Vietnam WarVietnam War

By: Debra StorbrauckBy: Debra Storbrauck

AbbreviationsAbbreviations

• DRV- Democratic Republic of VietnamDRV- Democratic Republic of Vietnam

• NLF- National Liberation FrontNLF- National Liberation Front

• GVN- Government of the Republic of GVN- Government of the Republic of VietnamVietnam

LocationsLocations

• VietnamVietnam

• LaosLaos

• CambodiaCambodia

Time PeriodTime Period

• Vietnam War followed after the First Vietnam War followed after the First Indochina War Indochina War

• From November 1, 1955 to April 30, From November 1, 1955 to April 30, 19751975

North Vs. SouthNorth Vs. South

• North Vietnam North Vietnam • Communist alliesCommunist allies

• South Vietnam South Vietnam • United StatesUnited States• Other anti Other anti

communist nationscommunist nations

StrategiesStrategies

• North VietnamNorth Vietnam

a. conventional a. conventional warfare- no use of warfare- no use of nuclear, biological, nuclear, biological, or chemical or chemical weaponsweapons

• South VietnamSouth Vietnam

a. air a. air superioritysuperiority

b. heavy b. heavy firepower firepower

c. at one point c. at one point the U.S. considered the U.S. considered the use of nuclear the use of nuclear weapons weapons

CasualtiesCasualties

• Both Vietnam SidesBoth Vietnam Sides• 3- 4 million3- 4 million

• Laotians and CambodiansLaotians and Cambodians• 1.5- 2 million 1.5- 2 million

• United StatesUnited States• 58,15958,159

Why The United States EnteredWhy The United States Entered

• Prevent communist takeover of South Prevent communist takeover of South Vietnam Vietnam

• Another strategy for containmentAnother strategy for containment

BackgroundBackground

• Before WWll, France controlled Before WWll, France controlled VietnamVietnam

• During the war, Vietnam was taken by During the war, Vietnam was taken by Germany and it’s ally, Japan Germany and it’s ally, Japan

• When Germany was defeated, it went to When Germany was defeated, it went to Japan until they surrenderedJapan until they surrendered

BackgroundBackground

• Ho Chi Minh, leader of the Viet Minh, Ho Chi Minh, leader of the Viet Minh, declared Vietnam freedeclared Vietnam free

• This angered the United Kingdom, This angered the United Kingdom, United States, and the Soviet UnionUnited States, and the Soviet Union

• The countries stated that it still The countries stated that it still belonged to Francebelonged to France

BackgroundBackground

• Since France did not have enough Since France did not have enough military resources at the time, Britain military resources at the time, Britain occupied the South while nationalist occupied the South while nationalist China took the NorthChina took the North

• The Viet Ming was gaining political The Viet Ming was gaining political power in North Vietnam, so the French power in North Vietnam, so the French drove them out of the city of Hanoi on drove them out of the city of Hanoi on March 1946March 1946

BackgroundBackground

• This event angered the Viet Ming This event angered the Viet Ming

• They soon began a guerrilla war They soon began a guerrilla war against France and thus began the First against France and thus began the First Indochina WarIndochina War

France’s DefeatFrance’s Defeat

• The Battle of Dien Bien Phu marked the The Battle of Dien Bien Phu marked the end of the French in the Indochina Warend of the French in the Indochina War

• The Viet Minh defeated the French The Viet Minh defeated the French under the command of Vo Nguyen Giapunder the command of Vo Nguyen Giap

• France and Viet Minh settled a France and Viet Minh settled a ceasefire agreement at the Geneva ceasefire agreement at the Geneva ConferenceConference

• Finally, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam Finally, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam were freewere free

Moving ForwardMoving Forward

• Eisenhower’s administration helped Eisenhower’s administration helped create a new nation for South Vietnamcreate a new nation for South Vietnam

• One year later, Ngo Dinh Diem won the One year later, Ngo Dinh Diem won the election and became president of the election and became president of the GVN (Government of the Republic of GVN (Government of the Republic of Vietnam)Vietnam)

• Diem learned news of an attack from Diem learned news of an attack from the North Vietnam the North Vietnam

Preparing For An AttackPreparing For An Attack

• Got aid from the United statesGot aid from the United states

• Diem passed a series of acts that made Diem passed a series of acts that made it legal to hold someone if they are it legal to hold someone if they are suspected to be communistsuspected to be communist

Attacks on DiemAttacks on Diem

• Buddhist monks, nuns, students, Buddhist monks, nuns, students, business people, intellectuals, and business people, intellectuals, and peasants attacked Diem’s troops and peasants attacked Diem’s troops and secret police for his harsh actions secret police for his harsh actions towards the peopletowards the people

