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Ch. 19 Early U.S. Involvement1954 Geneva Conference- Vietnam divided at the 17th parallel
North-Communist, South- Democratic goal was to unite
Ike & JFK had “military advisors” in Vietnam
1964- Pres. Johnson felt it was time to use U.S. forces in Vietnam to prevent the “Domino Theory”
Gulf of TonkinReported that 2 U.S. ships had been attacked by N. Vietnamese gunboats in the Gulf of Tonkin
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution- Cong. gave the president the power to do whatever it takes to prevent further aggression.
Napalm Attacks
Troops in Vietnam
Helicopters Played a Major Role
Guerilla Warfare
Gradual Escalation
1965- 184,000 troops1968- 536,100 troopsTet Offensive- massive strikes by the NVA that showed their strength in January 1968
Controversy Over the Controversy Over the WarWar
We made a promise to protect them
Prevent the spread of Communism
Prevent the beginning of the Domino Theory
To far away Not our fight S. Vietnam Govt.
was very corrupt Thousands of
Americans were being killed for nothing
War Hawks- Supported the War Hawks- Supported the warwar Doves- Opposed the WarDoves- Opposed the War
Protests
Many Protests Turned Violent
Student Protests
Colleges were the place of most protests
Draft Dodgers- many burnt their draft cards and fled to Canada
Many took college deferments
The country was divided over the war
Media brought the battle into peoples homes which increased the division
Older generations resented the attitudes of the young
Hippies and Flower Children stood out b/c of their dress and lifestyle
Woodstock 1969
Soldiers returned home facing hostility and protests
Many struggled to adjust to life at home
LBJ- refused to run for the 1968 presidency
1968 Democratic Convention- student protest led to violence
Richard Nixon (R)- won the 68 presidential election
Vietnamization- U.S. troops withdrawn while S. Vietnam army was trained to fight
Richard Nixon (R)1969-1974
Student Protest
1969-1971- worst student protest
1969 protest in D.C. and Nixon called for the “Silent Majority” to support his efforts to end the war
1970- U.S. stepped ups its bombings in SE Asia
May 1970 Kent State- student protest led to 4 students who were killed by the national guard
1972- U.S. gradual withdraws from Vietnam
Kent State Shootings
Pentagon Papers
1971 Daniel Ellsberg worked for the Dept. of Defense
He released the Pentagon study on the Vietnam War to the NY Times
Nixon felt that it would damage support for the war
Eventually it went to the Supreme Court and papers were published
War is Over
1975 Saigon falls to the Communist
Over 58,000 U.S. soldiers died
365,000- were injuredCost over $150 Billion
Fall of Saigon
War Powers Act 1973
Pres. must inform Cong. within 48 hrs. of deploying U.S. troops
If conflict last more than 90 days Pres. must obtain Cong. approval to continue.
Limits the power of the presidency to use military force
Vietnam Legacy People protested the war and draft Media coverage greatly impacted
peoples views U.S. questioned itself as “policeman
of the world” and was reluctant to engage in future conflicts
Military superiority does not guarantee victory