Why did the USA become involved with Vietnam

Domino Theory

Beginnings Of WarFrench Withdrawal

• China and the Soviet Union recognized the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, based in Hanoi, as the legitimate government of Vietnam.

• United States and Great Britain recognized the French-backed State of Vietnam in Saigon

Early involvement in Vietnam

• After the fall of China to Communism in 1949 and Korea shortly after America believed that Vietnam was next.

Early involvement in Vietnam

• After the fall of China to Communism in 1949 and Korea shortly after America believed that Vietnam was next.

• The USA backed the anti communist government in south Vietnam– Provided them with training, funding , and

leadership

Early involvement in Vietnam

• The USA backed the anti communist government in south Vietnam– Provided them with training, funding , and

leadership• The South Vietnamese were fighting with the

Vietcong – ( Communist group in south Vietnam)

• Vietcong were backed by North Vietnamese soon full scale war broke out

President Eisenhower

• Five star general who was commander of allied troops in Europe in WW2

• Was 34TH President

Vietnam Involvement under President Eisenhower

• Viewed Vietnam as a crucial part of his Domino Theory

• Did not commit to full scale war because congress was facing budget cuts of 5 billion and US could not get support form Great Great Britain

Vietnam Involvement under President Eisenhower

• Did not commit to full scale war because congress was facing budget cuts of 5 billion and US could not get support form Great Great Britain

• US provided the French with Air Support– Also sent 900 military advisors to aide South

Vietnamese army– Financed nearly 80% of the war effort

President Kennedy (JFK)

• 35th President• Second youngest

president ever at age 43• made the pledge in his

inauguration "pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and success of liberty”

US Involvement in Vietnam under President Kennedy

• Kennedy financed the South Vietnamese Army the funds to increase its army by 20,000– Sent air support and 12,000 military advisors ; but

soldiers were told not to engage in combat• Arranged the Strategic Hamlet Program– Program was designed to prevent influence of

Vietcong on Vietnamese peasants• Peasants were moved to Villages controlled by south

Vietnamese Army

US Involvement in Vietnam under President Kennedy

• Arranged the Strategic Hamlet Program– Program was designed to prevent influence of

Vietcong on Vietnamese peasants• Peasants were moved to Villages controlled by south

Vietnamese Army

• Program Failed for a number of reasons – Villagers did not want to move– Religious reasons– Most villages had a large Vietcong Presence

Thich Quang Due

• A monk who Protested South Vietnamese relocation by setting him self of fire

• Soon after his death thousands of monks were arrested

President Johnson(LBJ)

• 36th President• Became President after

the assignation of JFK– bigger supporter of the

war in Veitnam– Once in office he told his

secretary of war to begin plans for war

Vietnam Under President Johnson(The Gulf of Tonkin Incident)

• The Gulf of Tonkin Incident was a confrontation in August 1964, in which two American warships were attacked by North Vietnamese gunboats– First warfare between US and Vietnamese

Vietnam Under President Johnson(The Gulf of Tonkin Incident)

• The Gulf of Tonkin Incident was the first warfare between US and Vietnamese occurred in august 1964

• Soon after incident Senate gave Johnson power to give south armed support – In February 1965 US began bombing North

Vietnam– By December 1965 150,000 American Soldiers are

stationed in the country

Vietnam Under President Johnson(The Gulf of Tonkin Incident)

– In February 1965 US began bombing North Vietnam

– By December 1965 150,000 American Soldiers are stationed in the country

• In order to increase the size of the Army he instituted a policy of conscription “ The Draft”– Draft was unpopular with Americans

The Tet Offensive

• Tet – The most important holiday in all of Vietnamese culture. Marks the beginning of Spring

• US and Vietnamese had agreed on a cease fire for the duration of the holiday

The Tet Offensive

• US and Vietnamese had agreed on a cease fire for the duration of the holiday

• Vietnamese used the cease fire as a means for a sneak attack.– 543 Americans killed and 2,547 are wounded in

the two day strike

The Tet Offensive

• Vietnamese used the cease fire as a means for a sneak attack.– 543 Americans killed and 2,547 are wounded in

the two day strike• After the Strike Americans approval of the war

and President Johnson plummeted.

President Nixon

• 37th President of the United States

• Took office after LBJ decided not to run for office in 1968

• His election marked the beginning of the withdrawal of troops in Vietnam

Vietnam and President Nixon

• Once elected he wanted to find “ peace with honor”

• Pursued a policy of Vietnamisation– Supporting south Vietnamese with money and

supplies• From 1970-1972 American troops in Veitnam

decreased from 350,000 to 40,000

Vietnam and President Nixon

• From 1970-1972 American troops in Veitnam decreased from 350,000 to 40,000

• Peace treaty was signed in Paris in 1973

Why America Failed in Vietnam

• North Vietnamese had better tactics – While America out manned and out gunned the

North Vietnamese they were not prepared to fight a Guerilla style war.• Guerilla War Fare- Surprise attacks at irregular times

• North Vietnamese won the hearts and minds of the people– Vietnamese citizens would not support the

Americans

Vietnam in total

• 58,303 Americans were killed

• 220,357 –313,000 South Vietnamese were killed

• 400,000 –1,100,000 North Vietnamese and Vietcong Killed