The Vietnam War Years

1. The Vietnam War Years Who should be exempt from the draft?

2. Moving Toward Conflict Main Idea To stop the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, the U.S. used its military to support South Vietnam Why it Matters Today The United States’ support role in Vietnam began what would become America’s longest and most controversial war in its history

3. America Supports France in Vietnam • America’s involvement in Vietnam began in 1950, during the French Indochina War, the name given to France’s attempt to reestablish its rule in Vietnam after WW II.

4. Southeast Asia and the Vietnam War

5. The U.S. Steps In • In the wake of France’s retreat, the U.S. took a more active role in halting the spread of communism in Vietnam. • Diem Cancels Elections • Ho Chi Minh was considered a hero in the North • Ngo Dinh Diem- South Vietnam President • 1956-Refuses to take part in countrywide elections • U.S. sends aid • Diem angers Buddhist • Vietcong- communist opposition group in South Vietnam (National Liberation Front) • Ho Chi Minh Trail- supply route for transporting weapons and soldiers to South Vietnam.

6. U.S. Steps in-cont’ • Kennedy and Vietnam • Kennedy chooses to “sink or swim” with Diem • Increases aid to Diem and sends advisors to Vietnam to help train soldiers • 1963- 16,000 U.S. military personnel were in South Vietnam • Diem’s government becomes corrupt • Hamlet Program • Buddhist Conflict • Diem must be removed • Assassinated Nov. 1, 1963

7. President Johnson Expands the Conflict • Shortly before his death, Kennedy had announced his intent to withdraw U.S. forces from South Vietnam. • The South Grows More Unstable • The Tonkin Gulf Resolution • Aug. 2, 1964- North Vietnamese patrol boat fires at the U.S.S. Maddox. • Aug. 4- Maddox began firing again • Johnson launches an attack on North Vietnam. • Aug. 7- Congress approves the Tonkin Gulf Resolution • “Operation Rolling Thunder” • June 1965- 50,000 U.S. soldiers were in Vietnam

8. U.S. Involvement & Escalation Main Idea The U.S. sent troops to fight in Vietnam, but the war quickly turned into a stalemate Why it Matters Today Since Vietnam, Americans are more aware of the positive and negative effects of using the U.S. troops in foreign conflicts.

9. Johnson Increases U.S. Involvement • In the years following 1965, President Johnson began sending large numbers of Americans troops to fight alongside the South Vietnamese.

11. Fighting in the Jungle • The jungle terrain and the enemy’s guerilla tactics soon turned the war into a frustrating stalemate.

12. Sinking Morale & Fulfilling a Duty • The frustrations of guerilla warfare, the brutal jungle conditions, and the failure to make substantial headway against the enemy took their toll on the U.S. troops’ morale. • Many soldiers turned to alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs. • Continued corruption in the South Vietnamese government. • Fulfilling a Duty • Soldiers believed in their cause to stop communism • Many soldiers endured years of torture as prisoners of war.

13. The Early War at Home • The Johnson administration thought the war would end quickly. As it dragged on, support began to waver. • The Great Society Suffers • Troop numbers increased, the war grew costly, and the nation’s economy began to suffer. • Johnson asked Congress for a tax increase to help fund the war. • The Living-Room War • The T.V. brought the Vietnam war in America’s living room. • Combat footage was shown nightly on the news. • Quoting body count statistics that showed large number of communists dying in battle, was a tactic to bring the Vietcong to surrender. • 1961-1967- 16,000 casualties • Credibility Gap • Fullbright Hearings • Senator J. William Fullbright • He asked members of the Johnson administration to defend their Vietnam policies. • Contributed to the growing doubts about the war.

14. A Nation Divided Main Idea An antiwar movement in the U.S. pitted supporters of the government’s war policy against those who opposed it. Why it Matters Today The painful process of healing a divided nation continues today.

15. The Working Class Goes to War • The idea of fighting a war in a faraway place for what they believed was a questionable cause prompted a number of young Americans to resist going to Vietnam.

16. The Roots of Opposition • Even before 1965, students were becoming more active socially and politically.

17. The Protest Movement Emerges • Throughout the spring of 1965, groups at a number of colleges began to host “teach-ins” to protest the war.

18. 1968: A Tumultuous Year Main Idea An enemy attack in Vietnam, two assassinations, and a chaotic political convention made 1968 and explosive year. Why it Matters Today Disturbing events in 1968 accentuated the nation’s divisions, which are still healing in the 21st century.

19. The Tet Offensive Turns the War • The year 1968 began with a daring surprise attack by the Vietcong on numerous cities in South Vietnam. • A Surprise Attack • Jan. 30- Vietnamese Lunar New Year(Tet) • Weeklong truce • Tet Offensive • 100 towns in S. Vietnam, U.S. Embassy in Saigon, 12 air bases • 32,000 Vietcong casaulties • Public opinion fell • Tet Changes Public Opinion • 28%-doves, 56%-hawks • After Tet- 40% for both sides • Clark Clifford-New Defense Sec. • “No end in sight” • Johnson loses popularity

20. Days of Loss and Range • The growing division over Vietnam led to a shocking political development in the spring of 1968, a season in which Americans also endured two assassinations, a series of urban riots, and a surge in college campus protests.

22. A Turbulent Race for President • The chaos and violence of 1968 climaxed in August, when thousands of anitwar demonstrators converged on the city of Chicago to protest at the Democratic National Convention • Turmoil In Chicago • 1968 DNC- Eugene McCarthy vs. Hubert Humphrey • 10,000 antiwar protestors • Humphrey wins the nomination • Yippies (Youth International Party) • Richard Daley- Mayor of Chicago • Nixon Triumphs • Nixon wins in ’68 • George Wallace

23. The End of the War and Its Legacy Main Idea President Nixon Instituted his Vietnamization policy, and America’s longest war finally came to an end. Why it Matter Today Since Vietnam, the U.S. considers more carefully the risks to its own interestsbefore intervening in foreign affairs

24. President Nixon and Vietnamization • In the summer of 1969, newly elected president Richard Nixon announced the first U.S. troop withdrawals from Vietnam. • The Pullout Begins • U.S. & South Vietnam insist on North Vietnamese forces withdraw from the South • Henry Kissinger- National Security Advisor • Vietnamization- gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops • “Peace with Honor” • Maintain U.S. dignity in the face of its withdrawal from war. • Nixon secretly ordered a massive bombing campaign against supply routes and bases in North Vietnam. • Also ordered bombs be dropped in Laos & Cambodia.

25. Trouble Continues on the Home Front • Seeking to win support for his war policies, Richard Nixon appealed to what he called the silent majority-moderated, mainstream Americans who quietly supported the war.

26. America’s Longest War Ends • In March of 1972, the North Vietnamese launched their largest attack on South Vietnam since the Tet Offensive in 1968. • Nixon ordered a massive bombing campaign on North Vietnam.

27. The War Leaves a Painful Legacy • The Vietnam War exacted a terrible price from its participants • 58,000 Americans killed, 303,000 wounded • North and South Vietnamese-2 million