• Diem blamed communistsDiem blamed communists

Overthrow of Diem’s Overthrow of Diem’s GovernmentGovernment

• Kennedy’s administration grew Kennedy’s administration grew suspicious of how well Diem’s suspicious of how well Diem’s Government was workingGovernment was working

• Later, they approved a plan to Later, they approved a plan to overthrow Diem’s government and overthrow Diem’s government and liberate Vietnamliberate Vietnam

Nation Liberation FrontNation Liberation Front

• Brought together Communists and Brought together Communists and Non- CommunistsNon- Communists

• Opposed Ngo Dinh DiemOpposed Ngo Dinh Diem• Wanted to unify VietnamWanted to unify Vietnam• The NLF started violent attacks against The NLF started violent attacks against

the Saigon Regimethe Saigon Regime• U.S. feared a communist take over and U.S. feared a communist take over and

developed a series of government developed a series of government “White Papers”“White Papers”

December 1961 White PaperDecember 1961 White Paper

• Kennedy sent troops to Vietnam to Kennedy sent troops to Vietnam to report the conditions in the South and report the conditions in the South and to assist for future aid requirementsto assist for future aid requirements

• This was known as the December 1961 This was known as the December 1961 White PaperWhite Paper

December 1961 White PaperDecember 1961 White Paper

• Argued to increase military technical, Argued to increase military technical, and economic aidand economic aid

• Argued an introduction of large scale Argued an introduction of large scale American advisors to help stabilize the American advisors to help stabilize the Diem regime and crush NLFDiem regime and crush NLF

• Kennedy agreed but refused to send Kennedy agreed but refused to send large amounts of troopslarge amounts of troops

FailingFailing

• Their plan was failing as their were Their plan was failing as their were more reports of NLF victoriesmore reports of NLF victories

• They then tried to isolate NLF from They then tried to isolate NLF from villagers villagers

Buddhist MonksBuddhist Monks

• Ngo Dinh Nhu raided Buddhist Ngo Dinh Nhu raided Buddhist dwellings of South Vietnamdwellings of South Vietnam

• They claimed they were communists They claimed they were communists and were causing the political and were causing the political instabilityinstability

• This picture of monks on fire made This picture of monks on fire made world headlines and alarmed world headlines and alarmed WashingtonWashington

OverthrowOverthrow

• Buddhist protests caused Kennedy’s Buddhist protests caused Kennedy’s administration to support a coupadministration to support a coup

• Diem’s own generals in the army Diem’s own generals in the army planed with the American Embassy in planed with the American Embassy in Saigon to overthrow DiemSaigon to overthrow Diem

• November 1, 1963, Diem and his November 1, 1963, Diem and his brother were captured and killedbrother were captured and killed

Kennedy AssassinationKennedy Assassination

• Three weeks after Diem and his brother Three weeks after Diem and his brother were killed, President Kennedy was were killed, President Kennedy was assassinated on the street of Dallas, assassinated on the street of Dallas, TexasTexas

Lyndon JohnsonLyndon Johnson

• Political problems in Saigon convinced Political problems in Saigon convinced Johnson that more aggressive actions Johnson that more aggressive actions were neededwere needed

More Power for the PresidentMore Power for the President

• DRV raided two U.S. ships in the Gulf of DRV raided two U.S. ships in the Gulf of TonkinTonkin

• This caused the Johnson This caused the Johnson administration to argue for expansion administration to argue for expansion of war power for the presidentof war power for the president

Gulf of TonkinGulf of Tonkin

• DRV planed attacks on American and DRV planed attacks on American and GVN in response for their act of spying GVN in response for their act of spying along the coastalong the coast

• Attacked Turner Joy and the U.S.S. Attacked Turner Joy and the U.S.S. Maddox; two American shipsMaddox; two American ships

• First attack was on August 2, 1964First attack was on August 2, 1964• A second was said to have taken place A second was said to have taken place

August 4, 1964, but some say it never August 4, 1964, but some say it never took placetook place

Gulf of Tonkin ResolutionGulf of Tonkin Resolution

• Johnson used the second attack as a Johnson used the second attack as a cover for the resolution to give the cover for the resolution to give the president more war powerspresident more war powers

Debate for the Correct Strategy Debate for the Correct Strategy in Vietnamin Vietnam

• The Joint Chiefs of The Joint Chiefs of Staff wanted to Staff wanted to expand the air war expand the air war over the DRV and over the DRV and quickly stabilize the quickly stabilize the new Saigon regimenew Saigon regime

• The civilians in the The civilians in the Pentagon wanted to Pentagon wanted to gradually pressure gradually pressure Communist Party Communist Party with precise and with precise and selective bombings.selective bombings.

