The Vietnam War Era

Chapter 291954 to 1975

Page 978

Section 1Origins of the Vietnam War

• A. America and the War in Indochina – 1800’s, France ruled Indochina– Size of Texas- 27 million people live there– French Ruled with Iron Fist

• Ho Chi Minh- Vietnam leader- fought back– Fled the country, traveled world, always thinking

of Vietnam – Eventually decided communism was best for

country

B. French Falter

• During WWII, Japanese invade and destabilize French authority and increase Vietnamese nationalism

• Expected to be free, especially after helping the allies

• President Truman- what is worse? Communism or Imperialism

• Choses to support the French

• By 1954, we had given 2.6 billion to French to fight communist in Vietnam

• Vietminh- communist fighting the French• Domino Theory- if Vietnam falls, all of

Southeast Asia will fall• 1954- French lose battle of Dien Bien Phu-

ended 8 year struggle• French would ask for military help from U.S.• Eisenhower refused• French give up

• Geneva Accords– French leave area– Vietnam split at 17th parallel– Elections will be held in 1956 to reunify country– North- Ho Chi Minh- communist– South- Ngo Dinh Diem- dictator supported by U.S.

C. America Opposes Communism

• U.S. formed SEATO• Gave aid to Ngo Dinh Diem • Canceled elections of 1956• Vietcong- south Vietnamese fighters opposing

Diem’s gov’t • Diem- anti-Buddhist in mostly Buddhist

country• Kennedy chose to send 15,000 “advisors”• 1963- Diem removed from power in coup

D. Johnson escalates the war

• North Vietnam fires torpedoes at USS Maddox• Not hit, but used to pass Gulf of Tonkin

Resolution• Allowed Johnson to send troops without

declaration of war • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

2cYZLqnu3rs

Section 2U.S. Involvement Grows

• A: Johnson began “Americanizing the War– To respond to U.S. deaths Pleiku, Johnson ordered

bombing– Operation Rolling Thunder- bomb North back to

stone age– Failed to have desired effect

B. American Strategy

• Strategy developed by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and General Westmoreland

• Increase troops• Agent Orange• Napalm• U.S. marines arrive at Dan Nang • Conducted search and destroy missions• Quick strike with helicopters

C. Elusive Enemy

• Ho Chi Minh- must be like tiger attacking elephant

• Cling to the enemy• Fight only when victory is assured• Hit and run tactics-booby traps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

HKYIXhl9rk8

• Miles of tunnels- Tunnel rats https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

RhCqTqgOviA

• As U.S. troops involved rise, so does the death toll- 30,000 by 1968

D. Frustration

• War costing millions• No results- not about taking territory• Did not win minds and hearts of people• Most resented U.S.• U.S. held little control outside of cities • Quagmire??

• Vietcong kept up pressure• Didn’t know friend from Foe • Enemy very good at attacking and

disappearing• U.S. had to fight on Vietcong terms• As war went on, less volunteers and more

draftees

F. War weakens morale

• People began questioning motives• To stop communism or was it a civil war that

we didn’t understand• Issue divides the nation• Hawks• Doves • Antiwar movement begins

Section 3War Divides America

• A. Antiwar Protests Increase– As war drags on, many Americans openly opposed the

war• Senator Fulbright led opposition in Senate• By 1966, most soldiers were draftees• Selective Service Act- 1.5 million drafted• Many times, unfair– Deferments– Local draft boards bias– Mostly working class and poor background

• Many groups wanted to stop draft• Burn draft cards• African Americans served more in combat

positions and suffered 20% of deaths in Vietnam

• Many dissenters were college age- 8 million students

• SDS-

• Vietnam- first war with extensive media coverage

• Saw images on news every night• Politicians and generals- light at the end of the

tunnel• Credibility Gap- begin seeing difference in

good reports and media coverage

B: Tet Offensive

• General Westmoreland returned home• January 30, 1968 Vietnamese New years• Cease fire called• However, NVA and Vietcong launch larges offensive

of war• Attack over 100 cities and bases in South• Held U.S. embassy and 5 other cities • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsDLAlb_sag&list=PLsQ04TqFvS7_lFcZcMbfc-0D8ieCFq0RT 1:18

• Terrible defeat for North, but horrible morale killer for U.S public.

