The Vietnam War Years

Vietnam history• 1800’s – WWII France rules over Vietnam as part

of French Indochina. (Laos & Cambodia) • WWII Japan takes Indochina from French.• U.S. supports communist leader Ho Chi Minh

who is fighting the Japanese. • After WWII France tries to regain Indochina &

the U.S. supports them with $$$$$ only.

U.S interest expands in Vietnam • French begin losing the war in Vietnam.• U.S. embrace domino theory: If one country in

Asia falls to communism they all will. • U.S. sends advisors to Vietnam to help.• 1954 French lose the war • Geneva Accords: Vietnam is split in two along

the 17th parallel. Unifying elections to take place in 1956

• North communist- Ho Chi Minh leader• South anti-communist- Ngo Dinh Diem leader

Getting closer to war

• North Vietnam supported Ho Chi Minh• South Vietnam did not support Diem because he

was corrupt and mean.• Viet Cong were pro communist group who lived

in South Vietnam. • Communist north supplied the Viet Cong with

goods- using the Ho Chi Minh trail. • Nov. 1963 U.S. supports coup that kills Diem.

War Expands in Vietnam

Sending in troops

• LBJ wants to start bombing North but needs Congress’ ok.

• Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: Attack on U. S. ship in the Gulf of Tonkin gets Congress to support LBJ.

• Bombing & ground troops enter Vietnam. (1965)

• Escalation of forces continue throughout 1960’s

• By 1968 536,000 troops in Vietnam

• General William Westmoreland is leader of U.S. troops.

Jungle fighting

• Viet Cong used jungle as cover during war.

• U.S. uses chemicals to destroy jungle

- Agent Orange: kills plants & trees

- Napalm: jellied gasoline that burns violently.

• These chemicals later proved to give U.S soldiers skin diseases & cancer.

Search & destroy missions

• Tactic used to hunt Viet Cong throughout S. Vietnam.

• Soldiers burned & bombed villages where V.C. were found.

• Killed innocent civilians.

• V.C. gained villagers support because of U.S. abuse.

A frustrating war

• People thought war would be short b/c of U.S. superior weapons.

• North Vietnam proved to be determined soldiers who fought well.

• U.S. average soldier was 19 & inexperienced at war.

• Guerilla warfare was hard to defend. (no front line)

• Jungle was very hard on soldiers. (Similar to the war in the Pacific during WWII.)

The Counterculture were youths that rejected traditional American values:

1. Hippie movement (long hair, blue jeans, flower power)

2. Pop music played a powerful form of communication

3. Started protesting against the war

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Opposition to the Draft

• The draft was considered unfair because it was biased toward the poor and working class.

• People felt it targeted minorities• Draft boards could give people

deferments:1. Full time college students2. join the National Guard instead

Doves & Hawks

• Those who supported the war were Hawks

• Those who opposed it were Doves

Tet Offensive

• Organized surprise attack by N. Vietnam & Viet Cong in Jan. 1968.

• Attacked numerous cities throughout N & S Vietnam.

• Not very effective militarily.

• The communist lose 45, 000 soldiers & gain no cities.

Tet results

• Stunned U.S. military & citizens.• Proved LBJ & the military were not

trustworthy. (recently claimed war was almost over & the communist were weak)

• LBJ decides not to run for reelection• Richard Millhouse Nixon elected president• Anti war movement takes off in U.S.• Protest & violence ensues.

U.S. morale sinks

• Began to feel that the war was not winnable

• Soldiers begin to lose control because of lack of leadership.

• Questioned fighting a war that the people in S. Vietnam never wanted or asked for.

My Lai Massacre

• U.S. troops round up & shot between 200-500 unarmed civilians.

• Mostly women, children & the elderly.

• U.S. helicopter starts to rescue civilians & threatens to shoot U.S. troops if stopped.

• Government tries to cover up the incident.

The Vietnam War Ends

A growing anti war movement

• American people against the war

• Protest and anti war rallies

• College students organize.

• Government tries to stop the movement

• Kent states massacre: 4 students killed by National Guard in 1970.

Kent State

Vietnamization

• Nixon’s plan to exit the war

- gradual withdrawing of U.S. troops

- increase bombing along Ho Chi Minh

Trail to stop the movement of North

Vietnamese troops & supplies.

- start to hand over control of things to S. Vietnam government.

U.S. leaves Vietnam

• January 1973- U.S/North Vietnam/S. Vietnam sign a peace treaty.

• Last U.S. soldier leaves Vietnam in March.

• War continues for 2 more years until N. Vietnam invades & defeats S. Vietnam.

• U.S. does nothing to try to stop them.

The cost of war for those fighting

• 58,000 plus soldiers die.

• 300,000 wounded• Soldiers who did

come home were treated very poorly.

Long term results

• 26th Amendment : Lowered voting age to 18

• War Powers Act of 1973: Limited the presidents power to make war.

• People distrust government