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The Cold War - Vietnam. March 2009. M.A.D.?. What is Indochina?. Vietnam: Background. France had ruled Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos) as a colony before WWII WWII: Japan takes over Important in leading to Japan v. US in WWII - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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The Cold War - VietnamMarch 2009
M.A.D.?
Vietnam: Background
France had ruled IndochinaIndochina (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos) as a colony before WWII
WWII: Japan takes over Important in leading to Japan
v. US in WWII
After WWII (1945): Fr. tries to regain control but each country gains independence by 1954
Just for fun
Go to www.google.com and type in “French Military Victories” and hit the button that says “I’m feeling lucky.”
Vietnam: Division
1954: Geneva Conference: V. divided into: (1) Communist-controlled North V. under Ho
Chi Minh (2) Pro-western South Vietnam
Division supposed to end with national elections in 1956. Elections did not take place b/c S.V. knew Communists would win.
Communist Viet Cong guerillas will gain control of much of S.V. over several yrs.
UNCLE HO
Ho Chi Minh mausoleum
Guess which city is the
home of the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum!
Vietnam Maps
Vietnam: Domino Theory
U.S. belief that if one SE Asian country fell to Communism, the
rest would soon follow.
Vietnam: US Involvement
“Domino Theory” led to gradual US involvement supporting S.V.
1964: Tonkin Gulf Resolution: Congress authorizes military action in SE Asia.
US Presidents: Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969)
Richard M. Nixon (1969-1974)
Prior to Vietnam, what was the U.S.’ record in wars?
Vietnam: US soldiers
Pre-1969, draft according to age 1969: Lottery for draft by b’day Combat soldiers avg. age
WWII: 26 Vietnam: 22
“Tour of Duty:” Those enlisted &/or drafted required to serve just one year & then come home.
Potential Problems?
http://www.sss.gov/lotter1.htm
Vietnam: Fighting Superpower vs. Small “Third World” nation
Communist expansion or independence? Viet Cong used “unconventional warfare”
Avoid direct fighting, prolong war to demoralize enemy, etc.
Turning Point: Tet Offensive (Jan. 1968)Tet Offensive (Jan. 1968) Tet: Vietnamese New Year N.V. launched major attack but did not capture
any major cities ***US public now perceived US as losing &
began to question US objectives in V.***
Vietnam: Anti-War This photo
shows a SV executing what appears to be a defenseless Viet Cong prisoner. In fact, the prisoner had just killed 8 SV.
Photo by Eddie Adams, 1968
Eddie Adams
Eddie Adams
Tet Offensive Map
My Laihttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/vietnam/trenches/my_lai.html
Vietnam: US gets out After Tet, US protests led to gradual
removal of troops in area w/ policy of “de-escalation” (later “Vietnamization”)
Bombings intensified w/ Nixon 1973: All sides agree to ceasefire but
fighting continued 1975: Viet Cong defeats SV 1976: Vietnam unified as one
Communist country, Saigon becomes Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam: Results
400,000+ SV died 900,000+ NV & VC died 58,000 Americans died 10 million (about ½ of pop.) became
refugees http://www.archives.gov/research/
vietnam-war/casualty-statistics.html#age
Agent Orange
http://flickr.com/search/?q=agent+orange+victim
Agent Orange: Not Just in Vietnam
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4649452.stm
ROK $62 million
Vietnam: Some effects in US
2 Things US will try to avoid in future: Fighting w/o a clear EXIT STRATEGY*** US casualties***
*** = “Let me explain!”
“Big Mo” of the Montgomery (AL) Biscuits
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