The Vietnam War1954-1975

Prelude to the War• France controlled “Indochina” since France controlled “Indochina” since

the late 19the late 19thth century century

• Japan took control during World Japan took control during World War IIWar II

• With U.S. aid, France attempted With U.S. aid, France attempted re-colonization in the postwar periodre-colonization in the postwar period

• The French lost control The French lost control to to Ho Chi Minh’s Ho Chi Minh’s VietViet MinhMinh forces in 1954 at forces in 1954 at Dien Bien PhuDien Bien Phu

• President Eisenhower President Eisenhower declined to intervene on declined to intervene on behalf of France.behalf of France.

International Conference International Conference at Genevaat GenevaVietnam was divided at Vietnam was divided at

1717thth parallel parallelO Ho Chi Minh’sHo Chi Minh’s

nationalist nationalist forces controlled forces controlled the Norththe North

O Ngo Dinh DiemNgo Dinh Diem, a , a French-educated, French-educated, Roman Catholic Roman Catholic claimed control of claimed control of the Souththe South

U.S. Military Involvement

Begins

Repressive Dictatorial RuleRepressive Dictatorial Rule

*Diem’s family holds all power*Diem’s family holds all power

*Wealth is hoarded by the elite*Wealth is hoarded by the elite

*Buddhist majority persecuted*Buddhist majority persecuted

*Torture, lack of political *Torture, lack of political freedom prevailfreedom prevail

The U.S. Response

The U.S. aided Diem’s The U.S. aided Diem’s “democratic” “democratic” government in an government in an effort to stop the effort to stop the spread of Communism.spread of Communism.

Eisenhower sent financial Eisenhower sent financial and military aid.and military aid.

675 U.S. Army advisors 675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 1960.sent by 1960.

Early Protests of Early Protests of Diem’s Diem’s

GovernmentGovernment

Self-immolation by a Buddhist MonkSelf-immolation by a Buddhist Monk

U.S. Military Involvement

BeginsKennedy elected 1960Kennedy elected 1960Increases military Increases military

“advisors” to 16,000“advisors” to 16,0001963: JFK supports a 1963: JFK supports a

Vietnamese military Vietnamese military coup d’etat coup d’etat – Diem – Diem and his brother are and his brother are murdered murdered (Nov. 2)(Nov. 2)

Kennedy was Kennedy was assassinated just assassinated just weeks later weeks later (Nov. 22)(Nov. 22)

President Johnson Sends in Ground

Forces

Tonkin Gulf Incident Tonkin Gulf Incident 19641964(acc. to Johnson, the (acc. to Johnson, the attacks were unprovoked)attacks were unprovoked)

Tonkin Gulf ResolutionTonkin Gulf Resolution ““The Blank Check” The Blank Check”

The war escalates 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 The Ground War 1965-19681965-1968

One major difference was that there were no One major difference was that there were no territorial goals.territorial goals.

The Viet Cong received supplies over theThe Viet Cong received supplies over the Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail

The Ho Chi The Ho Chi Minh TrailMinh Trail

What is REALLY interesting about the Ho Chi Minh Trail?

Pssst….

I’ll give you a hint…

Where is it?

Walter Cronkite reporting Walter Cronkite reporting live from Vietnam live from Vietnam

Another major Another major difference was that difference was that body counts were body counts were reported on TV reported on TV every night every night ( know as the first ( know as the first “living room” war“living room” war))

ENTER THE ENTER THE MEDIAMEDIA

DEATH FROM ABOVEDEATH FROM ABOVEThe Air War1965-1968

1965: Sustained bombing of North Vietnam.1965: Sustained bombing of North Vietnam.

Operation Rolling Thunder Operation Rolling Thunder beginsbegins (March 2)(March 2)

-1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi non--1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi non-stop for stop for 33 years! Esp. the years! Esp. the Ho Chi Minh Ho Chi Minh TrailTrail..

-Downed Pilots became P.O.W.s -Downed Pilots became P.O.W.s

(Prisoners of War)(Prisoners of War)

The intensive The intensive bombing of a bombing of a designated area designated area in a close in a close pattern by many pattern by many aircraft, usually aircraft, usually B-52s, as though B-52s, as though laying a wall-to-laying a wall-to-wall carpet.wall carpet.

Carpet BombingCarpet Bombing

NAPALM

• Napalm (trade name) is a powder. Mixed Napalm (trade name) is a powder. Mixed with gasoline, it is a tactical weapon used to with gasoline, it is a tactical weapon used to remove vegetative cover and instill fear. remove vegetative cover and instill fear.

• Fire bomb fuel gel mixture (napalm) is a Fire bomb fuel gel mixture (napalm) is a mixture of fuel and gelling solution that are mixture of fuel and gelling solution that are combined to produce a thickened mixture. combined to produce a thickened mixture. The fuel gel mixture is stringy and sticky, The fuel gel mixture is stringy and sticky, and readily adheres to most surfaces.and readily adheres to most surfaces.

This Pulitzer-Prize winning photograph was taken in 1972, This Pulitzer-Prize winning photograph was taken in 1972, The child is running naked down a road, screaming in The child is running naked down a road, screaming in pain from the napalm that was burning through her skin.pain from the napalm that was burning through her skin.

The photograph has come to epitomize the tragedy of the The photograph has come to epitomize the tragedy of the Vietnam War and had a profound negative impact on the Vietnam War and had a profound negative impact on the American public’s support of the war.American public’s support of the war.

A new set of rules

VietcongVietcong: South Vietnamese farmers South Vietnamese farmers

by day; guerillas at night.by day; guerillas at night. Very patient people willing Very patient people willing

to accept many casualties.to accept many casualties. The US grossly The US grossly

underestimated their underestimated their resolve and their resolve and their resourcefulness.resourcefulness.

The U.S. soldiers had no The U.S. soldiers had no idea who was a friend or idea who was a friend or an enemy.an enemy.

Who is the enemy?Who is the enemy?

-After Nguyen Ngoc Loan raised his sidearm and shot Vietcong operative Nguyen Van Lem in the head he walked over to the reporters and told them that, "These guys kill a lot of our people, and I think Buddha will forgive me."

-Captured on NBC TV cameras and by AP photographer Eddie Adams, the picture and film footage flashed around the world and quickly became a symbol of the Vietnam War’s brutality.

-Eddie Adams’ picture was especially striking, as the moment frozen is one almost at the instant of death. Taken a split second after the trigger was pulled, Lem’s final expression is one of pain as the bullet rips through his head. A closer look of the photo actually reveals the bullet exiting his skull.

The tet offensive

-N. Vietnamese Army + -N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack Viet Cong attack South simultaneously South simultaneously (67,000 attack 100 (67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, and the cities, bases, and the US embassy in Saigon)US embassy in Saigon)

-They take every major -They take every major southern citysouthern city

-U.S. + ARVN beat back the offensive-U.S. + ARVN beat back the offensive

-Viet Cong destroyed-Viet Cong destroyed

-N. Vietnamese army debilitated-N. Vietnamese army debilitated

-BUT…it’s seen as an American defeat by the -BUT…it’s seen as an American defeat by the mediamedia

AmericanAmerican Morale Morale

Begins to Begins to DipDip

-Disproportionate representation of poor people -Disproportionate representation of poor people and minorities.and minorities.

-Severe racial problems.-Severe racial problems.-Major drug problems.-Major drug problems.-Officers in combat 6 mo.; in rear 6 mo. -Officers in combat 6 mo.; in rear 6 mo. -Enlisted men in combat for 12 mo.-Enlisted men in combat for 12 mo.

THE THE MY LAI MY LAI

MASSACREMASSACRE

• My Lai MassacreMy Lai Massacre, 1968, 1968

• 200-500 unarmed villagers killed by 200-500 unarmed villagers killed by U.S. Soldiers, led by U.S. Soldiers, led by Lt. William CalleyLt. William Calley,,Platoon LeaderPlatoon Leader

My Lai Massacre Aftermath

• Lt. Calley was the only U.S. soldier convicted of crimes related to the My Lai Massacre

• Calley was sentenced to 40 months, most of which spent in his apartment on his military base.

• However, when the news of the massacre reached the states, support for the war among the American people greatly decreased.

HERE COME THE HIPPIES!• The youth of America,

and around the world, began to openly protest the war in Vietnam.

Flower Power Spreads

The Protests Turn Ugly

KENT STATE PROTESTKENT STATE PROTEST

• May 4, 1970May 4, 1970

• 4 students shot dead.4 students shot dead.

• 11 students wounded11 students wounded

THE PROTESTS CONTINUEJackson State UniversityJackson State University

• May 10, 1970May 10, 1970

• 2 dead; 12wounded2 dead; 12wounded

Democratic National ConventionDemocratic National Convention

In Chicago 1968In Chicago 1968

Student Protestors at Univ. of CA Student Protestors at Univ. of CA in Berkeley, 1968in Berkeley, 1968