The Vietnam War

Background Information

American officials felt Vietnam was important in their campaign to stop the spread of communism (domino theory)

Background Information

Ho Chi Minh (nationalist movement) – advocate of communism

• Wanted to overthrow the French, was exiled to Soviet Union, came back when Japan occupied Vietnam during WWII, organized the Vietminh to force Japan out

• Japan was defeated by US, Vietnam declares independence, France sent in troops to regain control over lost empire, asked US for help (it was better than allowing communism

Background InformationFrench struggled fighting against guerrilla tactics (irregular troops)• Last French stronghold was in the town of Dien Bien Phu –

defeated• Geneva Accords divided Vietnam between the Vietminh (North

Vietnam) and a pro-western regime (South Vietnam)• When elections were held to unite the country, US supported Ngo

Dinh Diem – tensions escalated with US caught in the middle – Vietnamese opposed Diem’s gov’t (corrupt)– Diem refused to hold national elections – Ho Chi Minh created

guerrilla army (Vietcong) – goal was to reunify the country– Diem was eventually overthrown, US continued to send aid to

South Vietnam

North = Communist - Vietminh

South = Pro-Western - Vietcong (communists in South)

US Involvement

Johnson becomes President – needs to prevent South Vietnam from falling to communism (Republicans would use it against the Democrats)

• Gulf of Tonkin Resolution – Congress gave the President power to take all measures necessary to repel an armed attack on US forces

• Johnson increased American involvement (was warned that it might be hard to get out)

• Public opinion supports further involvement

US InvolvementNapalm and Agent Orange was used to destroy

Vietcong hiding places

US Involvement

Johnson refused to order a full invasion (feared Chinese involvement) and would not attack Vietcong supply line (Ho Chi Minh Trail)

Impact on Americans

As the war dragged on, public support faded (credibility gap)

• Anti-war protests• Draft protests• Doves vs. Hawks

“Fortunate Son”

What was war like for soldiers?• “Goodnight Saigon”

Tet Offensive (in 1968)Surprise attack occurred during Tet (Vietnamese

New Year) by Vietcong and North Vietnamese• Military disaster for the Communists, political

victory against America• Approval rating for Johnson plummeted (Johnson

withdrew from re-election)

Also in 1968…

• MLK and RFK were assassinated• Clash between protesters and police at the

Democratic National Convention in Chicago• Richard Nixon becomes president (shift of

power from Democrats to Republican)

Nixon’s role in VietnamNixon begins Vietnamization –

gradual withdrawal of US troops from Vietnam

• Invades Cambodia to destroy Vietcong military bases

• Congress repealed Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

• Pentagon Papers were released – showed that different administrations had lied about progress in Vietnam

Nixon’s role in Vietnam

Nixon dropped insistence that North Vietnam withdraw before a peace treaty could be signed

• South Vietnam refused any peace treaty that left North Vietnam in the South

• Both sides eventually agreed to end the war• North Vietnamese launched a full-scale invasion– Nixon had already resigned due to Watergate– President Ford asked Congress to provide aid, they

refused

Legacy of Vietnam

• $170 billion and 58,000 deaths

• Soldiers who returned faced psychological problems – “Still in Saigon”

• War Powers Act – President must inform Congress of any commitment of troops within 48 hours and withdraw them in 60 – 90 days unless Congress approves the commitment

• Increased cynicism about government – “Born in the USA”

Tet Offensive Assignment

Describe the Tet Offensive and the impact it had on US public opinion. You may use any of the options below: Write a poem (at least 20 lines)Write a song (at least 3 verses + a chorus)Draw a picture (must accurately depict the event and outcome)Write a story (include characters, plot, climax, appropriate ending)