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Vietnam -Overview

Vietnam -Overview. Longest war in U.S. history until U.S. war in Aftghanistan More than 58,000 killed 300,000 wounded 14,000 disabled 800,000 Vietnam veterans diagnosed as having “significant” to “severe” problems of readjustment. Overview. In Vietnam – over 2 million dead

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Vietnam -Overview

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  1. Vietnam -Overview • Longest war in U.S. history until U.S. war in Aftghanistan • More than 58,000 killed • 300,000 wounded • 14,000 disabled • 800,000 Vietnam veterans diagnosed as having “significant” to “severe” problems of readjustment.

  2. Overview • In Vietnam – over 2 million dead • In Vietnam – 4 million wounded and 10 million displaced from their homes.

  3. Public Opinion • Two out of three Americans judge the Vietnam war to have been a “mistake.” • Over 50% do not have a clear idea what the war was about. • About 1/3 can’t even remember which side we supported. • 50% of Americans did not know where Vietnam was located

  4. A Different War • First “living-room war” – people watched footage of combat on the nightly news – first was in which television played a major role.

  5. 76% of the men sent to Vietnam were from lower to middle class families. The average age of a soldier was 20. Most soldiers were drafted – few enlisted. Soldiers served a “tour of duty” – about 1 year.

  6. Soldiers did not return home at the same time – usually by themselves. 7 Presidents made decisions concerning Vietnam. Soldiers invented their own vocabulary for the war.

  7. Background of the War • Vietnam – was a French colony that was invaded by the Japanese during WWII. • Ho Chi Minh – leader of the Vietnamese – called the Vietminh. • Ho Chi Minh supported Communism

  8. Background 1945 – French return to control Vietnam Ho Chi Minh – controlled North Vietnam and was sent aid by China. France – was sent aid by the United States 1950 – Pres. Truman sent $15 million to France to help with war. United States is paying 75%-80% of France’s military cost. 1956 France leaves Vietnam defeated

  9. Reasons for U.S. Involvement • Pres. Truman’s policy of containment – American policy of resisting further expansion of communism around the world. • Pres. Eisenhower’s – domino theory – belief that if one country falls to communism, neighboring countries would fall.

  10. A Divided Vietnam • July 1954 – GenevaAccords – Vietnam is divided near the 17th parallel into two separate nations – North Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh – • South Vietnam – looking for leader

  11. The Two Leaders of Vietnam • Ho Chi Minh – leader of the North – but has supporters in South Vietnam look to him for leadership • Hero because he broke up large estates and redistributed land to the peasants. • He beat the French

  12. The Two Leaders • Ngo Dihn Diem – “placed” into office by the United States to rule S. Vietnam. • Corrupt govt. that suppressed opposition of any kind. • Offered little or no land distribution to peasants.

  13. Ngo Dinh Diem • He is a Catholic – most people want to follow Buddhism. • He restricts Buddhist practices across South Vietnam.

  14. Trouble • 1957- Vietcong, (VC)- guerrilla fighters who wanted Diem out of South Vietnam. • Kill 400 S. Vietnam officials • 13 Americans wounded in Saigon

  15. VC get help • 1959 Ho Chi Minh uses the Ho Chi Minh Trail – a network of paths used by N. Vietnam to transport supplies to the Vietcong (VC) in S. Vietnam

  16. JFK and Vietnam 1960 JFK elected President Gen. Taylor and Vice President Johnson go on “fact finding mission – recommend sending 8,000 combat troops JFK – sends“advisors” – help the South Vietnam govt.

  17. Trouble for Diem • 1963 Buddhist monks set themselves on fire in protest of Diem. • VC gains support in S. Vietnam

  18. Diem Out • U.S. support a military coup of Diem • Nov. 1, 1963 – Diem is executed • Gen. William Westmoreland –named commander of Vietnam

  19. LBJ and Vietnam • 1963: JFK assassinated • LBJ escalates U.S. involvement in the war. • Sec. of Defense – Robert McNamara recommends the U.S. send more troops

  20. Trouble in the Gulf • August 1964 –Gulf of Tonkin • The U.S.S. Maddox is supposedly attacked by N. Vietnamese torpedo boats • Gulf of Tonkin Resolution gives LBJ a “Blank check” to do whatever steps needed to repeal attacks

  21. Tonkin Resolution • 1965 – bombing of North Vietnam begins known as “Rolling Thunder” • Marines arrive in Danang • U.S. troop levels top 200,000 • Teach In protests begin on college campuses

  22. Escalation • Bombing is focused Main target – Ho Chi Minh Trail 1966 – Veterans stage Anti-War Rally

  23. How to avoid the Draft • Draft – required all men to register whenthey reached the age 18. • Conscientious objectors – men that claimed because of their religious beliefs that they could not fight in the war. • Deferments – delayed entrance or not have to go at all. Mainly included upper class – because they could afford college. • Dodge draft – go to Canada.

