Vietnam War1965-1975

America’s Involvement in Vietnam

30 years of involvement Five Presidents (Truman, Eisenhower,

Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon) 164 billion dollars 58,132 Americans died / 2 million

Vietnamese 21,000 permanently disabled 3 million Americans served (avg. age

19) 100,000 fled U.S. to avoid serving 830,000 PTSD reports

Our Only Lost War………… U.S. had the latest military

technology Could not defeat a poorly trained

peasant army Why Not? Vietnamese fighting for their

independence Very difficult conditions to fight

under (enemy, weather, terrain, limited war)

Causes of the Vietnam War

Depends on who you ask…………….. Americans say:▪ Stop the spread of communism▪ Fear of domino theory▪ Political reasons

Vietnamese say:▪ Imperialism (western greed)▪ Desire for independence▪ Internal civil war (America had no business

being there)

History of Vietnam

Nearly 2000 years old

Controlled by outsiders for nearly all its existence (China, France, Japan, France, U.S.)

Wanted their independence from foreign rule

World Map

http://www.infoplease.com/atlas/

IndoChina

Ho Chi Minh (he who enlightens)

France Defeated

Guerilla Warfare breaks out

Civil War breaks out in Vietnam: Northern Vietnam (Vietminh) Communist Southern Vietnam (Vietcong) Communist Southern Vietnam (ARVN) non-

communist

U.S. joins forces with ARVN in 1965 Send 50,000 US soldiers to S.V. 61% of Americans support the war

War Escalates

1967: 500,000 U.S. troops in Vietnam

Death toll at 9,000 Americans

Pres. Johnson promises “victory is near”

Difficult War to Fight

No front lines Jungle terrain Landmines, booby traps,

underground tunnels, heat, rain, leeches, secret supply routes

Hit-n-run tactics Difficult to identify the enemy

American support declines 1967: morale low

among soldiers Public support

waivers Credibility gap

growing Active protests on

college campuses Thousands searching

for ways to avoid the draft (ages 18-26)

College Campuses EruptKENT STATE MASSACRE “FOUR DEAD IN OHIO”

Jeffrey Glenn Miller; 20, shot through the mouth - killed instantly

Allison B. Krause; 19, fatal left chest wound - died later that day

William Knox Schroeder; 19, fatal chest wound - died almost an hour later in hospital while waiting for surgery

Sandra Lee Scheuer; 20, fatal neck wound - died a few minutes later from loss of blood

Anti-War Protests

College campus demonstrations increasing

Musicians singing anti-war songs

Burning draft cards

First Draft Lottery for Vietnam December 1, 1969 Those eligible: born between Jan. 1,

1944-Dec. 31, 1950 First notices sent out to report for

physical exams: Jan, 1970

Facts about the Draft

All males living in the U.S. ages 18-26 are required to register with the Selective Service Act

Average age of those drafted was 18

Once called for service, you are required to be examined for mental, physical, and moral fitness (see handout)

How does the Lottery work?

366 balls representing every possible birthday from January 1 to December 30 are put into a capsule

The balls are drawn, one at a time, and an order for calling men to the induction process is established. (Ex. If September 14 is drawn first, those men born on 9-14 would have draft number 1.

Check out this website

http://www.sss.gov/lotter1.htm

Conscientious Objectors

One who is opposed to serving in the armed forces and/or bearing arms on the grounds of moral or religious principles

Still must register and if drafted, can file a claim for exemption from military service

Must appear before a local draft board and explain his beliefs (in both written and oral form)

Reasons for Deferments

College enrollment (full time student, making satisfactory progress. Could continue to enroll until too old to be drafted

Enlisting in National GuardConscientious objectorMedical condition(1971: changed college student

deferment to end of semester)

Draft Dodgers Cassius Clay Converted to Islam

1964 Refused to serve in

draft Arrested/found guilty /

sentenced to 5 years prison

Conviction overturned Stripped of his boxing

title Didn’t fight again for 4

years

Who got drafted? Vast majority of draftees were poor, undereducated,

urban, blue-collar workers or unemployed

African Americans made up about 13% of the U.S. population but accounted for 20% of the combat related deaths

“We have been repeatedly faced with a cruel irony of watching Negro and white boys on TV screens as they kill and die together for a nation that has been unable to seat them together in the same school room.” –Why I Am Opposed to the War in Vietnam (MLK, Jr.)

Vietnam Troop Levels Vietnam Troop LevelsSource: Congressional Quarterlies 1960 900 1961 3,200 1962 11,300 1963 16,300 1964 23,300 1965 184,300 1966 385,300 1967 485,600 1968 536,100 1969 475,200 1970 334,600 1971 156,800 1972 24,200 By 1972, an estimated 70,000 draft evadersand deserters were

living in Canada

1968: Peak Year of U.S. Involvement

Jan. 30, 1968: The Tet Offensive begins. Vietcong launch an attack on key cities in S.V., 12 Am. Bases, & U.S. Embassy

Results of Tet Offensive

Military victory for U.S.

Psychological defeat for U.S.

Majority of Ams. Oppose the war and want out

Vietnam War Protest Songs http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-protes

t-songs-from-the-1960s.php Country Joe McDonald “Feel Like I’m

Fixin’ to Die Rag”

B-52 Planes

Huey Helicoper

Weapons of the Vietnam War http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/vietn

am/trenches/weapons.html

Do you know how the Vietnam War ended?

Do you know who won the Vietnam War?

Did the Domino Theory prove to be true?

Legacies of the Vietnam War

First lost war for U.S. 58,000 Ams. Killed Cynical towards Am. Government Draft abolished War Powers Act (Congress can call

back troops after 90 days) 1.5 million flee Vietnam (Boat

People)