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Vietnam Conflict1959-1975
Background on Viet Nam
Owned by the French for over a hundred years
Also known as IndochinaDuring WWII, a famine struck VietNam
and killed over a million people. This led to the rise of the Communist Viet Minh
Leader of the Viet Minh, Ho Chi Minh, declared Viet Nam free after the defeat of the Japanese
Beginning of the Conflict
In 1955, the French officially exited VietNam and VietNam was partitioned according to Peace Sanctions
America encouraged both North and South VietNam to have elections to establish governments under the idea of popular sovereignty
When the Communist party won in North VietNam, America rejected the very elections that they had encouraged.
Diem, the president of South Korea, would go on to rig elections to give himself more power. The US would support this.
America would later decide that Diem was incapable of defeating the Communists and allow his assassination.
"Burma, Thailand, India, Japan, the Philippines and obviously Laos and
Cambodia are among those whose security would be threatened if the Red Tide of
Communism overflowed into Vietnam.”- John F. Kennedy
VietNam under LBJ“Vietnam at the time was no bigger than a man's fist on the horizon. We hardly discussed it because it was not worth discussing”. Jack Valenti
An American ship was shot down in the Gulf of Tonkin
LBJ wanted to increase the amount of American troops in VietNam without having to discuss the move first. As a result, he passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.
America attempted to stop the VietCong’s use of the Ho Chi Minh trail through out the war but due to the use of guerilla warfare, was never able to
In January 1968, during the VietNamese New Year holiday, Tet, Viet Cong troops led a massive attack against the US. America responded by decimating large towns and villages indiscriminately. This was known as the Tet Offensive.
At this time, due to the huge amount of pictures produce of the war, rumors of American war crimes (My Lai Massacre) and the thousands of Americans being sent to fight, large scale protests would break out against the war.
Should troops be allowed to do whatever it takes in the case of war? Why or why not?
VietNam under Nixon
Nixon wanted to build up the forces of the South VietNamese so that they could take care of themselves and Americans could leave. This was known as Vietnamization.
Operation Menu: large scale bombing of forests in Camboria and Laos
Huge peace demonstrations through out the US included groups like the Catholic Worker Movement and members of the Civil Rights movement.
Many disagreed with the concept of a “just war”
Is there such thing as a just war?
Anti War Movement
America would eventually exit VietNam in 1975 when it became clear that the VietCong would be able to take over the capital of Saigon
President Gerald Ford called an end for the war and all American involvement.
Kent StateProtest musicDoves vs. Hawks
If America's soul becomes totally poisoned, part of the
autopsy must read "Vietnam." ” MLK
Effects of Viet Nam
Dislike of foreign entanglements by the general public
Changes in attitudes towards veteransIncreased levels of political activismUnpopularity of LBJMedia used as the watchdog in politics
