 US is paying for 80% of Frances military expensesof Frances military expenses

French lose French lose Dien Bien PhuDien Bien Phu

Bao Dai

Domino Theory

Geneva AccordGeneva Accord

Vietnam was divided at the 17Vietnam was divided at the 17thth parallel parallel

N. Vietnam (Democratic Republic of N. Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) – Ho Chi MinhVietnam) – Ho Chi Minh

S. Vietnam (The State of Vietnam) – Bao S. Vietnam (The State of Vietnam) – Bao DaiDai

900,000 people move south900,000 people move south

80,000 people move north80,000 people move north

Pink = North Vietnam

•Communist

•Leader = Ho Chi Minh

•Capital = Hanoi

Green = South Vietnam•French controlled•Leader = Bao Dai (puppet)•Capital =Saigon

17th Parallel division line

Civil Unrest In S. VietnamCivil Unrest In S. VietnamNgo Dinh DiemNgo Dinh Diem overthrows overthrows Bao Dai’s governmentBao Dai’s government

Diem claimed that the Diem claimed that the Geneva Accords don’t Geneva Accords don’t applyapply

Diem was a Catholic tyrantDiem was a Catholic tyrant

Minh was worseMinh was worse

US organizes Southeast US organizes Southeast Asian Treaty Organization Asian Treaty Organization (SEATO)(SEATO)

Ngo Dinh Diem

More ProblemsMore Problems

Diem refuses country wide electionsDiem refuses country wide electionsVietcongVietcong fight a guerilla campaign fight a guerilla campaign – The leaders were CommunistThe leaders were Communist– Ike Sent Diem aid to prevent a Communist takeoverIke Sent Diem aid to prevent a Communist takeover– Vietcong were successful at taking over the Vietcong were successful at taking over the

countrysidecountryside

Kennedy sends military supplies to Diem and Kennedy sends military supplies to Diem and authorizes American pilots to fly combat authorizes American pilots to fly combat missionsmissionsDiem Diem treated Buddhists poorlytreated Buddhists poorlyVietcong influence spreadsVietcong influence spreads

When South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem refused to talk with the Buddhists, a Buddhist monk set himself on fire in a busy Saigon intersection before a crowd of shocked onlookers.

Tonkin Gulf ResolutionTonkin Gulf Resolution

Tonkin Gulf ResolutionTonkin Gulf Resolution – Gave – Gave the President the power to “take the President the power to “take all necessary measures to repel all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against armed any armed attack against armed forces of the US and to prevent forces of the US and to prevent further aggression.”further aggression.”

It gave President Johnson a blank It gave President Johnson a blank check to keep Communism out of check to keep Communism out of S. VietnamS. Vietnam

U.S.S. Maddox

Americans Enter the WarAmericans Enter the War

S. Vietnam used the S. Vietnam used the Ho Chi Ho Chi Minh TrailMinh Trail to move supplies to move supplies and troopsand troops

Operation Rolling ThunderOperation Rolling Thunder

1968 – 538,000 American 1968 – 538,000 American troops were serving in troops were serving in VietnamVietnam

Search and Destroy MissionsSearch and Destroy Missions

DefoliantsDefoliants used in the Jungle used in the Jungle– side effectsside effects

Anti-war MovementAnti-war Movement

““Make love not war”Make love not war”10,000 move north10,000 move northDovesDoves– US should not be involved in another US should not be involved in another

country’s civil warcountry’s civil war– $25 Billion a year$25 Billion a year HawksHawks– Fighting the N. Vietnamese was really Fighting the N. Vietnamese was really

protecting the US in the long runprotecting the US in the long run

Tet OffensiveTet Offensive

Tet HolidayTet Holiday

Funerals and fireworksFunerals and fireworks

Large attack against bases and citiesLarge attack against bases and cities

William WestmorlandWilliam Westmorland

Tet Offensive was a huge failure for the Tet Offensive was a huge failure for the VietcongVietcong

Johnson’s advisors told him to get outJohnson’s advisors told him to get out

The US WithdrawsThe US Withdraws

Nixon wins the election of Nixon wins the election of 19681968

VietnamizationVietnamization– It did not workIt did not work

US continues to bomb US continues to bomb Cambodia and LaosCambodia and Laos

Students StrikeStudents Strike

Kent UniversityKent University– 4 dead and 9 wounded4 dead and 9 wounded– Nixon didn’t understand the Nixon didn’t understand the

kidskids

Kent State University anti-war protest

It EndsIt Ends

The Senate repeals the Tonkin Gulf The Senate repeals the Tonkin Gulf ResolutionsResolutionsTroops were withdrawn from Cambodia in Troops were withdrawn from Cambodia in 19701970US soldier moral plummetUS soldier moral plummet– Drugs, age, trainingDrugs, age, training

1972 election, Nixon agrees to pull out 1972 election, Nixon agrees to pull out troops, but will send aid to S. Vietnamtroops, but will send aid to S. VietnamJanuary 27, 1973 – US troops leave SVJanuary 27, 1973 – US troops leave SV

It EndsIt Ends

SV still received billions from the USSV still received billions from the US

March 1975, NV takes the capital of March 1975, NV takes the capital of Saigon as Americans flee the embassySaigon as Americans flee the embassy

Saigon would be renamed Ho Chi Minh Saigon would be renamed Ho Chi Minh CityCity