The Vietnam Era:War, Protest and the Fracturing of America

Vietnam War FactsVietnam War Facts The Vietnam War occurred in present-day Vietnam, The Vietnam War occurred in present-day Vietnam,

Southeast Asia. Southeast Asia. It represented a successful attempt on the part of It represented a successful attempt on the part of

the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North North VietnameseVietnamese, DRV) and the National Front for the , DRV) and the National Front for the Liberation of Vietnam (Liberation of Vietnam (Viet CongViet Cong) to unite and ) to unite and impose a communist system over the entire nation. impose a communist system over the entire nation.

Opposing the DRV was the Republic of Vietnam Opposing the DRV was the Republic of Vietnam ((South VietnameseSouth Vietnamese, RVN), backed by the United , RVN), backed by the United States. States.

The war in Vietnam occurred during the Cold War, The war in Vietnam occurred during the Cold War, and is generally viewed as an indirect conflict and is generally viewed as an indirect conflict between the United States and Soviet Union, with between the United States and Soviet Union, with each nation and its allies supporting one side.each nation and its allies supporting one side.

Vietnam War FactsVietnam War Facts

The United States’ involvement and The United States’ involvement and responsibility for this war passed responsibility for this war passed from President Kennedy to President from President Kennedy to President Johnson to President Nixon.Johnson to President Nixon.

Vietnam War FactsVietnam War Facts The most commonly used dates for The most commonly used dates for

the conflict are 1959-1975. the conflict are 1959-1975. This period begins with North This period begins with North

Vietnam's first guerilla attacks Vietnam's first guerilla attacks against the South and ends with the against the South and ends with the fall of Saigon. fall of Saigon.

American ground forces were American ground forces were directly involved in the war between directly involved in the war between 19651965 and and 19731973..

Vietnam War FactsVietnam War Facts The Vietnam War first began in 1959.The Vietnam War first began in 1959. Vietnam had been split into two, with a communist Vietnam had been split into two, with a communist

government in the north under government in the north under Ho Chi Minh Ho Chi Minh and a and a democratic government in the south under Ngo Dinh democratic government in the south under Ngo Dinh DiemDiem. .

Ho Chi Minh launched a guerilla campaign in South Ho Chi Minh launched a guerilla campaign in South Vietnam, led by Viet Cong units, with the goal of Vietnam, led by Viet Cong units, with the goal of uniting the country under communist rule. uniting the country under communist rule.

The United States under President Kennedy, seeking The United States under President Kennedy, seeking to stop the spread of communism, trained the Army of to stop the spread of communism, trained the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) and provided military the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) and provided military advisors to Diem to help combat the guerillas.advisors to Diem to help combat the guerillas.

“Let every nation know . . .that we shall 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 . . .” (We will stop Communism at any cost.)

But…. John F. Kennedy assassinated November 22, 1963

Vietnam War FactsVietnam War Facts In August 1964, a US warship was attacked by In August 1964, a US warship was attacked by

North Vietnamese torpedo boats in the Gulf of North Vietnamese torpedo boats in the Gulf of Tonkin. Tonkin.

Following this attack, Congress passed the Following this attack, Congress passed the Southeast Asia Resolution which allowed Southeast Asia Resolution which allowed President Lyndon Johnson to conduct military President Lyndon Johnson to conduct military operations in the region without a declaration of operations in the region without a declaration of war.war.

On March 2, 1965, US aircraft began bombing On March 2, 1965, US aircraft began bombing targets in Vietnam and the first troops arrived. targets in Vietnam and the first troops arrived.

US troops won victories over Viet Cong and North US troops won victories over Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces that summer.Vietnamese forces that summer.

Vietnam War FactsVietnam War Facts Following these defeats, the North Vietnamese Following these defeats, the North Vietnamese

avoided fighting conventional battles and focused avoided fighting conventional battles and focused on engaging US troops in small unit actions in on engaging US troops in small unit actions in the sweltering jungles of South Vietnam. the sweltering jungles of South Vietnam.

In January 1968, the North Vietnamese and the In January 1968, the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong launched the massive Tet Offensive. Viet Cong launched the massive Tet Offensive.

Tet shook the confidence of the American people Tet shook the confidence of the American people and media who had thought the war was going and media who had thought the war was going well.well.

Vietnam War FactsVietnam War Facts

As a result of Tet, President Lyndon As a result of Tet, President Lyndon Johnson opted not to run for reelection Johnson opted not to run for reelection and was succeeded by Richard Nixon. and was succeeded by Richard Nixon.

Nixon's plan for ending US involvement Nixon's plan for ending US involvement was to build up the South Vietnamese so was to build up the South Vietnamese so that they could fight the war themselves. that they could fight the war themselves.

As this process of “Vietnamization” As this process of “Vietnamization” began, US troops started to return home.began, US troops started to return home.

Vietnam War FactsVietnam War Facts

On January 27, 1974, a peace accord was On January 27, 1974, a peace accord was signed in Paris ending the conflict. signed in Paris ending the conflict.

