Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Vietnam War"No event in American history is more
misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now. Rarely have so many people been so
wrong about so much. Never have the consequences of their misunderstanding
been so tragic.“ President Richard Nixon
• What were the causes of the Vietnam War?
• Why did the US enter the Vietnam War?
• What was the outcome of the Vietnam War?
EQ’s
Vietnam’s history is one of struggle for autonomy.
It’s mine…it’s mine…it’s mine
Until the 9th century, China ruled.
Mid 19th century France occupied Vietnam and controlled the country until WWII.
During WWII, Japan invaded.
Why do you think so many
countries wanted to control
Vietnam? Hint … look at a physical map of
Vietnam!
Whoever controlled Vietnam controlled the coast!
During WWII, Communist Viet
Minh resisted Japan. The US helped train the Viet Minh in war
tactics.
At the end of WWII, France tried to reclaim Vietnam, but Vietnam had
had enough! With the end of WWII, Vietnam wanted
independence. And soon, a leader emerged!
Ho Chi Min • studied Communism in the Soviet Union and China
• became leader in Vietnam’s independence movement
• Vietnam declared independence on September 2, 1945
However, France resisted and so ensued the French Indochina War.
In 1954, nine years
later, France was defeated.
What is the 17th
Parallel?
What does this remind you of?
Vietnam and the 17th Parallel
The peace terms, as stated at the
Geneva Conference in 1954, ending the French Indochina
War split the country in two –
along the 17th Parallel
Communist took control of the north
and a non-communist
government took control of the
south, backed by the US.
Saigon
Hanoi – the capital of North Vietnam
Saigon – the capital of South Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh
Prime Minister & President of
North Vietnam
South VietnamNgo Dinh Diem took power of
the government in South Vietnam in a corrupt election.
Thousands of angry South Vietnamese rose up against
Diem.
These anti-Diem forces were called “Viet Cong”, meaning Vietnamese Communists.
Diem assassinated in 1963.
Tension grew between the two until a full-scale war erupted in 1964.
Why did the US back South Vietnam and choose to enter the war?
Look at the physical geography of South Asia.
What assumptions could you make if Communist North Vietnam defeated South Vietnam?
America was concerned about the “domino effect”. The Domino Theory was developed -
“If South Vietnam falls to the Communist, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma (today
Myanmar), India, and Pakistan would also fall like dominos. The Pacific Islands and even
Australia could be at risk.”
So, who got involved?
South Vietnam and US were supported by:
• South Korea
• Philippines
• Thailand
• New Zealand
North Vietnam and Viet Cong supported by:
• Communist China
• Soviet Union
US involvement• 1st – only entered as
“advisors” to South Vietnam
• After attack on a US destroyer in the Gulf of Tonkin Aug. 1964, congress gave LBJ more “war powers”, but still there was no formal declaration of war.
• March 1965 - Sends first ground troops
LBJ’s goalNOT to win the war, but to give South Vietnam enough support until they could take over.
Results? • With no goal of winning the
war, lost American public support.
• Fighting limited to South Vietnam only! With no serious ground attacks against the North – or the Ho Chi Minh Trail – soldiers fighting only a defensive war – not an offensive war.
The Vietnam War was not a war
being fought along one front, against
just North Vietnam…it was
being fought throughout South Vietnam against the Viet Cong as
well!
Tet Offensive January 30, 1968
Watch short video … http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/agent-orange/videos/vietnam
A coordinated attack by the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong against about 100 South Vietnamese cities. While initially seen as a North Vietnamese failure because the ally forces quickly retook the cities, it did prove to be a turning point for the US involvement in the war, and ultimately the removal of US troops from Vietnam.
Who were the major people?
North Vietnam
Ho Chi Min
Let’s review …
Who were the major people?
South Vietnam
Ngo Dinh Diem
Who were the major people?
US
President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Sent “advisors” to Vietnam.
President John F. Kennedy
Increased the involvement of US in Vietnam
PresidentLyndon B. Johnson
1963
Became president when Kennedy
was assassinated.
Dean Rusk
Secretary of State under President
Kennedy and President Johnson
President Richard Nixon
Pulls troops out of Vietnam.
March 1973 – last
combat troops leave Vietnam.
US advisors and Marines left to
protect US installations.
For the US – at least – the war is
“officially” over.
President Gerald Ford
April 1975 … Last US Marines and military advisors leave Vietnam
Back to Fighting in Vietnam
A network of wilderness routes that carried Communist equipment, supplies, and troops to fight in South Vietnam. Beginning in North Vietnam, routes wound through Laos and Cambodia
Eventually grew to more than 12,500 miles!
