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Aim: How did the United States become
involved in the Vietnam conflict?
Aim: How did the United States become
involved in the Vietnam conflict?
Background of the War Background of the War Vietnam was a
French colony that was invaded by Japan during WWII
Ho Chi Minh fought against the Japanese and against France when they returned after the war
Ho was communist and a nationalist
His army was called the Vietminh
Vietnam was a French colony that was invaded by Japan during WWII
Ho Chi Minh fought against the Japanese and against France when they returned after the war
Ho was communist and a nationalist
His army was called the Vietminh
Domino TheoryDomino Theory
Introduced by Eisenhower in 1954
Based on the belief that if one country accepted communism, all those around would as well
Goal: Protect Japan
Introduced by Eisenhower in 1954
Based on the belief that if one country accepted communism, all those around would as well
Goal: Protect Japan
Dienbienphu: Exit FranceDienbienphu: Exit France The French spent
billions to fight the Vietminh and keep Vietnam as a colony
The French welcomed a conflict with the Vietminh at Dienbienphu and lost
This loss triggered French surrender
The French spent billions to fight the Vietminh and keep Vietnam as a colony
The French welcomed a conflict with the Vietminh at Dienbienphu and lost
This loss triggered French surrender
A Divided VietnamA Divided Vietnam Negotiated
Settlement: The Geneva Accords divided Vietnam into a Communist North and a Non-communist South
Ho Chi Minh controlled the North, Ngo Dihn Diem controlled the South
The U.S. supported Diem
Negotiated Settlement: The Geneva Accords divided Vietnam into a Communist North and a Non-communist South
Ho Chi Minh controlled the North, Ngo Dihn Diem controlled the South
The U.S. supported Diem
A Fateful CommitmentA Fateful Commitment The Geneva Accords
called for elections in 1956 to unify the country under Ho or Diem
Diem knew he would lose and cancelled the election
Ike chose to continue funding Diem’s government.
The Geneva Accords called for elections in 1956 to unify the country under Ho or Diem
Diem knew he would lose and cancelled the election
Ike chose to continue funding Diem’s government.
Ike supports DiemIke supports Diem
An Unpopular Diem An Unpopular Diem Most Vietnamese
were Buddhist; Diem was Catholic.
Diem oppressed the Buddhists and was never popular in the South.
His government was corrupt.
South Vietnam was never stable.
Most Vietnamese were Buddhist; Diem was Catholic.
Diem oppressed the Buddhists and was never popular in the South.
His government was corrupt.
South Vietnam was never stable.
JFK’S Decision: Diem is Out
JFK’S Decision: Diem is Out
JFK supports a military take-over of South Vietnam
Diem is assassinated
The U.S. becomes materially involved in the South Vietnam’s government
U.S. military assistance to South Vietnam increases
JFK supports a military take-over of South Vietnam
Diem is assassinated
The U.S. becomes materially involved in the South Vietnam’s government
U.S. military assistance to South Vietnam increases
LBJ & Escalation LBJ & Escalation President Johnson
honored JFK’s commitment to South Vietnam
He did not want to lose any territory to Communism
8/2/64: The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: The USS Maddox reported that North Vietnamese forces fired on it
President Johnson honored JFK’s commitment to South Vietnam
He did not want to lose any territory to Communism
8/2/64: The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: The USS Maddox reported that North Vietnamese forces fired on it
The Tonkin Gulf ResolutionThe Tonkin Gulf Resolution Congress granted
LBJ the right to use force in Vietnam without any further Congressional supervision or approval.
Passed the House of Reps: 416-0
Passed the Senate: 88-2
Congress granted LBJ the right to use force in Vietnam without any further Congressional supervision or approval.
Passed the House of Reps: 416-0
Passed the Senate: 88-2
New War LeadersNew War LeadersHo Chi Minh Lyndon B. Johnson
New GeneralsNew GeneralsWestmoreland GiapWestmoreland Giap
Johnson’s Escalatio
n and Beyond:US Trooplevels in Vietnam
1960-1972
Johnson’s Escalatio
n and Beyond:US Trooplevels in Vietnam
1960-1972
The Enemy Within: The National Liberation Front The Enemy Within: The
National Liberation Front The NLF comprised
South Vietnamese who supported a communist government
Their efforts were coordinated with the North Vietnamese Army (NVA)
Americans called them “Vietcong” or “Charlie”
The NLF comprised South Vietnamese who supported a communist government
Their efforts were coordinated with the North Vietnamese Army (NVA)
Americans called them “Vietcong” or “Charlie”
A Working-class WarA Working-class War70% of the men sent to Vietnam were
lower-class or middle-class families.The average soldier was 19 years old
Most soldiers were drafted--few enlisted
Soldiers served a tour of duty: approximately one year
70% of the men sent to Vietnam were lower-class or middle-class families.
The average soldier was 19 years old
Most soldiers were drafted--few enlisted
Soldiers served a tour of duty: approximately one year
Difficult ConditionsDifficult Conditions
Opposing strategies and weapons
Opposing strategies and weapons
Versus
Bikes
B-52s
Opposing strategies and weapons
Opposing strategies and weapons
How do these images symbolize how each side fought the Vietnam War?
What were the strengths and weaknesses of each strategy?
How do these images symbolize how each side fought the Vietnam War?
What were the strengths and weaknesses of each strategy?
