Vietnam ConflictVietnam Conflict

Colonial History of Vietnam fitting into the

Cold War Era

Colonial History of Vietnam fitting into the

Cold War Era

Influence of WWIIInfluence of WWII

French had colonized “Indochina” for hundreds of years, but post WWI Ho Chi Minh pushed for independence.

During WWII Japan kicked out the French, and the Vietnamese sided with Americans to fight against Japan.

French had colonized “Indochina” for hundreds of years, but post WWI Ho Chi Minh pushed for independence.

During WWII Japan kicked out the French, and the Vietnamese sided with Americans to fight against Japan.

French are back?French are back?

After WWII the French wanted to re-colonize, and US supported it to keep France as an ally.

After WWII the French wanted to re-colonize, and US supported it to keep France as an ally.

Indochina WarIndochina War

Vietnamese forces fought against the French for independence and won in 1954.

Vietminh - insurgent force who later became the Vietcong

Led by Ho Chi Minh - Communist leader.

Vietnamese forces fought against the French for independence and won in 1954.

Vietminh - insurgent force who later became the Vietcong

Led by Ho Chi Minh - Communist leader.

Dien Bien PhuDien Bien Phu

Vietnam IndependenceVietnam IndependenceThe U.S. stepped in to mediate peace and split the country into 2.

The U.S. stepped in to mediate peace and split the country into 2.

North VietnamNorth Vietnam

Communist government led by Ho Chi Minh

Communist government led by Ho Chi Minh

South VietnamSouth Vietnam

Non-communist government led by Ngo Dinh Diem

Dictatorship?

Non-communist government led by Ngo Dinh Diem

Dictatorship?

ElectionsElections

Elections were promised by 1956 to reunite the country… but they never happened.

Was it because popular vote would have probably gone to Ho Chi Minh and the Communist Party?

Elections were promised by 1956 to reunite the country… but they never happened.

Was it because popular vote would have probably gone to Ho Chi Minh and the Communist Party?

Domino TheoryDomino TheoryIf the U.S. allows one country to become Communist, then it will lead to others becoming Communist.

If the U.S. allows one country to become Communist, then it will lead to others becoming Communist.

What was wrong with S. Vietnam?

What was wrong with S. Vietnam?

U.S. helped Ngo Dinh Diem to power in S. Vietnam – except he was an aristocrat who didn’t really connect to the people. Also, most of the money the U.S. gave to the S. Vietnam govt. didn’t go to the people

He also rigged elections and there were many protests against him… so he was overthrown.

U.S. helped Ngo Dinh Diem to power in S. Vietnam – except he was an aristocrat who didn’t really connect to the people. Also, most of the money the U.S. gave to the S. Vietnam govt. didn’t go to the people

He also rigged elections and there were many protests against him… so he was overthrown.

So how did the U.S. get invovled?

So how did the U.S. get invovled?

Starting in the early 1960s the U.S. sent “advisers” to assist S. Vietnam - ARVN

When Lyndon Johnson became president in 1963 he proclaimed: “I will not let Vietnam go the way China did.”

Starting in the early 1960s the U.S. sent “advisers” to assist S. Vietnam - ARVN

When Lyndon Johnson became president in 1963 he proclaimed: “I will not let Vietnam go the way China did.”

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

In response to an alleged attack on U.S. ships by N. Vietnamese ships (debatable whether it happened or not); Johnson asked Congress for authority to do whatever was necessary to stop armed attacks against the U.S.

In response to an alleged attack on U.S. ships by N. Vietnamese ships (debatable whether it happened or not); Johnson asked Congress for authority to do whatever was necessary to stop armed attacks against the U.S.

What did it mean?What did it mean?

It was not a specific declaration of war, but it did give the president the authority to make war.

Similar to the Congressional Authorization to the War in Iraq

It was not a specific declaration of war, but it did give the president the authority to make war.

