The Vietnam War 1954 - 1975

The Vietnam War 1954 - 1975

Background to the WarBackground to the Warz France controlled

“Indochina” since the late 19th century

z Japan took control during World War II

z With U.S. aid, France attempted re-colonization after WWII

Background to the WarBackground to the War

z The French lost control to Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minh forces in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu

z President Eisenhower declined to intervene on behalf of France.

Background to the WarBackground to the War

z International Conference at GenevaP Vietnam was divided at 17th

parallelO Ho Chi Minh: leader of

nationalist forces controlled the North

O Ngo Dinh Diem: French-educated, Catholic. Claimed control of the South

Background to the WarBackground to the War

z Democratic elections to reunify Vietnam set…

z Diem backed out of the elections, leading to civil war between North and South

U.S. Military Involvement Begins

U.S. Military Involvement Begins

z Dictatorial rule by DiemP Diem’s family holds all powerP Wealth is hoarded by the eliteP Buddhist majority persecutedP Torture, lack of political

freedom prevail

z The U.S. aided Diem’s governmentP Ike sent financial and military

aidP 675 U.S. Army advisors sent by

1960.

Early Protests of Diem’s Government

Early Protests of Diem’s Government

Self-immolation by a Buddhist Monk

U.S. Military Involvement BeginsU.S. Military Involvement Begins

z Kennedy elected 1960z Increases military “advisors” to 16,000

z 1963: z JFK supports military coup d’etat

z Coup by the ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) generals.

z US said it would not interferez ARVN overthrew the government on

November 1, 1963.

z Diem and his brother are murdered (Nov. 2)

z Kennedy was assassinated 20 days later (Nov. 22)

Lyndon Baines Johnson

• Johnson assumes presidency after Kennedy’s death

• Vietnam plagued his presidency

• 1968 states he decides against running for reelection

Johnson Sends Ground Forces

Johnson Sends Ground Forces

z Remembers Truman’s “loss” of China Domino Theory revived

I’m not going to be the president who saw Southeast Asia go the way China went.

Johnson Sends Ground Forces

Johnson Sends Ground Forces

z Advised to rout the communists by Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara

z Tonkin Gulf Incident 1964(acc. to Johnson, the attacks were ‘unprovoked’)

z Tonkin Gulf ResolutionP “The Blank Check” *P A joint resolution of Congress

P Gave Johnson authorization for war - without a formal declaration of war

P What is a Joint Resolution?

U.S. Troop Deployments

in Vietnam

U.S. Troop Deployments

in Vietnam

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

1961 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968

U.S. Troops

The Ground War 1965-1968

The Ground War 1965-1968

z No clear territorial goals for the US.

z Body counts on TV every night (first “living room” war)

z Viet Cong supplies over the Ho Chi Minh Traila path from North Vietnam to South Vietnam via Laos & Cambodia .Provides manpower and weapons, etc to the Vietcong/National Liberation Front/ NVA

The Air War1965-1968

The Air War1965-1968

z 1965: Sustained bombing of North Vietnam

z Operation Rolling Thunder (March 2, 1965)

z 1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi nonstop for 3 years.

z targets the Ho Chi Minh Trail.z Carpet Bombing – napalm

The Air War:A Napalm Attack

The Air War:A Napalm Attack

Who Is the Enemy?Who Is the Enemy?z Vietcong:

P Farmers by day; guerillas at night.

P Willing to accept many casualties.

P US underestimated resolve and resourcefulness.The guerilla wins if he does not

lose, the conventional army loses if it does not win. -- Mao Zedong

Who Is the Enemy?

Who Is the Enemy?

The Ground War1965-1968

The Ground War1965-1968

z General Westmoreland, late 1967:

We can see the“light at the end of the tunnel.”

The Tet Offensive, January 1968

The Tet Offensive, January 1968

z N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack South simultaneously

z (67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, and the US embassy in Saigon)

z Take every major southern cityz U.S. + ARVN beat back the

offensivez Viet Cong all but destroyed

z BUT the IMPACT….

The Tet Offensive,

January 1968

The Tet Offensive,

January 1968

Impact of the Tet Offensive

Impact of the Tet Offensive

z Domestic U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson Administration

z Johnson’s popularity dropped in 1968 from 48% to 36%.

z ‘Hey, Hey LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?’

American Morale Begins to Dip

American Morale Begins to Dip

z Disproportionate representation of poor people and minorities.

z Severe racial problems.z Officers in combat

6 mo.; in rear 6 mo. Enlisted men in combat for 12 mo.

Are We Becoming the Enemy?Are We Becoming the Enemy?

z Lt. William Calley,Platoon Leader

z Convicted of premeditated murder of 22 Vietnamese civilians. Calley was sentenced to life imprisonment at

hard labor

z Mylai Massacre, 1968z 200-500 unarmed villagers

Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry

Nixon on VietnamNixon on Vietnam

z Nixon’s campaign promised : Peace with Honor

z Vietnamization: Encouraged the South Vietnamese to take more responsibility for fighting the war. z Hoped to enable the United States to

withdraw (gradually) from ‘Nam

BUT…z The “Secret War”P Cambodia – US forces famously invade

& bomb. Destabilize the nation. P Laos

“Pentagon Papers,” 1971

“Pentagon Papers,” 1971

z Daniel Ellsberg leaked govt. docs. about the Johnson administration and Vietnam

z Docs. Govt. misled Congress & Americans about Vietnam during mid-1960s.P Fighting not to eliminate

communism, but to avoid humiliating defeat.

The CostsThe Costs

1. 3,000,000 Vietnamese killed2. 58,000 Americans killed;

300,000 wounded3. Under-funding of Great

Society programs4. $150,000,000,000 in U.S.

spending5. U.S. morale, self-confidence,

trust of government, decimated