Operation Rolling ThunderOperation Rolling Thunder

• The Pentagons strategy was selectedThe Pentagons strategy was selected

• Bombing missionsBombing missions

• Caused the Communist Party to Caused the Communist Party to develop their own war strategydevelop their own war strategy

Communist StrategyCommunist Strategy

• It was to overwhelm the United States It was to overwhelm the United States so it could not winso it could not win

• The United States had no clearly The United States had no clearly defined objectives, so they thought defined objectives, so they thought they would eventually give up and they would eventually give up and demand a negotiationdemand a negotiation

Limited WarLimited War

• Washington called for little mobilization Washington called for little mobilization of resources, material and humans, and of resources, material and humans, and cause little disruption in American lifecause little disruption in American life.

Effects on AmericaEffects on America

• Not enough volunteers so the Not enough volunteers so the government instituted a draft government instituted a draft

• Protest on college campuses aroseProtest on college campuses arose

• Later in August 1968 in Chicago, a Later in August 1968 in Chicago, a huge protest broke out against the huge protest broke out against the American involvement in the war and American involvement in the war and for the Democratic Party for continuing for the Democratic Party for continuing to prosecute the warto prosecute the war

The Tet OffensiveThe Tet Offensive

• Things went from bad to worse for the Things went from bad to worse for the Johnson administrationJohnson administration

• DRV and NLF launched attacks against DRV and NLF launched attacks against major cities in southern citiesmajor cities in southern cities

• These attacks were known in the West These attacks were known in the West as the Tet Offensiveas the Tet Offensive

• They were designed to force the U.S. to They were designed to force the U.S. to the bargaining tablethe bargaining table

Communist ViewCommunist View

• The Communist Party believed even The Communist Party believed even though American was gaining success though American was gaining success in the country side, the communist in the country side, the communist party was gaining something as wellparty was gaining something as well

• Even though the Tet Offensive was a Even though the Tet Offensive was a lose for the Communists it had its own lose for the Communists it had its own psychological victorypsychological victory

• It reached them to their desired resultsIt reached them to their desired results

Communists AchievementCommunists Achievement

• President Johnson declared that he President Johnson declared that he would not be running for the elections would not be running for the elections

• Communists thought that hinted Communists thought that hinted towards the U.S. about to go to the towards the U.S. about to go to the bargaining tablebargaining table

Hubert Humphrey vs. Richard Hubert Humphrey vs. Richard NixonNixon

• Johnson held secret negotiation in the Johnson held secret negotiation in the spring of 1968 in Paris between spring of 1968 in Paris between Americans and Vietnamese to discuss Americans and Vietnamese to discuss an end to the war an end to the war

• Despite this progress, Democratic Despite this progress, Democratic Party with its runner Hubert Humphrey Party with its runner Hubert Humphrey could not win against Republican could not win against Republican runner Richard Nixon, for he claimed runner Richard Nixon, for he claimed he had a plan to end the warhe had a plan to end the war

Nixon’s Secret PlanNixon’s Secret Plan

• He was planning to use Vietnamization He was planning to use Vietnamization the same plan Johnson used in his the same plan Johnson used in his officeoffice

• Vietnamization implied that Vietnamese Vietnamization implied that Vietnamese were not fighting and dying in the were not fighting and dying in the jungles of South Asiajungles of South Asia

Pros and ConsPros and Constowards Vietnamizationtowards Vietnamization

• Brought many Brought many troops home to troops home to AmericaAmerica

• Expanded the war Expanded the war into Laos and into Laos and CambodiaCambodia

““They are Killing our babies in They are Killing our babies in Vietnam and in our own backyard”Vietnam and in our own backyard”

• Bombing campaigns in Cambodia Bombing campaigns in Cambodia sparked campus protests all across sparked campus protests all across AmericaAmerica

• Four students were killed by national Four students were killed by national guardsmen on a campus guardsmen on a campus

• Another set of students were shot and Another set of students were shot and killed at Jackson State Mississippikilled at Jackson State Mississippi

• One mother stated “They are killing our One mother stated “They are killing our babies in Vietnam and in our own babies in Vietnam and in our own backyards.”backyards.”

No Peace No Peace

• Nixon’s Vietnamization expanded the Nixon’s Vietnamization expanded the air war and had to bring in more troops air war and had to bring in more troops

• Many citizens grew angryMany citizens grew angry

• U.S. secretary of State, Henry U.S. secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, and DRV representatives, Kissinger, and DRV representatives, Xuan Thuy and Le Duc Tho developed Xuan Thuy and Le Duc Tho developed the preliminary peace draft but leaders the preliminary peace draft but leaders in Saigon rejected the Kissinger- Tho in Saigon rejected the Kissinger- Tho peace draft.peace draft.

