THE VIETNAM WARTHE VIETNAM WAR

EARLY STAGESEARLY STAGES

Vietnam-French colonyVietnam-French colony1945-Ho Chi Minh declares the 1945-Ho Chi Minh declares the

Independence of VietnamIndependence of Vietnam1949-French install “puppet” government1949-French install “puppet” government1950-Rebels (Viet Minh) begin attacking 1950-Rebels (Viet Minh) begin attacking

French outposts in North VietnamFrench outposts in North Vietnam1950-US sends $15 million in military aid 1950-US sends $15 million in military aid

to the Frenchto the French1954-French soldiers surrender 1954-French soldiers surrender

EARLY STAGESEARLY STAGES

19551955 Ho Chi Minh organizes Communist Government in Ho Chi Minh organizes Communist Government in

North VietnamNorth Vietnam The Republic of South Vietnam is established with The Republic of South Vietnam is established with

Ngo Dinh Diem as presidentNgo Dinh Diem as president US recognizes the government of South VietnamUS recognizes the government of South Vietnam

1959-Minh begins armed revolution to unite 1959-Minh begins armed revolution to unite VietnamVietnam

AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT 19611961

Soviets pledge support for Ho Chi MinhSoviets pledge support for Ho Chi Minh Pres. Kennedy sends 400 Green Berets as special Pres. Kennedy sends 400 Green Berets as special

advisors to South Vietnamadvisors to South Vietnam 19631963

Buddhists riot in South Vietnam (American sympathy)Buddhists riot in South Vietnam (American sympathy) Pres. Johnson announces he will not lose VietnamPres. Johnson announces he will not lose Vietnam By the end of the yearBy the end of the year

16,300 Military advisors in South Vietnam16,300 Military advisors in South Vietnam $500 million sent to South Vietnam$500 million sent to South Vietnam

DRAFTDRAFT

Selective ServiceSelective Service – drafted 18-26 year old men. – drafted 18-26 year old men. College students got College students got deferments deferments - wouldn’t have to serve - wouldn’t have to serve

till they finished college.till they finished college.76% men sent to Vietnam were from lower or middle 76% men sent to Vietnam were from lower or middle

class families.class families. Minorities drafted in greater numbers.Minorities drafted in greater numbers. Many saw this as unfair.Many saw this as unfair.

DRAFTDRAFT

Draft protests began. Draft protests began. Protest marches (250,000 in Washington, D.C.)Protest marches (250,000 in Washington, D.C.) Burned draft cards.Burned draft cards. Vandalized draft offices.Vandalized draft offices. Some ran away to Canada.Some ran away to Canada. Conscientious objectors are against wars because of Conscientious objectors are against wars because of

religious, philosophical, or political beliefsreligious, philosophical, or political beliefs

AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT

19641964March-Secret bombings of the Ho Chi Minh March-Secret bombings of the Ho Chi Minh

TrailTrailAugust 2-North Vietnamese ships attack an August 2-North Vietnamese ships attack an

American destroyer in the Gulf of TonkinAmerican destroyer in the Gulf of TonkinAugust 7-Tonkin Gulf ResolutionAugust 7-Tonkin Gulf Resolution

Congress allows president to “take all steps Congress allows president to “take all steps necessary”necessary”

““Blank Check” Resolution Blank Check” Resolution

AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT

19651965 March-“Operation Rolling Thunder”-100 American March-“Operation Rolling Thunder”-100 American

bombers attack North Vietnambombers attack North Vietnam First US combat troops arrive in Vietnam (3500 First US combat troops arrive in Vietnam (3500

Marines & 3500 Army )Marines & 3500 Army ) Viet Cong bomb US embassy in SaigonViet Cong bomb US embassy in Saigon April-15,000 students protest US bombings in April-15,000 students protest US bombings in

Washington DCWashington DC July-Pres. Johnson announces he will sent 44 combat July-Pres. Johnson announces he will sent 44 combat

battalions to Vietnam (125,000 men) & draft calls battalions to Vietnam (125,000 men) & draft calls would be doubled to 35,000would be doubled to 35,000

AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT

19651965August-Johnson asks Congress for $1.7 August-Johnson asks Congress for $1.7

billion for Vietnambillion for VietnamOperation Starlite-First US ground operationOperation Starlite-First US ground operationJohnson makes it a crime to burn draft cardsJohnson makes it a crime to burn draft cardsOctober-25,000 march in support of the October-25,000 march in support of the

Vietnam WarVietnam WarNovember-35,000 anti-war protestors November-35,000 anti-war protestors

surround White Housesurround White House

AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT

19661966April-B52 bombers used for the first time April-B52 bombers used for the first time

against North Vietnamagainst North VietnamJuly-US bombs the Demilitarized ZoneJuly-US bombs the Demilitarized ZoneAugust-China announces support for North August-China announces support for North