By March of that year, American combat By March of that year, American combat troops had left the country. troops had left the country.

After a brief period of peace, North After a brief period of peace, North Vietnam recommenced hostilities in late Vietnam recommenced hostilities in late 1974. 1974.

They captured Saigon on April 30, 1975, They captured Saigon on April 30, 1975, forcing South Vietnam’s surrender and forcing South Vietnam’s surrender and reuniting the country.reuniting the country.

Vietnam War FactsVietnam War Facts

Casualties:Casualties: United States: 58,119 killed, 153,303 United States: 58,119 killed, 153,303

wounded, 1,948 missing in actionwounded, 1,948 missing in action South Vietnam 230,000 killed and South Vietnam 230,000 killed and

1,169,763 wounded (estimated)1,169,763 wounded (estimated) North Vietnam 1,100,000 killed in North Vietnam 1,100,000 killed in

action (estimated) and an unknown action (estimated) and an unknown number of woundednumber of wounded

The Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War

The Vietnam War is one of the most The Vietnam War is one of the most problematic of all the wars in American problematic of all the wars in American history. history.

It was all of these things: It was all of these things: A morally ambiguous conflict (no real moral A morally ambiguous conflict (no real moral

reason for us to get involved.)reason for us to get involved.) A war against Communism (and Russia by proxy.) A war against Communism (and Russia by proxy.) A war to suppress nationalist self-determination A war to suppress nationalist self-determination

(citizens rising up to control their own countries.)(citizens rising up to control their own countries.)

Worth it???????Worth it???????

The Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War The war was full of paradoxes: The war was full of paradoxes: In the name of protecting In the name of protecting democracydemocracy, the , the

United States propped up a United States propped up a dictatorial dictatorial regime regime in South Vietnam in South Vietnam

The U.S. military was destroying villages in The U.S. military was destroying villages in order to “save” them from the Communistsorder to “save” them from the Communists

Because U.S. objectives were often poorly Because U.S. objectives were often poorly defined during the course of the war, U.S. defined during the course of the war, U.S. policy often meandered and made no sensepolicy often meandered and made no sense

United States would “Americanize” the war United States would “Americanize” the war only to “Vietnamize” it five years later. (So we only to “Vietnamize” it five years later. (So we could walk away.)could walk away.)

The Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War

Not surprisingly, a profound sense of Not surprisingly, a profound sense of confusion pervaded the entire conflict: confusion pervaded the entire conflict: the American media sometimes the American media sometimes represented tactical victories as represented tactical victories as terrible defeats, while the U.S. military terrible defeats, while the U.S. military kept meticulous enemy body counts kept meticulous enemy body counts without any clear method of without any clear method of distinguishing the bodies of the hostile distinguishing the bodies of the hostile Viet Cong from those of the friendly Viet Cong from those of the friendly South Vietnamese.South Vietnamese.

The Television WarThe Television War

The T.V. WarThe T.V. War

Media Impact on Media Impact on AmericansAmericans

The Vietnam War had a tremendous impact The Vietnam War had a tremendous impact on American society and culture, in large on American society and culture, in large part because it was the first American war part because it was the first American war to be televised. to be televised.

The photographs, videos, and opinions of The photographs, videos, and opinions of American journalists, coupled with the American journalists, coupled with the simple fact that young Americans were simple fact that young Americans were dying on foreign soil against an enemy that dying on foreign soil against an enemy that did not threaten the United States directly, did not threaten the United States directly, turned much of the American public against turned much of the American public against the war. the war.

The EndThe End

American Pullout: 1975American Pullout: 1975

The Human CostThe Human Cost

The Human CostThe Human Cost

War ProtestsWar Protests

War ProtestsWar Protests

The MovementThe Movement

By the time of the Tet Offensive in the By the time of the Tet Offensive in the Vietnam War, the antiwar movement in Vietnam War, the antiwar movement in the United States had been in full swing the United States had been in full swing for quite some time. for quite some time.

The 1960s in the United States were The 1960s in the United States were already a quasi-revolutionary period: the already a quasi-revolutionary period: the civil rights movement had flourished civil rights movement had flourished under Martin Luther King Jr. and other under Martin Luther King Jr. and other black leaders, black leaders,

The MovementThe Movement

The post–World War II “baby boom” The post–World War II “baby boom” had produced an especially large had produced an especially large youth generation, who thanks to youth generation, who thanks to postwar prosperity were attending postwar prosperity were attending college in large numbers. college in large numbers.

Not surprisingly, a large student Not surprisingly, a large student protest movement emerged as U.S. protest movement emerged as U.S. involvement in Vietnam grew.involvement in Vietnam grew.

The Changing Role of The Changing Role of Women - Return to Women - Return to

Domesticity???Domesticity???

Not in the Sixties!!Not in the Sixties!!

OpportunitiesOpportunities

Title IXAffirmative Action

Women in politics

Changes in AttitudeChanges in Attitude

Peace!!!Peace!!!