Christmas BombingsChristmas Bombings

• Conflict increased in December 1972 Conflict increased in December 1972 when the Nixon administration when the Nixon administration unleashed a series of deadly bombing unleashed a series of deadly bombing raids against the DRV’s largest cities, raids against the DRV’s largest cities, Hanoi and HaiphongHanoi and Haiphong

• These attacks were known as the These attacks were known as the Christmas BombingsChristmas Bombings

• This forced the Nixon administration to This forced the Nixon administration to reconsider their tactics and negotiation reconsider their tactics and negotiation strategystrategy

The Paris Peace AgreementThe Paris Peace Agreement

• In January 1973 the White House In January 1973 the White House convinced the Thieu- Ky regime in convinced the Thieu- Ky regime in Saigon that they would not abandon Saigon that they would not abandon the GVN if they signed onto the peace the GVN if they signed onto the peace accordaccord

• On January 23, the final draft initialed On January 23, the final draft initialed ending open hostilities between the ending open hostilities between the U.S. and the DVRU.S. and the DVR

Disadvantage to the Peace Disadvantage to the Peace AgreementAgreement

• It did not end the conflict in VietnamIt did not end the conflict in Vietnam

America Slowly DecreasingAmerica Slowly Decreasing

• U.S. troops started slowly reducingU.S. troops started slowly reducing

• Saigon received aid from the U.S.Saigon received aid from the U.S.

Nearing the EndNearing the End

• Chaos broke out in SaigonChaos broke out in Saigon

• Communists troops began attacking Communists troops began attacking the citythe city

EvacuationEvacuation

• U.S. helicopters started evacuating U.S. U.S. helicopters started evacuating U.S. and South Vietnamese officials, and and South Vietnamese officials, and civilians from Saigon on April 29, 1975civilians from Saigon on April 29, 1975

Fall of SaigonFall of Saigon

• President Ford gave a speech on April 23, President Ford gave a speech on April 23, declaring the end to the Vietnam War and the declaring the end to the Vietnam War and the end of U.S. aidend of U.S. aid

• On April 30, VPA troops overcame captured On April 30, VPA troops overcame captured key buildings and installations in Saigonkey buildings and installations in Saigon

• A tank crashed through the gates of the A tank crashed through the gates of the Presidential Palace and the NLF flag was Presidential Palace and the NLF flag was raised above itraised above it

• President Duong Van Minh surrenderedPresident Duong Van Minh surrendered

Communist VictoryCommunist Victory

• The Communists had reached their The Communists had reached their goal by taken the Saigon regimegoal by taken the Saigon regime

• But by the end, one Vietnamese in But by the end, one Vietnamese in every ten had been a casualty of warevery ten had been a casualty of war

Effect on AmericaEffect on America

• Many were doubting and questioning Many were doubting and questioning those in authority such as generals, those in authority such as generals, military, and the Pentagon military, and the Pentagon

• It left America in a large federal budget It left America in a large federal budget deficitdeficit

• Casualties were severeCasualties were severe

Chemical DefoliationChemical Defoliation

• The U.S. military used chemical The U.S. military used chemical defoliations between 1961- 1971defoliations between 1961- 1971

• They were used to defoliate the They were used to defoliate the countryside countryside

• These chemicals were used to change These chemicals were used to change the landscape, and to poison the food the landscape, and to poison the food chainchain

Rainbow HerbicidesRainbow Herbicides• They used the chemicals because enemies They used the chemicals because enemies

were hiding under plants and triple-canopy were hiding under plants and triple-canopy junglejungle

• It was also used to drive civilians into It was also used to drive civilians into controlled RVN controlled areascontrolled RVN controlled areas

• They used “Rainbow Herbicides” like They used “Rainbow Herbicides” like Agent Pink, Agent Purple, Agent Green, Agent Pink, Agent Purple, Agent Green, Agent Orange, etc. Agent Orange, etc.

• About 12 million gallons of Agent Orange About 12 million gallons of Agent Orange was sprayed over Southeast Asiawas sprayed over Southeast Asia

Distribution of ChemicalsDistribution of Chemicals

• The Kennedy Administration authorized The Kennedy Administration authorized the use of chemicals to destroy rice the use of chemicals to destroy rice crops crops

• The Air Force sprayed 20 million The Air Force sprayed 20 million herbicides over 6 million acres of crops herbicides over 6 million acres of crops and treesand trees

Future EffectsFuture Effects

• Most U.S. Veterans had prostate Most U.S. Veterans had prostate cancer, respiratory cancers, multiple cancer, respiratory cancers, multiple myeloma, Type ll Diabetes, B-cell myeloma, Type ll Diabetes, B-cell lymphomas, soft tissue sarcoma, lymphomas, soft tissue sarcoma, chloracne, porphyria cutanea tarda, chloracne, porphyria cutanea tarda, peripheral neuropathy, and spina bifida peripheral neuropathy, and spina bifida along with the children of veterans along with the children of veterans exposed to Agent Orangeexposed to Agent Orange

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN7Xs9WVNBU&feature=related

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU0qdbcHmpw

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhcflDSUMvc