Vietnam War

Vietnam War: Background

• France took control of Vietnam in the 1880s• During WWII: Japan controlled Vietnam; French

still present• In 1941, the Vietminh (Independence league)

formed in opposition to foreign rule– Led by Ho Chi Minh

• 1954: Geneva Accords – French leave; Vietnam split into No/So; Ho Chi Minh

Northern Leader; Ngo Dinh Diem Southern Leader

Vietnam War: Eisenhower and JFK’s administrations

• Eisenhower’s Domino Theory

• JFK:– By 1963, 16,000

military personnel stationed in Vietnam

Vietnam War: Johnson’s administration

• 1963: Ngo Dinh Diem assassinated• Gulf of Tonkin Incident/Resolution:

– Summer 1964– USS Maddox – Resolution: president can “take all necessary

measures” to defend countries in SE Asia threatened by Communism

• Johnson escalates the war:– 1965: 200,000 troops sent– 1966: 200,000 more sent– 1967: 500,000 US troops in Vietnam

Vietnam War: Protests– Anti-war

demonstrations intensified in the U.S.• Why we were

fighting became unclear

• Kent State, 1970– Hawks (those for

war) vs. Doves (those against war)• Battle increased in

Congress

Vietnam War: Johnson to Nixon

–Tet Offensive (Jan. 1968)• Viet Cong (enemy) attacked 27 key

So. Vietnamese cities—including Saigon

• U.S increased troop numbers by 200,000

• Viet Cong militarily defeated; LBJ politically defeated

– March 31, 1968 speech: LBJ indicates there will be a halt to aerial bombardments and a shift of more responsibility to the So. Vietnamese

» Does not run for Pres. In 1968 (Nixon will win)

» Nixon’s policy: “Peace with Honor”

Vietnam War: Nixon Administration

• Peace with Honor:– “Vietnamization”

• Turn responsibility over to the Vietnamese

– Bombings in Cambodia• U.S. promised to contain the war to Vietnam• Nixon vowed to pull troops out of SE Asia • Led to further distrust of the American gov’t

Vietnam War: The End

• Cease-Fire Declared– Jan. 27, 1973– National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger

• Paris Agreement

– US Forces leave Vietnam March 29, 1973• All US Military action finished by August 1973

– Fighting resumes in Vietnam• South Vietnam taken over by North Vietnam April

30, 1975

Vietnam War: Aftermath

• Vietnam:– 4 million killed (10% of the population)

• U.S.:– $120 billion– 58,000 dead– 303,000 wounded– 750 taken prisoner