Berlin Wall Physical division between East & West Germany

1. Berlin Wall • Physical division between East & West Germany • Symbolic boundary between Communism & Democracy • August 13, 1961 – November 9, 1989

2. A little geography…

3. Vietnam War (1954-1975) • 1954 France ended 100 years of colonial rule • Vietnam temporarily divided at 17th parallel until 1956 elections • North Vietnam controlled by communist Ho Chi Minh • South Vietnam controlled by non-communist US supported Diem • Diem worried N Vietnam was going to attack • Diem used harsh tactics to find suspected communists • National Liberation Front (Vietcong) - South Vietnamese anti-Diem communist guerrillas fought Diem & wanted to reunite Vietnam • 1963 Diem assassinated… 20 days later, JFK assassinated • South Vietnam had a series of unstable governments

4. Vietnam War (1954-1975) • Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (August 1964) • LBJ reported N Vietnamese boats fired on 2 US destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin • LBJ asked Congress permission to bomb N Vietnam • “take all necessary steps, including the use of armed force” • In effect, Congress gave war powers to the President • But, LBJ had kept important info from Congress • US ships were spying on N Vietnam • Unclear if ships had actually been attacked • Draft resolution had been prepared in ADVANCE of the “attack” just in case

5. Vietnam War (1954-1975) • Truman initiated US involvement in Vietnam, Eisenhower continued it; JFK increased it; Johnson escalated it… • 1963 – 16,000 US “advisors” in South Vietnam • 1965 – 200,000 American troops in South Vietnam • 1968 – 500,000+ American troops in South Vietnam

6. Vietnam War (1954-1975) • Vietnam was very different than Korea - • Korean War • US a military agent of the United Nations • Widespread support from non-communist countries • Vietnam War • US only military supporting South Vietnam • Widespread hostility towards US policy in S Vietnam • Vietcong used hit-and-run tactics (“Elusive Enemy”) • Search & Destroy: U.S. military tactic used in Vietnam to locate and eliminate the enemy • In our living rooms - unprecedented press access

7. Vietnam War (1954-1975) • Tet Offensive - surprise military campaign during Vietnamese lunar New Year executed by the Viet Cong • Supposedly exhausted communist guerillas launched major offensive attacks • US Embassy (center of American activities) • US bases across South Vietnam • S Vietnamese cities • Tet is a celebration of Vietnamese lunar New Year • Tet Offensive was a military failure, but a psychological victory for the Vietcong • LBJ decided not to run for re-election

8. Vietnam War (1954-1975) • My Lai Massacre (spring 1968) • Angry and frustrated men of Charlie Company entered a village and their superior officer said “This is what you’ve been waiting for – search and destroy – and you’ve got it.” • 700 inhabitants – children, women, elderly • Soldiers killed 504 Vietnamese civilians including: • 50 under the age of 3 • 69 between 4-7 years old • 27 over the age of 70

9. Vietnam War (1954-1975) • My Lai: while approved to search and destroy, angry and frustrated soldiers murdered innocent people causing embarrassment to the military • The superior officer rounded up a group of villagers, ordered them into a ditch and gunned them down in machine gun fire. • One soldier later testified “I cut their throats, cut off their hands, cut out their tongues, scalped them. I did it. A lot of people were doing it and I just followed. I lost all sense of direction."

10. Vietnam War (1954-1975) • Changes on the home front… • Strategy of Vietnamization • Get US out and put more responsibility on South Vietnamese • War started to move to Cambodia and Laos • Increasing opposition and protest in US • Anti-draft • Kent State Protests (Ohio) – National Guard sent in, killed 4 students and wounded 9 more • Jackson State University (Mississippi) – State Police fired randomly into a student dormitory, killed 2 students and wounded 12 more

11. War divides the nation Doves: strongly opposed, wanted to withdraw (students, wealthy, educated) Hawks: more military resources to win the war (middle class, less educated & wealthy)

12. Vietnam War (1954-1975) • Withdraw from the war “with honor” • June 23, 1973 US, South Vietnam, North Vietnam and Vietcong sign a cease-fire ending US military presence • War continued between North and South Vietnam • April 30, 1975 North and South Vietnam formally united as Socialist Republic of Vietnam • Vietnam remains united as a Communist country today

13. The Cold War Defrosts • Nixon • Policy of détente – relaxation of tensions between US and communist bloc • Increased trade with both USSR and China • Jimmy Carter • In response to the USSR’s invasion of Afghanistan, Carter boycotted 1980 Summer Olympic Games in Moscow • The USSR boycotted the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in LA

14. The Cold War Defrosts • Ronald Reagan • Called USSR “evil empire” and built up military • USSR’s economy started to fail, their new leader initiated glasnost • Glasnost: This policy of “openness” introduced by Soviet leader Gorbachev led to the fall of the communist block in Europe • Reagan shifted to diplomacy and pursued arms agreements • 1987 speaking at the Berlin Wall, Reagan said: “If you seek peace, if you seek prosperity… Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” • November 1989 Berlin Wall torn down • December 1989 Cold War officially declared over • 1990-1991 Soviet Union collapsed