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The Vietnam War Years

The Vietnam War Years. The Cold War. Containment Domino Theory Brinkmanship Flexible response. French Indochina. French Colonies Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia Communist / Nationalist Movement Vietminh Leader Ho Chi Minh “He who Enlightens”. French

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The Vietnam War Years

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  1. The Vietnam War Years

  2. The Cold War • Containment • Domino Theory • Brinkmanship • Flexible response

  3. French Indochina • French Colonies • Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia • Communist / Nationalist Movement • Vietminh • Leader Ho Chi Minh “He who Enlightens”

  4. French Major cities north and south like Hanoi and Saigon Support from US (1 billion) Vietminh countryside Support from Soviet Union and China First Indochina War, 1946-54

  5. Dien Bien Phu

  6. Geneva Accords • 17th parallel • North Vietnam • Communist: Ho Chi Minh • Land reform • South Vietnam • Ngo Dinh Diem • Religious oppression • autocrat • supported by US • 1956 election to unify • blocked by Diem

  7. Vietcong • Ho Chi Minh Trail

  8. South Vietnamese Government • 1963 CIA led coup assassinates Diem • Lack of any land reforms • Religious intoleration • Buddhist clerics protest • Corruption

  9. US Steps In • Johnson • Tonkin Gulf Resolution • allowed president to “take all necessary measures…” • 1965: 50,000 combat troops in country • Granted Johnson broad military powers

  10. Hawks and Doves Hawks Doves peaceful, non military solution war unwinnable…think Korea economic expense undermines Great Society not the US’s business might start WWIII • escalating war to stop communism • against appeasement of N. Vietnam • American credibility at stake (hard line against communism)

  11. Vietnam War • US Gen. Westmoreland • Battle Plan • Body count • “Hearts and Minds” • Napalm • Agent Orange • Search-and-destroy missions • first helicopter war

  12. Napalm

  13. Agent Orange

  14. Search-and-destroy Missions

  15. Search-and-destroy Missions

  16. The Vietnam War Years

  17. The Vietnam War • Vietnamese (1945-1975) • Fought: French and Americans • National freedom or self-rule • US (1965-1973) • Fought: North Vietnamese and Vietcong • “What were we fighting for?”

  18. Limited War’s Ineffectiveness • difficult terrain • elusive enemy • South Vietnamese divided; Viet Cong have popular support esp. in countryside • Viet Cong- south Vietnamese communist rebels fighting against US • guerilla warfare- survive underground tunnel system • get supplies from Ho Chi Minh trail

  19. Selective Service System • The Draft • Ages 18 – 26 • 80% drafted troops come from lower economic levels • College becomes a way out • Blacks disproportionately dying in Nam • Second class citizens

  20. The Roots of Opposition • New Left • Students For a Democratic Society (SDS) • Individual freedom • Participatory democracy • Free Speech Movement (FSM) • Question society • Fundamental changes

  21. Protest Movement • Mostly in colleges b/c of draft • Protested Vietnam War b/c: • Civil war • Oppressive regime in S. Vietnam • US not policeman • Morally unjust

  22. Counterculture Or Hippies

  23. 1968: A Tumultuous Year • In Vietnam • Tet Offensive: New Year’s Eve • Surprise attack-12 air bases, embassy Saigon • Major defeat to the Vietcong or was it? • Public Opinion in the US shifts • Walter Cronkite • Close to victory-not! • LBJs approval rating  • Anti war division in Democratic party

  24. Tet Offensive

  25. In America 1968 Election • Democrats • President Johnson: decides not to run • Eugene McCarthy: End War • Robert Kennedy: Assassinated • MLK 2 months prior • National malaise • Hubert Humphrey: Loyal party man • Chicago Democratic conventions • Republicans • Richard Nixon: Peace with honor

  26. Nixon Triumphs • SDS and Yippies protest in Chicago • Want McCarthy • Anti war plank • Wallace takes southern Democrats and some n. urban votes sick of inner city riots • Nixon wins easily

  27. The End of the War & Its Legacy • Vietnamization-gradual withdrawal • ARVN take over combat role • govt command loyalty from people • Peace w/ honor • Maintain US dignity • Bombs North and Cambodia & Laos

  28. Homefront • My Lai massacre • Killed 200 innocent villagers • Protests over invasion of Cambodia • Kent State • National Guard shoots 13, kills 4 • Jackson St. 2 dead • Pentagon Papers • Plans for war even when LBJ said no war • No end to war if N Vietnamese persisted

  29. Woodstock

  30. My Lai Massacre

  31. Kent State University

  32. Pentagon Paper

  33. The End • March 29, 1973: Last American Troops leave Vietnam • April 30, 1975: Fall of Saigon and South Vietnam

  34. What Happens In SE Asia • 1.5 million flee Vietnam • Communist reeducation camps • Cambodia • Brutal civil war • Pol Pot & the Khmer Rouge • Peasant society • 1 million dead

  35. Body Count

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