Vietnam WarVietnam War

VietnamVietnam

After Diem refused to hold elections, After Diem refused to hold elections, Ho Chih Minh began an armed Ho Chih Minh began an armed struggle to reunify the nationstruggle to reunify the nation

Many Vietnamese supported the Many Vietnamese supported the Vietcong, North or SouthVietcong, North or South– Opposed to Diem and afraid of MinhOpposed to Diem and afraid of Minh

American support increased as American support increased as Kennedy took over presidencyKennedy took over presidency

VietnamVietnam

American’s believed that Diem was American’s believed that Diem was causing people to support Vietcong, causing people to support Vietcong, so they urged him to reform and help so they urged him to reform and help peasantspeasants

Diem made himself more unpopular Diem made himself more unpopular by discriminating against Buddhismby discriminating against Buddhism– Countries strongest religionCountries strongest religion– During protests, Diem’s military killed 9 During protests, Diem’s military killed 9

monks and injured 14monks and injured 14

VietnamVietnam

Because of Diem’s unpopularity, Because of Diem’s unpopularity, many wanted him to be overthrownmany wanted him to be overthrown– Americans supported this ideaAmericans supported this idea

Vietnamese generals seized power Vietnamese generals seized power After Diem was gone the leaders of After Diem was gone the leaders of

South Vietnam were worseSouth Vietnam were worse– The weaker the leader was, the stronger The weaker the leader was, the stronger

the American support becamethe American support became

VietnamVietnam

Shortly after Diem was gone, Shortly after Diem was gone, Kennedy was assassinatedKennedy was assassinated

Johnson took overJohnson took over Did not want to widen the war, Did not want to widen the war,

however was not going to let however was not going to let Vietnam fall to communismVietnam fall to communism

VietnamVietnam

Gulf of TonkinGulf of Tonkin– Two American destroyers were fired Two American destroyers were fired

upon by North Vietnamese torpedo boatsupon by North Vietnamese torpedo boats– Johnson and congress felt that an attack Johnson and congress felt that an attack

on American ships meant that they on American ships meant that they should be able to defend themselvesshould be able to defend themselves

Gulf of Tonkin ResolutionGulf of Tonkin Resolution– Signed and gave power to the president Signed and gave power to the president

to make all necessary moves in order to to make all necessary moves in order to prevent further attacksprevent further attacks

VietnamVietnam

Shortly after Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, Shortly after Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, N. Vietnam attacks American army N. Vietnam attacks American army stationsstations– Johnson orders air-strikes on N. VietnamJohnson orders air-strikes on N. Vietnam

Johnson’s approval rating was Johnson’s approval rating was extremely high after the attacksextremely high after the attacks

Continued using bombs to attack N. Continued using bombs to attack N. VietnamVietnam– Operation Rolling ThunderOperation Rolling Thunder– Also sent combat troops into VietnamAlso sent combat troops into Vietnam

VietnamVietnam

In 1965 180,000 combat troops were In 1965 180,000 combat troops were sent to Vietnamsent to Vietnam– In 1966 it was doubledIn 1966 it was doubled

Troops were confident that it would Troops were confident that it would be a short war with little casualtiesbe a short war with little casualties

Vietcong used booby traps and Vietcong used booby traps and guerilla warfare to avoid guerilla warfare to avoid confrontation with American Troopsconfrontation with American Troops

VietnamVietnam

American’s then used search and American’s then used search and destroy missions to force them out in destroy missions to force them out in the openthe open– Napalm, Agent OrangeNapalm, Agent Orange

Vietnamese were too determined to Vietnamese were too determined to be defeated so easilybe defeated so easily– Would not surrenderWould not surrender– Accepted heavy losses by just Accepted heavy losses by just

replenishing armyreplenishing army

VietnamVietnam

North Vietnamese heavily supported North Vietnamese heavily supported VietcongVietcong

Ho Chih Minh TrailHo Chih Minh Trail– Supply line by which Vietcong received Supply line by which Vietcong received

weapons and foodweapons and food– Passed through countries not involved in Passed through countries not involved in

VietnamVietnam Johnson would not attack the trailJohnson would not attack the trail

VietnamVietnam

Johnson was afraid of a full scale attack on Johnson was afraid of a full scale attack on N. VietnamN. Vietnam– Feared that China and Russia would get Feared that China and Russia would get

involved and cause greater problemsinvolved and cause greater problems Because of this, war was gauged based on Because of this, war was gauged based on

body countsbody counts– Between 1965-67 220,000 Vietnamese Between 1965-67 220,000 Vietnamese

were killed compared to 6,700 Americanswere killed compared to 6,700 Americans However Vietnamese would not surrender However Vietnamese would not surrender

and kept fightingand kept fighting