Vietnam War

The Vietnam War

1. The Vietnam War US History Page 790

2. Background to War In the 1800’s France controlled “Indochina” Japan took control during WWII With US aid, France attempted to re-colonize after WWII

3. Ho Chi Minh Ho Chi Minh becomes leader of the Vietminh. Communist sympathizer War breaks out between the French and the Vietminh in 1954 Eisenhower provides minimum aid to France to prevent the spread of communism. Domino Theory If one Southeast Asian country fell to communism the others would also fall.

4. A Divided Vietnam International Conference in Geneva – 1954 Vietnam was divided at the 17 th parallel Ho Chi Minh’s forces control the North Ngo Dinh Diem a French-educated, Roman Catholic claimed control of the South

5. US Involvement Repressive dictatorial rule by Diem Diems family holds all the power Wealth is hoarded by the elite Buddhist majority persecuted Torture, and a lack of political freedom prevail The U.S. aided Diem’s government because of the Truman Doctrine 675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 1960. Sent financial and military aid

6. Diems Death Kennedy elected in 1960 1963: JFK supports a Vietnamese military coup – Diem and his brother are murdered (Nov. 2) Kennedy’s advisors were clearly fighting a covert war by 1963. MacNamara has suggested that he believes Kennedy would have pulled the U.S. out, but evidence in inconclusive. Kennedy was assassinated just weeks later (Nov. 22)

7. Viet Cong New Military government in the south established. Communist guerrillas in the south form Become the Viet Cong National Liberation Front –Political arm of the Viet Cong

8. Gulf of Tonkin Incident/Resolution 1964 Johnson tells congress that the North Vietnamese had attacked US destroyers in international waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Congress passes the Gulf of Tokin Resolution which grants the President any and all necessary power to repel any armed attack against the forces of the US. Johnson had actually wrote this resolution before the incident The U.S. navy was not on the “high seas” but in N. Vietnam’s 12 mile territorial limit.

9. Who was the enemy? Vietcong: Farmers by day; guerillas at night. Very patient people willing to accept many casualties. The US grossly underestimated their resolve and their resourcefulness.

10. The Tet Offensive – January 1968 N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack South simultaneously. U.S. + South Vietnam Army beat back the offensive Viet Cong destroyed N. Vietnamese army debilitated BUT…it’s seen as an American defeat by the media

11. Massacre at My Lai Small village in South Vietnam US thought that this village was harboring 250 members of the Viet Cong. In 1968 US Army troops moved in on the village and instead of finding Vietcong troops the found old men, women, and children. Army killed over 400 Vietnamese. Hugh Thompson a hero.

12. Student Activism Columbia University Democratic Convention in Chicago 1968 University of Cal. Berkeley

13. Kent State 1970 Protesters burned down the ROTC building Ohio National Guard called in Fired on the students 4 dead, 9 wounded

14. Draft Resistance Most draft dodgers were conscientious objectors Opposed fighting on moral or religious grounds College students could receive a deferment Postponed their call to service until graduation College students who ranked low academically could be drafted. Many young men left the country

15. Nixon and Vietnam Nixon elected president 1968 Promised to end the war during campaign Was aware of the silent majority or the increased opposition by average Americans to the war Vietnamization Removal of American soldiers and replacing them with South Vietnamese soldiers. Cambodia and Laos Invaded in 1970 and 1971

16. End of the war 1973 Paris Peace Agreement US withdrew all forces from South Vietnam All prisoners of War would be released End military engagements in Laos and Cambodia 17 th parallel continued to divide North and South Vietnam 1975 South Vietnam falls Saigon renamed Ho Chi Min City