The Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War

Vietnam on the map...Vietnam on the map...

French War in Vietnam

Japanese eject French during World War II French try to re-establish Vietnamese colony

after war French lose at Dien Bien Phu (in jungles near

Laotian border) to Communist Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap (1954)

1954 Geneva Accords require French demilitarization of Vietnam, partitioning at 17th parallel, and elections under emperor Bao Dai in the South (Diem/Eisenhower prevents them) .

Kennedy

Advisors sent to Vietnam (a few already there under Eisenhower) to stop communist Viet Minh forces

Vietnamese government under Chinese-aligned communist Ho Chi Minh in the North, dictator Ngo Dinh Diem in the South

Secretary of State Dean Rusk and Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara recommend build-up of U.S. Forces in South Vietnam.

Domino Theory

The Domino Theory is the idea that if The Domino Theory is the idea that if Vietnam falls to communism, so will the rest Vietnam falls to communism, so will the rest of former French Indochina (Laos and of former French Indochina (Laos and Cambodia), as well as other Southeast Asian Cambodia), as well as other Southeast Asian nations (Thailand, Burma, etc.)nations (Thailand, Burma, etc.)

When Vietnam fell, Laos and Cambodia did When Vietnam fell, Laos and Cambodia did fall to communism, but not Thailand or fall to communism, but not Thailand or Burma.Burma.

Diem

Repressive South Vietnamese leader who Repressive South Vietnamese leader who becomes dictator in Southbecomes dictator in South

Helps to prevent 1955 elections, works with Helps to prevent 1955 elections, works with U.S.U.S.

Represses political opposition, jailing Represses political opposition, jailing opponents indefinitely without charges, opponents indefinitely without charges, random executions without trial.random executions without trial.

Suppresses Buddhists (Diem is Catholic), Suppresses Buddhists (Diem is Catholic), who rebel (and occasionally self-immolate).who rebel (and occasionally self-immolate).

U.S. Supports military coup against Diem in U.S. Supports military coup against Diem in 1963, Diem and his brother killed.1963, Diem and his brother killed.

Tet Offensive

Term for a combined North Vietnamese/Viet Cong (guerrilla fighters) offensive against South Vietnam in January-February 1968

“Tet” is the Vietnamese new year VietCong are the guerillas who strike against S.

Vietnamese civilian and military targets inside of S. Vietnam.

North Vietnamese army invades south from the DMZ, but is stopped at Khe Sahn.

VietCong massacres civilians at Hue, just over the S. Vietnam border

Khe Sahn

Major 1968 battle near 17th Parallel between invading North Vietnamese forces and U.S. Base.

Result: Officially a defensive U.S. Victory, but more than 700 U.S. KIA and more S. Vietnamese casualties

Battle results after outright invasion of South Vietnam by North Vietnamese forces in January 1968.

By summer, U.S. pulls out of Khe Sahn base, but N. Vietnamese don't attempt another outright invasion of the South until U.S. Forces leave.

Media Loses the War?

The VietCong uprising during Tet is demoralizing the American public, as news media (and Johnson Administration) had reported the Vietnam War as already basically won.

Conservatives blame news media reports, especially television news anchors like Walter Cronkite, for souring the American public on the war (the three TV networks broadcasted daily lists of casualties).

Ho Chi Minh Trail

Supply route for N. Vietnamese guerillas, the “VietCong,” through Laos and Cambodia.

Took advantage of areas U.S. Soldiers were not allowed to fight (like Korean bridges over the Yalu River).

In 1970, Richard Nixon authorizes U.S. Secret intervention in Laos and Cambodia (Kampuchea today) by CIA “Special Activities” division and U.S. special forces, as well as air force bombings.

Nixon's campaign is exposed as a “secret war,” unauthorized by Congress, and the campaign slows, but doesn't stop VietCong resupply.

Rules of Engagement

Vietnam War replays controversies from Korean conflict where enemy forces are given “sanctuary” from U.S. Attacks

90 percent of Vietnamese resupply is through Communist China, which is off-limits to U.S. Forces

Ho Chi Minh trail in Laos and Cambodia also officially off limits (despite Nixon 1970 secret intervention).

U.S. soldiers in S. Vietnam were not allowed to shoot unless shot at first, which gave the enemy the choice of initiative, battle location

Sen. Barry Goldwater publishes official Rules of Engagement in Congressional Record in 1984, blames them for why war was lost.

Johnson

U.S. Soldiers deployed reach 500,000 by 1968 U.S. deaths peak in 1969 Antiwar movement accelerates Johnson announces he will not seek reelection

in 1968, in part because of Vietnam controversy

Nixon

Nixon re-elected to bring an end to the war in Nixon re-elected to bring an end to the war in 1968 (Democratic nominee Hubert Humphrey 1968 (Democratic nominee Hubert Humphrey pledges to continue the war).pledges to continue the war).

Nixon eventually calls for a negotiated Nixon eventually calls for a negotiated withdrawal through the Paris peace process, withdrawal through the Paris peace process, negotiated by his Secretary of State Henry negotiated by his Secretary of State Henry KissingerKissinger

Americans pull troops out of South Vietnam in Americans pull troops out of South Vietnam in 1973, leaving a few advisers.1973, leaving a few advisers.

Last Americans leave April 1975 Last Americans leave April 1975

Results of the War

After U.S. Forces are withdrawn, N. Vietnamese army forces, together with VietCong, invade S. Vietnam in early 1975

Saigon, the southern capital, falls in April 1975 Laos and Cambodia fall to communist leaders Hmong tribesman in Laos (ethnic minorities to

the Pathet Lao) flee persecution after CIA support ends (many end up in U.S.)

Khmer Rouge takes over Cambodia and kills as many as 2 million of the nation's 13 million people in a genocidal wave.