Fighting in the jungles
Napalm and Agent OrangeBecause Vietnam has a vast rainforest, observation
from air was nearly impossible. Therefore, in an effort to expose hidden Viet Cong, the US implemented
defoliation (killing the leaves with chemicals poisons).
Hiding in the jungles
http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/cu-chi-tunnels
Watch this short video …
The Viet Cong and North Vietnamese built thousands of miles of underground tunnels.
The tunnels were used to house troops, escape aerial attacks, and as a route for communication and supplying troops.
Americans who served in this war
Watch this short video … http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/agent-orange/videos/vietnam
Fall of Saigon, South Vietnam … April 30, 1975
By April 25th, 1975, North Vietnamese were closing in on Saigon. President Ford ordered an immediate evacuation of American civilians and
south Vietnamese refugees.
US Marine and Air Force helicopters, flying from offshore carriers, performed a massive airlift. In 18 hours, more
than 1000 American civilians and nearly 7000 south Vietnamese refugees were flown out of Saigon
South Vietnamese pilots were allowed to participate and landed on the US carriers as well. More than 100 of these American supplied helicopters – more than $250,000 each -
were pushed off carrier decks to make room for more evacuees.
At 4:30, April 30th, 1975,
two US Marines were
killed in a rocket attack in Saigon. They were
the last Americans to die in
the Vietnam
War.
At dawn, the remaining marines of the force guarding the US Embassy lifted off.
Hours latter, communist
forces captured
Saigon and rename the
city Ho Chi Min City.
The Boat PeopleIn efforts to still escape communist
rule, 100’s of South
Vietnamese piled onto
boats – many unseaworthy – trying to flee
to other countries.
More than 1 million people escaped and became refugees.
The United States, Canada
and other nations
accepted most of these
refugees.
To sum up … • South Vietnam did fall to communism
and was incorporated into a single, communist country – Vietnam
• Lasted from November 1957 – April 30, 1975
• After Vietnam the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand managed to stay free of communism. The Indonesians expelled the Soviets in 1966.
Vietnam was the first "television war.”
For the first time in history, Americans were able to “watch” the war being played out on
their televisions from the
comfort of their living rooms!
Vietnam War Memorial
1982
• What were the causes of the Vietnam War?
• Why did the US enter the Vietnam War?
• What was the outcome of the Vietnam War?
Can you answer the LEQ’s?
Words, people, and places to know …
• Hoi Chi Minh• Ngo Dinh Diem• Hanoi• Saigon• Hoi Chi Minh
City• Boat People
• 17th Parallel • Domino Theory• Viet Cong • Hoi Chi Minh
Trail
Credits
• http://www.learnhistory.org.uk/vietnam/reasons.htm http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/V/htmlV/vietnamonte/vietnamonte.htm
Autonomy
• Independence or freedom
17th Parallel
• Line of latitude• 17 degrees north of the equator• The peace terms declared Vietnam would be
divided into two countries along this line of latitude – 17 degrees north of the equator…the 17th Parallel
Who is LBJ?
President Lyndon B. Johnson
He was Vice-President to President John F. Kennedy.
He became president in 1963 when President Kennedy was assassinated.
What countries ruled Vietnam at various times throughout history?
Why is Vietnam a strategically important place?
Who emerged as the leader of independence for Vietnam?
When was Vietnam declared independent?
Which war ensued?
At which conference was Vietnam divided?
What is the significance of the 17th parallel?
What became the capital of North Vietnam?
What became the capital of South Vietnam?
The US had a theory – if South Vietnam fell to communism, then all other Asian countries would eventually fall to communism as well. This theory is called the …
Who became leader of South Vietnam in a corrupt election?
What were those called who rose up against him?
On which side did these people fight?
Which US presidents were involved in the Vietnam War?
Who was Dean Rusk?
What was the route called that supplied the Viet Cong in South Vietnam?
Through which countries did this trail wind?
When did Saigon fall?
What was this city renamed after it fell?
Who were the boat people?
To sum up … What happened to South Vietnam?
How long did the Vietnam War last?
What happened to the surrounding countries?
Why was the Vietnam War called the first “television war”?
Do you know these people, places, and words?•Ho Chi Min•Ngo Dinh Diem•Hanoi•Saigon•Ho Chi Min City•Boat People•17th Parallel•Domino Theory•Viet Cong•Ho Chi Min Trail
LEQ’s … 1. What were the causes of the Vietnam War?
2. Why did the US enter the Vietnam War?
3. What was the outcome of the Vietnam War?
Do you know the significance of … 1. The Tonkin Gulf Incident
2. Tet Offensive