  24. Escalation • 1967 major ground war effort doubled 16,000 U.S. troops attack VC headquarter “Operation Cedar Falls • Troops uncover massive tunnel complex – used as a base for guerrilla raids . • Tunnel Rats – men responsible for going down tunnels to flush out the VC

  25. Battle for Heart and Minds • Clearing the jungle – reason to expose the Vietcong tunnel and hideouts • U.S. planes dropped napalm – a gasoline-based bomb that set fire to the jungle.

  26. Battle for Hearts and Minds • U.S. uses Agent Orange – leaf-killing toxic chemical which devastates the landscape. • U.S. dumped over 13 million gallons. • Name comes from the orange barrels that stored the chemical.

  27. What Heart? • U.S. did not win the “hearts and minds” of the Vietnamese people. • Why? • A. We burned their villages • B. Killed livestock • C. Chemicals caused skin diseases, birth defects, and cancer

  28. Tet Offensive • Jan. 31 1968 70,000 Vietcong attack cities in South Vietnam. 19 VC attacked the U.S. Embassy in Saigon killed 5 Am. soldiers.

  29. Tet- turning point in war • Tet is a military victory for U.S. but psychological victory for VC. • American public thought U.S. was winning war – but watched as Americans were killed at the U.S. Embassy

  30. Tet Offensive – cont. • Fewer Americans trusted the govt. • Pres. Johnson said he would halt bombing of N. Vietnam –not the total truth • Pres. Johnson announces that he will not seek re-election. • February 1968: Gen. Westmoreland requests 206,000 more troops

  31. My Lai • March 16, 1968 • U.S. troops under the command of Lt. William Calley enter My Lai village • On a search and destroy mission – under psychological stress

  32. My Lai • 300 – civilians – mostly old men, women and children killed by Calley and men. Village is burned • Officer Hugh Thompson – pilot – will report “killings” to U.S. headquarters.

  33. My Lai • Pictures will be released 2 years later. • After My Lai – many Americans view all Vietnam veterans as “baby killers” • August 1968: • Anti-War protest in Chicago ends in violence

  34. 1969: Shift in War • Nixon begins secret bombings of Cambodia while telling public bombings would cease • Ho Chi Minh dies • News of My Lai reaches the U.S. • Massive war demonstration in D.C.

  35. Kent State • May 4, 1970 • Kent State University in Ohio • Students upset because Pres. Nixon ordered U.S. troop into Cambodia. • Student burn ROTC building.

  36. Kent State • Student start protest march – national guard throws tear gas at students. • Students throw rocks at National Guard. • Minutes later – 4 students were shot dead.

  37. Nixon • “Peace with Honor” – Pres. Nixon wanted to maintain U.S. dignity in the face of withdrawal from the war. • 1972 Nixon cuts troops levels by 70,000

  38. POWS • 1973: Cease fire signed in Paris • 1973: American troops leave Vietnam • End of the draft • First group of American POWs return home. Only accounted for 591 POWs – over 2,000 reported.

  39. POWS From 1964 to 1973, the North Vietnamese had captured Americans, mostly pilots and crews of downed aircraft, and delivered them to prisons.

  40. Start for Home • . • April 30th 1975 – Last Americans leave Saigon. • Saigon falls to North Vietnam. Saigon will be renamed Ho Chi Minh City.

  41. Policy Changed 1973 – War Powers Act – limits the President’s power to engage troops in undeclared wars. Must notify Congress within 48 hrs. Of sending troops abroad. Am. troops may not remain abroad longer than 60 days without congressional approval. 1971 - Constitutional Amendment 26 – Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18

  42. The War’s Painful Legacy1976-1980 • Carter issues pardon to draft evaders • Refugees flee Vietnam • D.O.D issues report on Agent Orange: troops exposed to herbicide and demand investigation • 1982 – Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

  43. The War’s Painful Legacy1981-1997 • 1982 Vietnam War Memorial dedicated • Regan promises to make MIAs “Highest Priority” • 20,000 veterans sue Dow Chemical and win • “Unknown Soldier” of Vietnam War laid to rest • Washington Restores diplomatic ties with Hanoi

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