Vietnam War

Ch. 20 pg. 644

The Vietnam War• Longest war in U.S. History. (1961-1973)

57,000 Americans killed.

4 Million Vietnamese killed.

Americans begin to question America’s motives.

• Why did the U.S get involved?

1.) To prevent the spread of communism.

2.) Communism existed in the North & they were attempting to spread it south.

Presidents in Office – JFK, LBJ Nixon

The Vietnam War

• Remember…..Truman Doctrine?

President Truman’s promise to help nations struggling against communist movements.

Korean War?Forgotten War. America goes to

war in Korea to prevent the North from expanding communism into the south.

The Vietnam War

• Eisenhower’s **domino theory** –

idea if Vietnam fell to communism,

other countries would follow.

The Vietnam War 1800’s- The French control Indochina Vietnam,

Cambodia, and Laos.

The Vietnam War Ho Chi Minh-

- Anit- French activist.

- Left Vietnam and travels the world.

- He searched for Western supporters of a free Vietnam.

- Soviet communist show the most support.

The Vietnam War• 1940- Nazi’s take over France and allow

their ally Japan to occupy Vietnam.

• 1941- Ho Chi Minh- establishes the Vietnam Independence League.

August 25th 1945- Ho Chi declares Vietnam’s independence.

North is more supportive of Ho Chi.

The Vietnam War

• France fights back.

• The U.S. supports….

FRANCE.

1.) We hate communism.

2.) Allies during WWII.

• U.S gives France $ to help win Vietnam back.

The Vietnam War

• 1954 Geneva Accord-

1.) French leave Vietnam.

2.) temporally split into North Vietnam and South Vietnam (17th parallel).

- Ho Chi Minh becomes Communist leader of North Vietnam.

The Vietnam War

• 1961- JFK sends Special Forces to Vietnam to help “train” the south.

• 1963- more than 15,000 men “advising” in Vietnam.

• Over 2.5 million will eventually enlist/drafted.

The Vietnam War

• France is out & the U.S steps up their effort in Vietnam.

• Ngo Dinh Diem- leader in the South. Anti-Communist.

• Vietcong- communist in the South who attack the

Diem government. *aka – VC**

The Vietnam War

• Vietcong use guerilla tactics.

- Tunnel system.

- Landmines.

- Booby traps, Ex. Stake Pits, trip wires etc…

The Vietnam War

• Ho Chi Minh begins supplying Vietcong arms along the Ho Chi Minh Trail-

trail along the border of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

The Vietnam War

• Diem imprisons Buddhist monks & destroys their temples.

• Treated people

Poorly.

The Vietnam War

• Nov. 22nd 1963

JFK assassinated.

-States shortly before his death that the US will leave Vietnam.

The Vietnam War• Lyndon B. Johnson

-felt “Vietnam is the biggest damn mess I’ve ever seen.”

- Fears congress will turn on him, if he leaves Vietnam.

Seeking reelection in 1964 – LBJ sends more troops to Vietnam.

The Vietnam War

• **Gulf of Tonkin-**

-officially pulls the US into Vietnam.

-US ships clash with Communist boats.

The Vietnam War- Gulf of Tonkin Resolution-

- Gave the president the power “to take all necessary measures to defend any nation threatened by communism in South East Asia.

- NOT A DECLARATION OF

WAR.

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• Operation Rolling Thunder – 1965 - the first sustained bombing campaign against North Vietnam.

• Bombs filled with Napalm & Agent Orange.

• President Johnson continues to assure Americans that we are close to victory.

• Government spending (War, Great Society, etc.) leads to rising prices and inflation. Johnson had to raise taxes.

• 1967 – American begins to divide into 2 groups…..

* Hawks – supported war

* Doves – against the war

My LaiMarch 1968

American forces were searching for enemy forces in an area with a strong Vietcong presence.

* Vietcong began to pose as civilians

Between 400-500 innocent civilians were killed by Lt. William Calley’s unit.

News of this massacre only added fuel to the antiwar protest fire.

• To eliminate deferment abuse, the Selective Service issue a lottery.

• Operation Rolling Thunder – constant bombing of N. Vietnam

Johnson decides not to seek reelection 1968

**Nixon wins 1968 election over Hubert Humphrey & George Wallace.

• Nixon’s Plan: Vietnamization & Peace with Honor

Vietnamization – US forces would withdraw gradually as South Vietnam troops assumed more combat duties.

• Nixon tried to slow supplies by bombing Ho Chi Minh trail in Cambodia.

• Ppl outraged!!! Stirred anti-war movment.

• Result of War – Communist control of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Strategic Arms Limitation Trearty

• SALT I –treaty that froze the deployment of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

• Between US & USSR

• Did not end Cold War, but step in the right direction.