Similar to the Congressional Authorization to the War in Iraq

Operation Rolling Thunder and Escalation

Operation Rolling Thunder and Escalation

Going into the war the US did not want major conflict, but losses to the VC in ‘64 led to escalation.

Rolling Thunder - bombing campaign for 4 years on N. Vietnam.

Open-ended commitment for troops - up to 500,000 soldiers by ‘68. - to keep up US credibility?

Going into the war the US did not want major conflict, but losses to the VC in ‘64 led to escalation.

Rolling Thunder - bombing campaign for 4 years on N. Vietnam.

Open-ended commitment for troops - up to 500,000 soldiers by ‘68. - to keep up US credibility?

Soldiers in VietnamSoldiers in VietnamLargely a young person’s war, and driven by the draft (which initially excluded college students).

Meant that a higher %age of poorer less educated people were drafted.

Largely a young person’s war, and driven by the draft (which initially excluded college students).

Meant that a higher %age of poorer less educated people were drafted.

War of AttritionWar of Attrition Point was to be a War of

Attrition – force the other side to lose so many soldiers through fighting that they would eventually have to give up their hope of making South Vietnam communist.

Body Count strategy. Ia Drang Valley - casualty

ratio of 11:1 in favor of the U.S. - We Were Soldiers

Point was to be a War of Attrition – force the other side to lose so many soldiers through fighting that they would eventually have to give up their hope of making South Vietnam communist.

Body Count strategy. Ia Drang Valley - casualty

ratio of 11:1 in favor of the U.S. - We Were Soldiers

Criticism of the WarCriticism of the WarWar protest became tied to student, hippie, and civil rights movements.

Even some in the US govt. questioned the reasoning of the war - Kennan, McNamara.

War protest became tied to student, hippie, and civil rights movements.

Even some in the US govt. questioned the reasoning of the war - Kennan, McNamara.

Fighting in Vietnam

Fighting in Vietnam

1968 Tet Offensive1968 Tet Offensive

Organized attack by NVA and VC all across S. Vietnam.

Eventually SV and US forces recaptured most ground that was lost.

Organized attack by NVA and VC all across S. Vietnam.

Eventually SV and US forces recaptured most ground that was lost.

Media ImpactMedia ImpactIn the US people began to seriously question the war effort.

After 4 years of being told the war was going well, how could Tet happen?

In the US people began to seriously question the war effort.

After 4 years of being told the war was going well, how could Tet happen?

Nixon and CambodiaNixon and CambodiaNixon elected in 1968 vowing to end the war - but did not follow through.

Vietnamization - build S. Vietnamese forces to replace the US.

Began peace talks and withdrew US soldiers.

But also increased bombing of N. Vietnam and Cambodia.

Nixon elected in 1968 vowing to end the war - but did not follow through.

Vietnamization - build S. Vietnamese forces to replace the US.

Began peace talks and withdrew US soldiers.

But also increased bombing of N. Vietnam and Cambodia.

Failures of InsurgencyFailures of Insurgency

My Lai MassacreKent State and Jackson State protests

“Fragging”Pentagon Papers

My Lai MassacreKent State and Jackson State protests

“Fragging”Pentagon Papers

Cease-fire AgreementCease-fire Agreement

Operation Linebacker - 1972, bombing campaign in response to NVA offensive.

Cease-fire 1973 - NVA could remain in S. Vietnam, but also had to recognize the S. Vietnam govt.

But what if they don’t follow it?

Operation Linebacker - 1972, bombing campaign in response to NVA offensive.

Cease-fire 1973 - NVA could remain in S. Vietnam, but also had to recognize the S. Vietnam govt.

But what if they don’t follow it?

Pull-out from SaigonPull-out from Saigon

Lessons of VietnamLessons of Vietnam

“Empire Shock” - US power around the world was limited?

How to fight an effective counter-insurgency?

Americans unwilling to go for future military conflicts?

Checks and balances system?

“Empire Shock” - US power around the world was limited?

How to fight an effective counter-insurgency?

Americans unwilling to go for future military conflicts?

Checks and balances system?