The Ho Chi Minh TrailThe Ho Chi Minh Trail
Vietcong Underground
tunnels
Vietcong Underground
tunnels
Fighting the Enemy
Fighting the Enemy
Finding the
Enemy: Search & Destroy
Finding the
Enemy: Search & Destroy
The Air WarThe Air War More tonnage of
bombs was dropped on Vietnam than had been dropped during WWI, WWII, and in Korea
It had little effect: The Vietnamese did not have large and vulnerable urban centers
More tonnage of bombs was dropped on Vietnam than had been dropped during WWI, WWII, and in Korea
It had little effect: The Vietnamese did not have large and vulnerable urban centers
Napalm and Agent OrangeNapalm and Agent Orange Napalm: jelly-like
gasoline that clung to flesh and burned
Agent Orange: a defoliant designed to kill plant life and uncover the enemy
Agent Orange later caused cancer and birth defects.
Napalm: jelly-like gasoline that clung to flesh and burned
Agent Orange: a defoliant designed to kill plant life and uncover the enemy
Agent Orange later caused cancer and birth defects.
Iconic Victim of Napalm bombing
9 year old Kim Phuc Phan
Iconic Victim of Napalm bombing
9 year old Kim Phuc Phan
Iconic Napalm victim todayKim Phuc Phan in adulthood
Iconic Napalm victim todayKim Phuc Phan in adulthood
Tet Offensive: Jan. ‘68
Tet Offensive: Jan. ‘68
Tet OffensiveTet Offensive
South Vietnamese Colonel executes a Vietcong suspectSouth Vietnamese Colonel
executes a Vietcong suspect
The Effects of TetThe Effects of Tet The NLF initially overtook hundreds
of towns and threatened non-communist governments across the South
The NLF suffered terrible losses when it directly confronted the U.S. military
A “Credibility Gap” developed: Americans stopped believing that the U.S. could win the war in Vietnam.
People distrusted government reports about the war.
The NLF initially overtook hundreds of towns and threatened non-communist governments across the South
The NLF suffered terrible losses when it directly confronted the U.S. military
A “Credibility Gap” developed: Americans stopped believing that the U.S. could win the war in Vietnam.
People distrusted government reports about the war.
1968: Exit LBJ1968: Exit LBJ Due to the war’s
unpopularity, Johnson decided not to run for re-election and to purse peace talks with the North Vietnamese.
Due to the war’s unpopularity, Johnson decided not to run for re-election and to purse peace talks with the North Vietnamese.
The Election of Richard Nixon
The Election of Richard Nixon
Nixon’s PromisesNixon’s Promises Nixon claimed to
have a “secret plan” to end the war in Vietnam
He promised to represent America’s “Silent Majority”: patriotic Americans who did not protest the war and valued Law and Order
Nixon claimed to have a “secret plan” to end the war in Vietnam
He promised to represent America’s “Silent Majority”: patriotic Americans who did not protest the war and valued Law and Order
Nixon’s War PoliciesNixon’s War Policies Nixon began
“Vietnamization”: pulling U.S. troops from Vietnam and relying on South Vietnamese soldiers
He increased U.S. bombing of North Vietnam
He secretly invaded Cambodia to attack part of the Ho Chi Minh Trail
Nixon began “Vietnamization”: pulling U.S. troops from Vietnam and relying on South Vietnamese soldiers
He increased U.S. bombing of North Vietnam
He secretly invaded Cambodia to attack part of the Ho Chi Minh Trail
From Cambodia to Kent State
From Cambodia to Kent State
More than 1 million student’s protested Nixon’s invasion of Cambodia
May 4, 1970: Protestors at Kent State burned the ROTC building.
The Ohio National Guard later shot & killed 4 protestors
More than 1 million student’s protested Nixon’s invasion of Cambodia
May 4, 1970: Protestors at Kent State burned the ROTC building.
The Ohio National Guard later shot & killed 4 protestors
Nixon ends the War in 1973
Nixon ends the War in 1973
America ended combat operations in support of South Vietnam
Nixon believed America had preserved its image as a super-power
The US could have had this type of peace years before 1973
America ended combat operations in support of South Vietnam
Nixon believed America had preserved its image as a super-power
The US could have had this type of peace years before 1973
Panic in South VietnamPanic in South Vietnam Many South
Vietnamese wanted to leave with the Americans. They did not expect their country to survive.
April 1975: Saigon falls to communist forces. The nation unites under communist rule.
Many South Vietnamese wanted to leave with the Americans. They did not expect their country to survive.
April 1975: Saigon falls to communist forces. The nation unites under communist rule.
Congress learns a LessonCongress learns a Lesson The War Powers Act of
1973: a limit on presidential power.
An example of checks and balances
The president must inform Congress within 48 hours if US troops are sent abroad
Troops can only stay abroad 90 days without Congressional approval.
The War Powers Act of 1973: a limit on presidential power.
An example of checks and balances
The president must inform Congress within 48 hours if US troops are sent abroad
Troops can only stay abroad 90 days without Congressional approval.
A Terrible PriceA Terrible PriceMore than 58,000 American
dead 365,000 Americans wounded1.5 million Vietnamese killedSoutheast Asia was
destabilized: Radical Communists in Cambodia (The Khmer Rouge) came to power and killed 2 million Cambodians
More than 58,000 American dead
365,000 Americans wounded1.5 million Vietnamese killedSoutheast Asia was
destabilized: Radical Communists in Cambodia (The Khmer Rouge) came to power and killed 2 million Cambodians
The Vietnam War Memorial
Maya Lin, 1981 The Vietnam War Memorial
Maya Lin, 1981
Vietnam is a country, not a war!
Vietnam is a country, not a war!