• Turned middle America against the war

• New Secretary of Defense Clifford- investigates- we probably can’t win this war

• LBJ- decides not to run for a second term• Tired of it all

C. Election of 1968

• Robert Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy both run on Peace platform

• However, RFK was gunned down at California democratic convention by Sirhan Sirhan

• MLK was also gunned down in Memphis the same year

• Left Democratic party reeling

• 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago– Democrats chose Hubert Humphrey over peace

Candidate McCarthy• Violence breaks out between protestors and

cops outside• Looks terrible on TV• Richard Nixon, Republican candidate, appeals

to “silent majority” and “non shouters”• Governor Wallace also runs as a Democrat in

South, says neither party represents the South

• Nixon wins the election with 43.6 % of the vote

• Humphrey 42.6%• Wallace13.6%

• Ended democratic stronghold in the South- Solid South

Section 4The War’s End and Impact

• A. Nixon Starts to withdraw– Nixon pledged peace with honor– Wanted South to be free, POWs returned, and

rebels to leave the south– Peace talks made no progress as North refused to

budge

B. Nixon expands war

• Nixon did begin bringing troops home • Vietnamization- • However, to force North to peace, began

secret bombing of Cambodia and even invaded Cambodia to attack NVA camps

• However, little results and made it seem like war was growing

C: Kent State

• Protest Break out at Kent State to protest Cambodia invasion

• Protestors throw rocks and bottles• National guard opens fire • 4 were killed

• Jackson State- two students also killed by police

• Other demonstrations supported Prez• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYykmrd_l9I&list=PLAlDUK5PYW2DerkKY1pgdkmQPtzwRV9ii&spfreload=1

7:30

D. My Lai Massacre

• 1971, evidence of a massacre and cover up emerges

• 1968- soldiers, out of frustration and vengeance, murder over 400 Vietnamese in village

• Lt. William Calley, in charge, only one convicted• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWchy6yk

NnQ

E. Pentagon Papers

• 1971- Pentagon papers published in New York Times

• Secret documents describing real situation in Vietnam, how it really was going, and when military lied to Congress

• Nixon tried to block publication, failed.

F. War Finally Ends

• By 1971, 2/3 of Americans want us out, even if it means communist take over

• October 1973- peace settlement reached- Paris Peace Accords

• American troops pull out• Peace is short lived

G. Saigon falls

• Spring of 1975, North invades the South and marches on Saigon

• U.S. does not send aid• By end of April, Saigon falls

• “My God we are all tired of it”• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdR2Iktffa

w

H. Lasting Impact

• 58,000 Americans killed• Over 2 million Vietnamese• 300,000 Americans wounded

• Cambodia and Laos do fall to Communism• However, cooperation between these

countries and other communist countries was minimal

• Trust in U.S. gov’t suffered because of Vietnam

• Finally, Congress passed War Powers Act- required prez to consult Congress within 48 hours of committing troops

Section 5Nixon and the Cold War

• A. Nixon redefines American Foreign policy– Nixon would drastically change how we dealt with

communist countries– Although they had many differences, Henry

Kissinger, Nixon’s leading advisor, made many foreign policy changes

– Came up with realpolitik- “real politics” work towards concrete national interest, not ideologies

B. China

• U.S. had not recognized most populous country in world as a nation

• Instead, they recognized exiled Taiwan gov’t as China

• Nixon wanted to recognize China– Vast trading partner– Drive wedge between China and Soviet Union

• Ping Pong team visits in 1971• July 1971, Nixon visits China– Great wall, Imperial Palace– Meets with Zhou Enlai and Mao Zedong

• Officially open relations after 25 years of silence

C. Détente with Soviet Union

• Leonid Brezhnev, leader of Soviet Union, invites Nixon to visit

• May 1972, Nixon visits Soviet Union• Signs Salt I agreement- • Détente becomes U.S. policy with Soviet

Union- relaxation of tensions