Vietnam(1950-1975)I. Why?

II. Beginnings (1950-63)A. TrumanB. Eisenhower & JFK

III. Escalation (1964-68)A. LBJB. TonkinC. IncreaseD. TetE. Students

IV. Out (1969-1973)A. Nixon

V. Legacy…?

Key Terms• Nation-Building• Tonkin Resolution• Tet Offensive• “Counterculture”• Vietnamization

Themes

• How/why did US become involved?• Trace escalation of US involvement-each

President

Why Become Involved?

• Containment of Communism

Containment(1947-1989)

1. US could do nothing about removing the Soviets from areas already under their control.

George F. Kennan

Mr. X

2. US MUST contain any/all expansion by USSR.

3. Negotiate first; use force as a last resort.

Foundation of US foreign policy for entire Cold War.

Vietnam War: Background

• It had been a colony of France, but was divided after WWII:

• North Vietnam-USSR• South Vietnam-US

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Beginnings

• In 1950 US gave $20 million to support anti-communists in South Vietnam.

Harry S Truman(1945-1953)

Nation-Building(1953-1963)

• US policy to prevent South Vietnam from becoming Communist.

• Eisenhower- “Domino Theory”

• JFK- “Middle Course”

Dwight Eisenhower

(1953-1961)John Kennedy

(1961-1963)

1961: 600 US “Advisors”

1963: 16,000 US Troops

Tonkin Incident (1964)

• US ship Maddox was in Gulf of Tonkin

• Apparently it was attacked• LBJ asked for authority to

retaliate

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Tonkin Resolution(1964)

1. Authorized President to “take all necessary measures” to prevent communist aggression in Vietnam.

2. Gave legal justification to send troops into combat—but no declaration of war.

3. Passed overwhelmingly:• House: 416-0• Senate: 88-2

Text of Joint Resolution Authorizing Use of Force: 9/15/01

• “A) That the President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September, 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by any such nations, organizations or persons.”

Passed 96-0 in Senate and 420-1 in House of Representatives

Text of Joint Resolution Authorizing the Use of Force against Iraq. Passed 10/11/02

Passed 77-23 in Senate & 296-133 in House

• “Authorizes the President to use the U.S. armed forces to: (1) defend U.S. national security against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and (2) enforce all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq.”

• It also directs the President to inform the Speaker of the House and the Senate President pro-tem within 48 hours of having used this authority.

• President must also report to Congress at least every 60 days on relevant matters.

Vietnam War: Background

• It had been a colony of France, but was divided after WWII:

• North Vietnam-USSR• South Vietnam-US

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• In 1965 a US base in South Vietnam was attacked

Escalation(1965-1968)

• 1965: “Rolling Thunder” (50,000 troops)

• By 1968: 500,000 US troops

President Lyndon Johnson

Students (Only) Begin To Protest

1965 Protest in WA DC

Burning Draft Cards

Tet Offensive(January, 1968)

• Major North Vietnamese Offensive-caught US by surprise

• Initially military success for North, but they were pushed back

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• Turning Point: Opposition to the war grew dramatically

Counter-Culture

Parent’s Generation• Three piece suit• Crew Cut• Monogamous

relationships• Alcohol as drug of

choice

Baby-Boom Generation• Jeans• Long hair• Free love

• Illegal drugs

Vietnamization(1970s)

1. US would gradually withdraw from Vietnam.

2. US would train & equip South Vietnamese to fight themselves.

3. US began negotiations to end war.

Richard M. Nixon

(1969-1974)

Nixon & Out…

• North Vietnamese refused to negotiate

• US increased bombing & invaded neutral countries of Cambodia & Laos

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Student Movement-Protests Lead To Violence

Kent State, 1970

Nixon & Out…

• North Vietnamese refused to negotiate

• US increased bombing & invaded neutral Cambodia & Laos

• Following the “Christmas bombings” in 1972-73 a peace settlement was reached

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Vietnam: The End

• 1973-last US troops leave Vietnam.

• 1975-Vietnam “falls” to communism.

The last Americans leaving Saigon in 1975

Legacy Of Vietnam

1. Global containment was flawed-a failure

2. Undermined US self-confidence (was US a “Second Rate” world power?)

3. About 55,000 Americans & possibly 2 million Vietnamese died

1972 Photo

Vietnam(1950-1975)I. Why?

II. Beginnings (1950-63)A. TrumanB. Eisenhower & JFK

III. Escalation (1964-68)A. LBJB. TonkinC. IncreaseD. TetE. Students

IV. Out (1969-1973)A. Nixon

V. Legacy…?

Key Terms• Nation-Building• Tonkin Resolution• Tet Offensive• “Counterculture”• Vietnamization