The Vietnam Era, 1954-1975

American History (CHA3U1)

Chapter 33

Introduction

The period 1954 – 1975 would see unprecedented change in all areas of American society

Tremendous prosperity and power would both benefit and hurt American society

Sec. 1: Cold War Challenges (pgs. 924-29)Crises in Cuba – Castro took power 1959 The Bay of Pigs Invasion – 1,400 Cuban

exiles supported by the CIA invade Cuba in 1961 total failure

The Alliance for Progress - $20 billion pledged to 19 Latin American countries to aid development and curtail communism

The Cuban Missile Crisis – October 1962 Pres. Kennedy forced Soviet Union to remove missiles from Cuba

Cuban Missile Crisis

Sec. 1: Cold War Challenges

The Peace Corps – 1961 help stop poverty & disease stop communism

Peace Corps Volunteers – lived among local people and gave them practical help for their problems (e.g. sewage system, medical)

Nationalism in Africa – new nations in Africa had boundaries created by European colonial powers that didn’t take into account ethnic / tribal differences conflict (e.g. Congo)

Sec. 1: Cold War Challenges

Challenges From the Soviet Union – Soviet leader Khrushchev thought he could intimidate Kennedy

The Berlin Wall – Soviets built a wall to keep East Germans from escaping into West Berlin

Quarrels over Nuclear Testing – Soviets resumed atmospheric nuclear testing in 1961 1963 treaty ended such testing

Dominican Intervention – 1965 20,000 US troops sent to put down Communist rebels

Krushchev and Berlin Wall

Sec. 1: Cold War Challenges

Israel and Korea – friction with Soviets Arab-Israeli War – 1967 - American backed

Israel quickly defeated Soviet backed Egypt, Syria & Jordan

The Pueblo Incident – January 1968 N. Korea seized US spy ship that was in international waters and kept them for 1 year

Sec. 2: War in Vietnam (pg. 930-34)

Trouble in Southeast Asia – Soviets aided countries vying for national liberation

War in Laos – Kennedy and Khrushchev agreed to cease-fire in 1961

Kennedy and Vietnam – divided into Communist North and Non-communist South in 1954 after French defeated 1963 Kennedy had sent 16,000 advisers

Sec. 2: War in Vietnam 1954-1975

Johnson’s Choices

1. Admit defeat and pull out causing possible domino theory in SE Asia

2. Limited support that would end in defeat

3. Actively attack N. Vietnam with loss of American lives and high financial costs

Vietnam – A history of occupation

Vietnam was no stranger to war and foreign interference

19th Century – France seized Vietnam as part of its empire

WWII – Japan occupied Vietnam Communist Leader Ho Chi Minh

founded the national liberation movement called the Viet Minh

Following WWII France reoccupied Vietnam

China and the Soviet Union sent military aid to the Viet Minh

1954 – Viet Minh is victorious over the French

1954 – in Geneva Vietnam was partitioned into two zones at the 17th parallel

North and South Vietnam

Legitimate Governments?

Ho Chi Minh consolidates power in the north

In the south US supports President Ngo Dinh Diem who forms an anti-communist government

Diem and President Eisenhower opposed elections because they believed 80% of the population would elect Ho chi Minh and the communists

People’s choice?

Stopping the spread of communism took precedence over democracy

Diem is not viewed as a strong leader with the support of the people and it is perceived that he cannot win against Ho Chi Minh

On November 2, 1963 – South Vietnamese generals with encouragement from the CIA kill Diem and take control of the government (happens in the Kennedy administration)

War in Vietnam

Escalation Gulf of Tonkin Resolution –

August 2, 1964 N. Viet torpedo boats supposedly fire on US ships Congress gives Pres. Johnson unaccountable power to wage war

A Different Kind of War – guerrilla & terrorist warfare fought by VC against stronger US

Search and Destroy – heavy bombardment of suspected VC positions (e.g. napalm, agent orange)

Victims of Napalm

Sec. 2: War in Vietnam

Resistance to Peace – N. Viet resisted peace attempts believing they could outlast US who had over 500,000 troops in Vietnam

N. Vietnamese Leader Ho Chi Minh

Sec. 2: War in Vietnam

Tet and Retreat – end of 1967 Gen. Westmoreland said end was in sight

Vietcong Attack Turns the Tide – Jan. 1968 VC attack all major S. Viet cities VC totally defeated but a propaganda victory

Peace Talks Begin – Mar. 31/ 68 US bombing stops peace talks in Paris May ’68 fail

Sec. 3: Protest and Reaction(pgs. 936-40)

Growing Opposition to War – reasons for fighting began to be questioned

Senate Hearings on the War – televised hearings carried the senators’ doubts about the war to millions of American homes

Hawks and Doves – supporters and opposition to war

Sec. 3: Protest and Reaction

Student Protests – antiwar protests centered on college campuses

Protests Against the Draft – student deferment allowed rich to avoid war by staying in school while poor drafted – some conscientious objectors, draft dodgers

Violence on Campus – 1970 Kent State & Jackson State University 4 & 2 students killed

Sec. 3: Protest and Reaction

New Beliefs and Values – younger generation rejected parents conservative values long hair, communes, sex, drugs & rock music (Woodstock 1969)

A Conservative Backlash – resented lack of respect for established order by spoiled rich college kids

Sec. 3: Protest and Reaction

1968: The Turning Point – majority of

Americans turned against war policy The Race for President – Pres. Johnson

drops out of race and Robert Kennedy is assassinated by Arab nationalist

The Candidates – Richard Nixon (Rep.), Hubert Humphrey (Dem.), George Wallace (I)

The Election of 1968 – Nixon wins narrowly

R. Kennedy and R. Nixon

Sec. 4: Secrecy and Summitry(pgs. 941-45)

A New Policy – focused on foreign policy Nixon Proclaims Détente – SALT (Strategic

Arms Limitation Treaty) with Russians (1972) Nixon and China – visits China in 1972 after

allowing trade & travel and moving Seventh Fleet from protecting Taiwan

Sec. 4: Secrecy and Summitry

War in Vietnam – Nixon promised to end war, but didn’t want to lose or prolong protests

The Pentagon Papers – leaked secret gov’t documents which showed four presidents lied about American involvement in Vietnam

Nixon Announces Vietnamization – US troops replaced by S. Viet. cease fire agree. 1973

The End of the War – 1974 N. Viet attacks S. Viet Saigon captured April 1975

Sec. 4: Secrecy and Summitry

War in the Middle East – Egypt & Syria attack Israel Oct 6, 1973 but USA helps Israel win

Arab countries retaliate by placing oil embargo on USA economic problems

Egypt and Israel resume diplomatic relations thanks to US Sec. of State Henry Kissinger

Conclusion

Vietnam War would be the first war the United States loses WHY? because they lost home front support

The legacy of Vietnam would lead to a mistrust of government and less American military involvement throughout the world