The U.S. Involvement in Vietnam: Origins, Escalation, and Consequences

1. Vietnam __________________ By: Brandon Frantz Conflict ___________________ The__________

2. Where?

3. ORIGINS • In May 1950, President Truman allows financial and military support to the French who were fighting for control over their Indochina colony, which included Vietnam • The French suffer major losses, allow for the establishment of North and South Vietnam at the 17th parallel under the Geneva Accords • The U.S. government under Eisenhower rejects this arrangement and takes control from the French, works to unite Vietnam under democratic government • In 1961, Kennedy sends 400 Green Berets to assist the training of South Vietnamese • By the time of Kennedy’s assassination in 1963, there are over 16,000 military advisers in South Vietnam, over 100 Americans have been killed

4. Reasons for U.S. Involvement • President Truman’s policy of containment: prevention of the spread of communism • President Eisenhower’s Domino Theory: as one country falls to Communism, it will spread to neighboring nations

5. The Leaders • North Vietnam becomes Communist under Ho Chi Minh • Supported by China and Russia, other communist nations • U.S. places Ngo Dihn Diem into power in South Vietnam • Corrupt government and little public support

6. The Vietcong • Guerilla fighters against Diem in South Vietnam • Used hit and run tactics, set booby-traps, created complex tunnel systems • Supported by Ho Chi Minh • Lived within the farming villages of South Vietnam • Ho Chi Minh Trail • A network of paths used by North Vietnam to get supplies to the VC

8. Overthrow of Diem • Diem was very unpopular, mainly because of his intolerance of Buddhism • Buddhism was one of the nation’s leading religious practice • In 1963 a South Vietnamese military revolt supported by the U.S. led to Diem’s execution • America now played a major role in South Vietnamese politics Some Buddhist monks resorted to setting themselves on fire in protest of Diem’s policies

9. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution • August 2, 1964: President Johnson announces a North Vietnamese attack on U.S. battleships • Does not reveal that the U.S. ships were assisting the South Vietnamese in a raid against the North • Johnson immediately orders U.S. airstrikes • August 7, 1964: Congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution • Gives the president the power to “take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression” • “Blank check” LBJ

10. Escalation • Operation Rolling Thunder: Johnson’s continuous bombing of North Vietnam • Johnson orders the first combat troops into Vietnam • More that 180,000 troops in Vietnam by the end of 1965 • Number doubles by 1966 • American confidence is high

11. The Battlefield • American soldiers had to adjust to the harsh jungles of Vietnam, areas well known by the VC • The Vietcong used ambushes and hid among the general population of farmers • American soldiers used Search and Destroy missions to seek out the enemies and their supplies • The war became measured by body count • Napalm, which causes widespread fires, and Agent Orange, a chemical that destroys vegetation, were used to clear the thick Vietnam jungles • Agent Orange led to many health hazards for both the Vietnamese and Americans, and also caused debilitating birth defects

12. The Soldiers • The average age of an American soldier was 19 • Most soldiers were drafted • Usually served a Tour of Duty, 1 year of combat • Many veterans return home with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder • Experienced prejudice after returning home • Many seen as “baby killers” following the civilian casualties in Vietnam

13. Anti-War Movement • Hawks (pro-war) vs. Doves (anti-war) • “Living Room War” – Americans were able to watch recent events in the war effort on TV, first time in history • Counterculture Revolution: rebelling against the “cookie-cutter” society • Anger over the draft • Kent State University – May 4, 1970 • National Guard troops open fire on college students protesting Vietnam • 4 students killed

14. My Lai • American platoon under command of Lieutenant William Calley massacred 200+ innocent villagers (old men, women, and children) in 1968 • Not revealed to public until a year later • Convinces many Americans of the futility of the war • “Hey, hey, LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?”

15. 1968-1969 • Tet Offensive, North Vietnamese Army and VC attack major cities and air bases in the South • Surprises American public who believed the war would soon be over • Seen as the turning point of the war for the North • Johnson does not seek reelection, Nixon becomes president Vietcong soldier executed following the Tet Offensive

16. History Channel: Vietnam in HD Tet Offensive: January 31, 1968

17. Nixon’s Policy • Appoints Henry Kissinger, begins peace talks with the North’s Le DucTho, discuss cease-fire and return of POWS • Continue for 4 more years • Nixon begins Vietnamization: gradual withdrawal of troops as South Vietnam took on more of the fighting • Nixon invades Cambodia in 1970, wants to destroy VC supplies • Public outrage, seen as widening the war • Kent State massacre follows Kissinger and Le DucTho

18. The Beginning of the End • Polls in 1971 show that 2/3 of Americans wanted an end to the Vietnam conflict • South Vietnam’s current President, Nguyen Van Thieu, refused to allow a settlement leaving North Vietnamese troops in the South • In an effort to speed up peace negotiations, Nixon ordered the heaviest bombings of the North in the war’s history during December 1972 • Called the “Christmas Bombings” Nguyen Van Thieu

19. “Peace” • On January 27, 1973, North and South Vietnam signed and agreement “ending the war and restoring the peace to Vietnam” • North Vietnamese troops were allowed to stay in the south • America had promised to withdraw its troops and exchange POWs • After 8 years, the former longest wartime in its history, America had ended its direct involvement in the Vietnam Conflict

20. Fall of South Vietnam • In March 1975 North Vietnam launched a full-scale invasion of South Vietnam • Nguyen Van Thieu expected the U.S. to respond with force, as assured in the peace negotiations • By this time Nixon had resigned following the Watergate scandal, replaced by President Ford • Ford asked Congress for funds to aid South Vietnam but was denied • On April 30th North Vietnam captured Saigon, uniting Vietnam under Communism • Renamed the former South capital Ho Chi Minh City Evacuation of CIA personnel in Saigon

21. Aftermath • The war cost the U.S. $170 Billion directly • Indirect economic expenses also had a major effect • Approximately 58,000 American soldiers were killed in action • More than 300,000 injured • An estimated 1 million North and South Vietnamese were killed in the war • Countless civilian casualties

22. The End

23. Sources • http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war • http://history1900s.about.com/od/vietnamwar/a/ vietnamwar.htm • http://www.pbs.org/battlefieldvietnam/timeline/index.html • http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/vietnam/causes.htm • http://www.slideshare.net/jacobemiller/chap25-7391494