Causes of the War• Containment Policy: stopping the spread of

communism, the US believed it could contain communism anywhere, like Korea, Cuba, and Vietnam

• Alliances following WWII: France reestablished their rule in Vietnam (an extension of imperialism) but it escalated out of control

• Following the Geneva Accords (May 8 – July 21, 1954 a conference between many countries that agreed to end hostilities and restore peace in French Indochina and Vietnam) Vietnam was divided into two groups:

• North Vietnam: Communist lead group under Ho Chi Minh • South Vietnam: Non-Communist lead group under Ngo Dinh Diem

• Domino Theory: Counties on the brink of communism are like a row of dominoes, waiting to fall one after the other

• Tonkin Gulf Resolution: In 1964, President Johnson was given the power by Congress to do anything militarily in Vietnam he wanted to promote containment. Johnson had the US Navy conduct a series of secret raids against North Vietnam while looking for a reason to declare war.

Key Dates & Battles• Dien Bien Phu: May 1954 Communist in Vietnam

fought for independence and France surrendered and pulled out

• Tet Offensive: Jan. 30, 1968 Vietcong infiltrated South Vietnam and attacked cities and US air bases during the Vietnamese New Years celebrations

• My Lai Massacre: Mar. 16, 1968 US platoon found no rebels in the village of Ly Lai so they rounded up the villages and shot them. Over 100 people were killed

• Vietnamization: 1969 the term used for the gradual withdrawal of US troops so that the South Vietnamese could take a more active role in “their” war

• Kent State Massacre: 1970 student protesting the war lead to the burning of the ROTC building on campus and the National Guard was called in. As protestors throw rocks at the police shots were fired into the crowd and 4 students were kill with 9 other wounded

• Pentagon Papers: 1971 Defense Dept. worker Ellsberg uncovered a 7,000 page government document showing the President and Congress plan for the war (no end in sight as long as Communism prevailed)

• Armistice: 1973 US military called for a cease-fire and removed themselves from Vietnam

• Fall of Saigon: 1975 Cease-fire collapsed, North Vietnam invaded the South and Communism prevailed

US Military Strategies Used• Napalm: Gasoline-based bomb that set fire to the

jungle• Agent Orange: Leaf-killing toxic chemical sprayed

on the jungle which caused immediate injury and long-term health problems both for Americans and Vietnamese

• Search & Destroy Missions: Killed livestock, burned villages, created refugees, and make the Vietnamese “hate” US soldiers

Results• 58,000 US soldiers dead• One million Vietnamese dead• Destruction of the country of Vietnam• Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos all become Communist

countries• US lose the war• Cost of war is over $150 billion• Domestic unrest in US which lead to violent protest• Disillusionment with the Federal Government• War Powers Act of 1973 in which the President must

inform the Congress within 48 hours of US troops are in hostile environments

Irony• Ho Chi Minh was inspired by the American Declaration

of Independence. He was educated in France and wanted independence from foreign rule in Vietnam