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The Vietnam War Years
Vietnam history• 1800’s – WWII France rules over Vietnam as part
of French Indochina. (Laos & Cambodia) • WWII Japan takes Indochina from French.• U.S. supports communist leader Ho Chi Minh
who is fighting the Japanese. • After WWII France tries to regain Indochina &
the U.S. supports them with $$$$$ only.
U.S interest expands in Vietnam • French begin losing the war in Vietnam.• U.S. embrace domino theory: If one country in
Asia falls to communism they all will. • U.S. sends advisors to Vietnam to help.• 1954 French lose the war • Geneva Accords: Vietnam is split in two along
the 17th parallel. Unifying elections to take place in 1956
• North communist- Ho Chi Minh leader• South anti-communist- Ngo Dinh Diem leader
Getting closer to war
• North Vietnam supported Ho Chi Minh• South Vietnam did not support Diem because he
was corrupt and mean.• Viet Cong were pro communist group who lived
in South Vietnam. • Communist north supplied the Viet Cong with
goods- using the Ho Chi Minh trail. • Nov. 1963 U.S. supports coup that kills Diem.
War Expands in Vietnam
Sending in troops
• LBJ wants to start bombing North but needs Congress’ ok.
• Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: Attack on U. S. ship in the Gulf of Tonkin gets Congress to support LBJ.
• Bombing & ground troops enter Vietnam. (1965)
• Escalation of forces continue throughout 1960’s
• By 1968 536,000 troops in Vietnam
• General William Westmoreland is leader of U.S. troops.
Jungle fighting
• Viet Cong used jungle as cover during war.
• U.S. uses chemicals to destroy jungle
- Agent Orange: kills plants & trees
- Napalm: jellied gasoline that burns violently.
• These chemicals later proved to give U.S soldiers skin diseases & cancer.
Search & destroy missions
• Tactic used to hunt Viet Cong throughout S. Vietnam.
• Soldiers burned & bombed villages where V.C. were found.
• Killed innocent civilians.
• V.C. gained villagers support because of U.S. abuse.
A frustrating war
• People thought war would be short b/c of U.S. superior weapons.
• North Vietnam proved to be determined soldiers who fought well.
• U.S. average soldier was 19 & inexperienced at war.
• Guerilla warfare was hard to defend. (no front line)
• Jungle was very hard on soldiers. (Similar to the war in the Pacific during WWII.)
The Counterculture were youths that rejected traditional American values:
1. Hippie movement (long hair, blue jeans, flower power)
2. Pop music played a powerful form of communication
3. Started protesting against the war
00:0700:05
Opposition to the Draft
• The draft was considered unfair because it was biased toward the poor and working class.
• People felt it targeted minorities• Draft boards could give people
deferments:1. Full time college students2. join the National Guard instead
Doves & Hawks
• Those who supported the war were Hawks
• Those who opposed it were Doves
Tet Offensive
• Organized surprise attack by N. Vietnam & Viet Cong in Jan. 1968.
• Attacked numerous cities throughout N & S Vietnam.
• Not very effective militarily.
• The communist lose 45, 000 soldiers & gain no cities.
Tet results
• Stunned U.S. military & citizens.• Proved LBJ & the military were not
trustworthy. (recently claimed war was almost over & the communist were weak)
• LBJ decides not to run for reelection• Richard Millhouse Nixon elected president• Anti war movement takes off in U.S.• Protest & violence ensues.
U.S. morale sinks
• Began to feel that the war was not winnable
• Soldiers begin to lose control because of lack of leadership.
• Questioned fighting a war that the people in S. Vietnam never wanted or asked for.
My Lai Massacre
• U.S. troops round up & shot between 200-500 unarmed civilians.
• Mostly women, children & the elderly.
• U.S. helicopter starts to rescue civilians & threatens to shoot U.S. troops if stopped.
• Government tries to cover up the incident.
The Vietnam War Ends
A growing anti war movement
• American people against the war
• Protest and anti war rallies
• College students organize.
• Government tries to stop the movement
• Kent states massacre: 4 students killed by National Guard in 1970.
Kent State
Vietnamization
• Nixon’s plan to exit the war
- gradual withdrawing of U.S. troops
- increase bombing along Ho Chi Minh
Trail to stop the movement of North
Vietnamese troops & supplies.
- start to hand over control of things to S. Vietnam government.
U.S. leaves Vietnam
• January 1973- U.S/North Vietnam/S. Vietnam sign a peace treaty.
• Last U.S. soldier leaves Vietnam in March.
• War continues for 2 more years until N. Vietnam invades & defeats S. Vietnam.
• U.S. does nothing to try to stop them.
The cost of war for those fighting
• 58,000 plus soldiers die.
• 300,000 wounded• Soldiers who did
come home were treated very poorly.
Long term results
• 26th Amendment : Lowered voting age to 18
• War Powers Act of 1973: Limited the presidents power to make war.
• People distrust government
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