The Vietnam war years

1. The Vietnam war years Chapter 22 Notes

2. Moving Towards Conflict From late 1800’s-WWII, France ruled most of Indochina

3. Moving Towards Conflict • Indochinese Communist Party established 1930 • Began a number of revolts under Ho Chi Minh • Sentenced to death, but fled to Soviet Union & planned independence movement • Vietminh—organized to gain independence • 1940—Japanese took control of Vietnam • 1945—Allies victory forced Japan out of Vietnam • Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam independent but French still wanted control • U.S. got involved—Truman sent nearly $15 million in economic aid to France

4. Moving Towards Conflict • 1953—Eisenhower continues support of France • Why? Domino Theory… • French forced to surrender May 1954 • Geneva Accords—July 1954 • France, Great Britain, Soviet Union, U.S., China, Laos, Cambodia, Vietminh, & South Vietnam met about peace agreement • Temporarily divided Vietnam at 17th parallel • North—Ho Chi Minh • South—Ngo Dinh Diem

5. Moving Towards Conflict • Ho Chi Minh won popularity in the North by breaking up large estates and redistributing land to peasants • National hero for fighting Japanese & French • Vietcong—communist opposition in the South • Began attacks on Diem government • Ho Chi Minh supplied arms to the group along the border of Vietnam, Laos, & Cambodia—Ho Chi Minh Trail (pg 733)

6. Moving Towards Conflict Diem government proved to be corrupt & oppressive (Buddhism) Kennedy (1961) continued to aid Diem & the South November 1, 1963—U.S. supported coup overthrew Diem Succeeding rulers failed & South Vietnam prove unstable Vietcong influence spread

7. Moving Towards Conflict August 2, 1964—North Vietnamese patrol boat fired a torpedo at an American destroyer while patrolling the Gulf of Tonkin The attack on the ship led LBJ to launch bombing strikes on North Vietnam Gulf of Tonkin Resolution—Gave LBJ power to wage war on North Vietnam Operation Rolling Thunder—1st bombing of North Vietnam March 1965—1st American combat troops arrive in South Vietnam

8. Summarize Why did the U.S. support France’s efforts in Vietnam? Why was the Diem regime unpopular? How did the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution lead to greater U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War?

9. U.S. Involvement & Escalation • 1965, LBJ began sending tens of thousands of U.S. Soldiers to fight in Vietnam • Congress & the American public strongly supported the decision • 1965 poll showed 61% supported U.S. involvement • By the end of 1965, U.S. sent more than 180,000 troops • Some believed that aggressive deployment was the only way to win • By 1967, 500,000 U.S. troops in Vietnam

10. U.S. Involvement & Escalation • U.S. leaders felt that superior weaponry would lead to victory in Vietnam but the jungle terrain & enemy guerilla tactics evened the playing field • Hit & Run, Ambush, • lived among general population, • booby traps & land mines, tunnel system (pg 738) • U.S. tried to lay traps, Vietcong disassembled & reused • U.S. goal=keep VC from winning the support of Vietnam’s rural population (so they would have nowhere to hide)

11. Vietcong Tunnel System

12. U.S. Involvement & Escalation • Napalm—gasoline based bomb used to set fire to the jungle • Agent Orange—leaf killing, toxic chemical • Killed civilians & ruined surroundings • Search & Destroy—uprooting civilians with suspected ties to VC, killing livestock & burning villages • “We had to destroy the town in order to save it.”

13. U.S. Involvement & Escalation • Failure to make any ground defeated morale • War was hurting the economy back home • LBJ proposed tax increase to help fund war & keep inflation in check • Cost him $6 billion reduction in Great Society programs • First living room war • Combat footage appeared on nightly news • Westmoreland claimed victory was near, but Americans saw the truth • Credibility gap was widened

14. Summarize Why did U.S. forces have difficulty fighting the Vietcong? In what way did the U.S. underestimate the Vietcong? What factors led to the low morale of U.S. troops? What led to growing concern in America about the war?

15. A Nation Divided • Most soldiers fighting in Vietnam were called into combat by the draft • All males had to register when they turned 18 • Many tried to dodge the draft • Sympathetic doctors gave medical exemptions • Changed residence to stand before more lenient draft board • Some joined National Guard or Coast Guard to secure deferment • Most common was attending college

16. A Nation Divided • American youth became more political & vocal throughout the 1960’s—New Left • Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)—charged that corporations and large government institutions had taken over the U.S. • Called for restoration of democracy & greater individual freedom • Free Speech Movement (FSM)—Began at Cal Berkley • Grew out of clash between faculty & students • Criticized powerful business & government

17. A Nation Divided • 1966—LBJ changed college deferment stating that you must be in good academic standing • Reasons for protest? • Vietnam was a civil war & America should stay out • Oppressive South no better than Communists • U.S. could not police entire globe • Morally unjust

18. A Nation Divided • Spring 1967—Protestors gathered in Central Park to burn draft cards • People wanted to protest, but still be loyal • Draft resistance continued until Nixon phased out the draft in the 1970’s • More than 200,000 men accused of draft offenses & nearly 4,000 imprisoned. • About 10,000 fled to Canada

19. A Nation Divided • October 1967—Demonstration at the Lincoln Memorial • Drew over 75,000 protestors • 30,000 locked arms and marched to the Pentagon • “to disrupt the center of the American war machine” • Doves V. Hawks • Country still divided • Many saw protests as acts of disloyalty

20. Summarize What concerns about American democratic society did the New Left voice? What reasons did protestors oppose the war? What were the key issues that divided America?