VietnamVietnam

AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT

19671967January-Operation Cedar FallsJanuary-Operation Cedar Falls

Americans uncover a network of tunnelsAmericans uncover a network of tunnels““Tunnel Rats”-specially trained volunteers who Tunnel Rats”-specially trained volunteers who

explored the tunnelsexplored the tunnels

May-US & South Vietnamese troops enter the May-US & South Vietnamese troops enter the Demilitarized ZoneDemilitarized Zone

Johnson publicly urges North Vietnam to Johnson publicly urges North Vietnam to accept a peace compromiseaccept a peace compromise

AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT

19681968January-Tet OffensiveJanuary-Tet Offensive

Turning point of WarTurning point of WarSurprise attack during ceasefireSurprise attack during ceasefire84,000 Viet Cong guerillas attacked 100 cities & 84,000 Viet Cong guerillas attacked 100 cities &

town in South Vietnamtown in South VietnamCaught on tape by US news crewsCaught on tape by US news crewsPublic Opinion polls show only 26% of Americans Public Opinion polls show only 26% of Americans

support the Vietnam conflictsupport the Vietnam conflict

AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT

19681968March-My Lai MassacreMarch-My Lai Massacre

300 Vietnamese civilians slaughtered by American 300 Vietnamese civilians slaughtered by American soldiers looking for the Viet Congsoldiers looking for the Viet Cong

Pres. Johnson announces he will not seek re-Pres. Johnson announces he will not seek re-electionelection

May-Peace talks begin in ParisMay-Peace talks begin in ParisBegins 5 years of “talks”Begins 5 years of “talks”

October-”Operation Rolling Thunder” endsOctober-”Operation Rolling Thunder” ends

AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT

19691969February-Viet Cong attacks 110 targets in February-Viet Cong attacks 110 targets in

South VietnamSouth VietnamMarch-Nixon threatens to resume bombingsMarch-Nixon threatens to resume bombings

Authorizes secret bombing of CambodiaAuthorizes secret bombing of CambodiaApril-Troop numbers peak at 543,400April-Troop numbers peak at 543,400May-New York Times leaks the news of the May-New York Times leaks the news of the

secret bombingssecret bombingsJune-Nixon announces “Vietnamization” June-Nixon announces “Vietnamization”

Gradual withdrawal of combat troopsGradual withdrawal of combat troops

AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT

19691969July-”Nixon Doctrine” July-”Nixon Doctrine”

Advocates US military & economic assistance to Advocates US military & economic assistance to nations around the world struggling against nations around the world struggling against CommunismCommunism

AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT

19701970April-Nixon announces a US & South April-Nixon announces a US & South

Vietnamese invasion of CambodiaVietnamese invasion of CambodiaProtest at Kent State UniversityProtest at Kent State UniversityJune-Senate repeals the Tonkin Gulf June-Senate repeals the Tonkin Gulf

ResolutionResolutionUS troops at defeated in CambodiaUS troops at defeated in Cambodia

AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT

19711971June-The New York Times & The Washington June-The New York Times & The Washington

Post publish the “Pentagon Papers”Post publish the “Pentagon Papers”Secret Defense Department paperwork about Secret Defense Department paperwork about

VietnamVietnamNixon takes legal action against the newspapersNixon takes legal action against the newspapersSupreme Court rules in favor of the newspapersSupreme Court rules in favor of the newspapers

AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT

19721972The last US combat troops leave VietnamThe last US combat troops leave Vietnam

19731973Paris Peace AccordsParis Peace Accords

US-halt all military activities & withdraw all US-halt all military activities & withdraw all remaining military personnelremaining military personnel

North Vietnam-immediate cease fire & release all North Vietnam-immediate cease fire & release all American POWsAmerican POWs

Vietnam would remain a divided countryVietnam would remain a divided country

AMERICAN INVOLVEMENTAMERICAN INVOLVEMENT

19731973 Congress passes the War Powers ResolutionCongress passes the War Powers Resolution

President must obtain support of Congress within 60 days of President must obtain support of Congress within 60 days of sending troops overseassending troops overseas

19741974 North Vietnam violates the Paris peace treaty by North Vietnam violates the Paris peace treaty by

attacking South Vietnamattacking South Vietnam

19751975 Viet Cong controls Saigon Viet Cong controls Saigon Vietnam unified under Communist ruleVietnam unified under Communist rule

AFTERMATHAFTERMATH

America’s longest warAmerica’s longest warFirst defeatFirst defeatOver 2 million Americans involvedOver 2 million Americans involved47,244 killed47,244 killed153,324 seriously wounded153,324 seriously wounded2400 POWs/MIAs2400 POWs/MIAs