THE VIETNAM WAR (1964 – 1973)

• Vietnam, a country in Southeast Asia was a colony of France’s until 1954.

• Vietnam gained their independence in 1954, after they defeated French forces at Diem Bien Phu

Ho Chi Minh

• Between 1954 and 1959, communist forces, led by Ho Chi Minh gained support in Vietnam and tried to take over North Vietnam.

• As part of the policy of containment the US wanted to prevent communists from taking over South Vietnam.

• This is an example of the Domino Theory

• In 1959 the US began to send “military advisors” to Vietnam to train the South Vietnamese army.

• American involvement in Vietnam began in 1959, with US troops playing a supporting role to the South Vietnamese.

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

• In 1965, two American ships were attacked in the Gulf of Tonkin. The US used this to increase their involvement in Vietnam.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1965)

1) The U.S. claimed that N. Vietnamese boats had fired upon U.S. warships in the Gulf of Tonkin

2) Many believe that this was a lie to get the U.S. public to support the war in Vietnam

3) President Lyndon B. Johnson began to send many more U.S. troops to Vietnam

• Within a year, 100,000 US troops were in Vietnam.

• Fighting in Vietnam was known as “Guerilla Warfare”.

Guerilla Warfare

When the enemy forces are greatly spread out and hidden. They rely on ambushes and speed.

Guerrilla forces most frequently use mines, snipers, and ‘booby traps.’

• US troops faced numerous problems…– Underground tunnel complexes– A devoted enemy– An uncooperative local population– An enemy who could blend into the

uncooperative population– Remote locations– Hot and rainy weather– Long distances to travel– Lack of popular support for the war– Resistance to the draft

– Need I go on?

• To make up for some of these problems Americans relied on airplanes and bombing.

• American troops moved from place to place by helicopter and by foot

• Vietnamese forces were hard to identify.

• Troops called Vietcong dressed like civilians and could easily blend in with civilians.

• This caused American troops to distrust and mistreat Vietnamese Civilians

The Tet Offensive

• In early 1968, the Vietcong launched an attack called the Tet Offensive.

• Even though they lost many men, it was important because it showed Americans that the Vietnamese were not going to give up.

The Homefront

This was the first televised war in American history

• Two groups came out.

• The Doves who wanted peace and the Hawks who supported War.

Doves or “Hippies”

The Homefront

Protest generally took place on college campuses

Kent State University, 1970

Hawks

The Homefront

2) The U.S. became bitterly divided over the war

• Huge peace protests in 1971 on the Mall in Washington DC raised many questions about the number of US casualties and what America’s exit strategy was.

• Similar to protests to the War in Iraq

• By 1969, many Americans opposed the war because of high casualties.

• Many groups, such as poor people and African-Americans opposed the war because they felt it was “a rich man’s war and a poor man’s fight”

• =

• Many influential people got themselves or family members put on easy duty during the war.

Nixon

President Johnson (LBJ) did not seek re-election in 1968 because of Vietnam

Nixon

He was replaced in 1968 by Richard Nixon.

Nixon and Vietnam

• President Nixon oversaw the eventual withdrawal of American troops by 1973.

• He wanted the South Vietnamese to take over control of the fighting.

Vietnamization

1) “Vietnamization” = policy that gradually withdrew American troops and replaced them with S. Vietnamese troops

The End of the Vietnam War

• With American troops gone North Vietnam took over South Vietnam by 1975.

The Cost of the Vietnam War

• The longest war America fought and the first one it loses.

• 58.000 American Dead

• 2-4 million Vietnamese dead.

“Fortunate Son” – Credence Clearwater Revival

• Some folks are born made to wave the flag,ooh, they're red, white and blue.And when the band plays "Hail To The Chief",oh, they point the cannon at you, Lord,

It ain't me, it ain't me,I ain't no senator's son,It ain't me, it ain't me,I ain't no fortunate one, no,

• Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,Lord, why don't they help themselves? oh.But when the taxman come to the door,Lord, the house look a like a rummage sale, yes,

It ain't me, it ain't me,I ain't no millionaire's son, no, no.It ain't me, it ain't me,I ain't no fortunate one, no.

• Yeh, some folks inherit star spangled eyes,ooh, they send you down to war, Lord,And when you ask them, how much should we give, oh, they only answer, more, more, more, yoh,

It ain't me, it ain't me,I ain't no military son, SON, NOIt ain't me, it ain't me,I ain't no fortunate one, NO NO

Vietnam Veterans

1) Unlike veterans of World War II, who returned to a grateful and supportive nation, Vietnam veterans returned often to face indifference or outright hostility from many who opposed the war

Vietnam Veterans

2) It was not until several years after the end of the war that the wounds of the war began to heal in America, and Vietnam veterans were recognized and honored for their service and sacrifices