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Vietnam War
Vietnam & France
France controlled Indochina Peninsula of Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia Colonialism
Ho Chi Minh Rebelled against French rule Embraced Communism
US Involvement Under Eisenhower
Contain Communist expansion
Domino Theory If Vietnam became Communist then its
neighbors would follow
Diem Bien Phu Vietminh defeat French forces Result: Indochina gains independence
Vietnam Divided
Eisenhower Continued South Vietnam controlled by Ngo Dinh Diem
Anticommunist with American support
Diem unpopular in South Vietnam Catholic follower (majority was Buddhist)
Vietcong (National Liberation Front) Supplied by N. Vietnam to weaken Diem’s
control Wanted to unite Vietnam under Communism
US Involvement Under Kennedy
Sent Special Forces into S. Vietnam “advise” the Army of the Republic of Vietnam
(ARVN)
Diem’s regime alienated S. Vietnamese citizens America helps plot overthrow of Diem Diem removed from power and later
assassinated
US Involvement Under Johnson
USS Maddox patrolled Gulf of Tonkin Fired upon by N. Vietnamese boats Maddox retaliates Johnson orders airstrike Asks Congress to use force to defend US
troops Gulf of Tonkin Resolution passed
Commit US troops to S. Vietnam Fight war against N. Vietnam w/o asking
Congress for declaration of war
“Americanizing” the War
Operation Rolling Thunder First sustained bombing campaign in N.
Vietnam
General William Westmoreland American commander of troops in Vietnam Wanted to increase military presence to win
the war
Napalm What is it?
Jellied gasoline dropped in large canisters Exploded on impact & covered large areas in flames
Effects Severe burns, choking, unconsciousness or death
Agent Orange: herbicide used to destroy plant life Disrupt enemy’s food supply
Effects of Napalm & Agent Orange
The Vietcong & NVA Ho Chi Minh
VC & NVA: tiger US: elephant “If the tiger stand still, the elephant will crush it. But
if the tiger keeps moving and occasionally jumps on the elephant to take a bite out of it, the elephant will slowly bleed to death.”
VC & NVA Traveled lightly Wore clothes to blend in Fought mostly at night Used booby traps
Tunnel System
Do Now
At this point what is your opinion about the Vietnam War?
The Tet Offensive General Westmoreland addresses the nation
Vietcong has weakened No longer can mount major attack
January 30, 1968: Tet Offensive begins Tet: Vietnamese New Year Attacked major cities & bases in S. Vietnam US & S. Vietnamese eventually drove back VC
The Tet Offensive
Results of Tet Offensive
American public opinion negative Felt betrayed by gov’t
Westmoreland resigns Public sees this as punishment for handling Tet
poorly
LBJ Pursue peace rather than victory Stuns nation: announces he will not run for president
in 1968
Vietnam Under Nixon Vietnamization
American troops gradually pull out of Vietnam and S. Vietnam takes over the fighting
“peace with honor”
Nixon orders bombing of Ho Chi Minh Trail Widened the war
Nixon announces US will invade Cambodia US & ARVN troops invade Results: stalemate & increased unpopularity in US
My Lai Massacre March 16, 1968
Lt. William Calley Orders troops to shoot civilians Between 400-500 civilians killed
Originally covered up, but media starts leaking photos & info from the massacre
Calley is court-martialed Sentenced to life then reduced to 3 ½ years
My Lai Massacre
The Pentagon Papers
New York Times leaks classified document of all US involvement in Vietnam Truman through Johnson all lied to American public
Nixon tries blocking publication New York Times v. US rules against Nixon
1973: War Powers Act established Restricts president’s powers to engage in foreign
conflict
The Pentagon Papers
All of these men lied to America over Vietnam
Truman Eisenhower Kennedy Johnson
Vietnam Ends for America
January 1973: Paris Peace Accords
US, S. Vietnam, N. Vietnam & VC at Accords Agree to ceasefire, US troop withdrawal & exchange
of POWs
War ends for US & continues for Vietnam N. Vietnam breaks ceasefire Captures Saigon: official end to war Vietnam united under Communism
Summary
In the end was the Vietnam War worth fighting for?
Explain why or why not using specific events.