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Vietnam War

Vietnam War. 1880s – WWII France ruled Indochina. 1940 Japanese took control of Vietnam. 1941 Ho Chi Minh formed the Vietminh , and organization for Vietnamese Independence. Dec. 1945 France Returns!!. September 1945 Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam independent !!!.

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Vietnam War

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  1. Vietnam War

  2. 1880s – WWII France ruled Indochina 1940 Japanese took control of Vietnam 1941 Ho Chi Minh formed the Vietminh, and organization for Vietnamese Independence

  3. Dec. 1945 France Returns!! September 1945 Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam independent!!!

  4. “If ever the tiger pauses, the elephant will impale him on his mighty tusks. But the tiger will not pause, and the elephant will die of exhaustion and loss of blood.” Tiger = Vietnam Elephant = France

  5. US Involvement U.S. supports France President Trumanprovides $15 million in military & financial aid and by 1954 the U.S. is paying 80% of French war costs: No U.S. combat troops U.S. helps France because they need them to help oppose communism in Europe • “Containment” foreign policy applied • Fear of “Domino Theory” – countries of southeast Asia will fall like dominos to communism

  6. 1954 - French troops defeated at Dien Bien Phu, France must withdraw its troops

  7. Geneva Accords (1954) • Peace settlement • Temporary division of Vietnam at the 17th parallel • Ho Chi Minh governs the North from Hanoi • Anti-communist regime governs the South from Saigon • 1956 democratic elections “elect” Ngo Dinh Diem President Eisenhower provides US military aid and training

  8. Anti-communist Devout catholic, restricted Buddhist practices Corrupt & suppressed opposition Prevented 1956 democratic elections Supported by the U.S. Ngo Dinh Diem (South Vietnam)

  9. Communist Redistributed land to the peasants Brutal & repressive Supported by the Soviet Union & China Popular support in North Vietnam Ho Chi Minh (North Vietnam)

  10. 1957-58 civil war wages between communists & non-communists in South Vietnam (NLF) – National Liberation Front of Vietnam communist rebel group in S. Vietnam: “aka”…Vietcong Oppose Ngo Dinh Diem & U.S. support Supported by Ho Chi Minh and Ho Chi Minh Trail – supported Vietcong efforts, giving supplies via a network of paths along Vietnam

  11. President Kennedy sends additional weapons & military advisers - 1963: 16,000 U.S. troops in S. Vietnam By 1963 Ngo Dinh Diem’s popularity has plummeted • Corruption & religious persecution (attacks on Buddhists – who protest by burning themselves to death in public) • Lack of land reform http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfC5RheiV7U

  12. Elimination Plot • Need for a more popular leader to unite the South Vietnamese against communism • Kennedy agreed CIA providing South Vietnamese generals with $40,000 to carry out coup to eliminate Ngo Dinh Diem • US forces promise no interference • Diem assassinated – Nov 2, 1963 (weeks before JFK is killed)

  13. August 2, 1964 - Alleged attack on USS Maddox– allows President Johnson to ask Congress for powers to take • “all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.” • This became known as the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (Aug. 7, 1964) • Not a declaration of war – but increased military powers in Vietnam • June, 1965 – 50,000 American combat troops • December, 1965 – 180,000 troops • mid, 1967 – 500,000 troops in Vietnam http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXmxfCvO7lA&feature=related

  14. Jungle War • US believed their superior weaponry would bring victory • Harsh weather • Language barriers • Traps and land mines • Vietcong v. South Vietnamese in South Vietnam • Tunnel system and guerrilla warfare • US usage of napalm (gasoline based bomb that set fire to jungle) • US usage of Agent Orange – a leaf-killing toxic chemical that devastated the landscape – affecting many soldiers as well • Search-and-destroy missions – seek out enemy, kill livestock, destroy villages • Morale decreases – soldiers turn to drugs, killing superior officers (fragging) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMUBWKJ5A_0

  15. The Living Room War • 1967, majority of Americans supported the war • Footage of combat appeared on television – the pictures contradicted the optimism of the Johnson administration – Credibility Gap • Between 1965 - 1967 16,000 Americans died

  16. The Draft • Selective Service System –men between ages of 18 and 26 • A number of men sought deferments from the draft (medical excuses, changing residences, joining National or Coast Guard, college deferment – led to major controversy)

  17. Tet Offensive • daring surprise attack by the Vietcong • January 30 – Vietnamese equivalent of New Year’s Eve, known as Tet – celebrations all over the cities as well as funerals for those who had died in the fighting (firecrackers, flutes, coffins) • The coffins contained weapons, many of the villagers were Vietcong agents • Attack on 100 towns and villages in South Vietnam, 12 US air bases and the US embassy in Saigon • lasted almost a month before South Vietnamese forces regained control – 32,000 South Vietnamese + 3000 US dead

  18. Johnson does not seek re-election! • Popularity falls – 35% approval rating • March 1968 – televised address, LBJ said he would not seek re-election • Leaves Americans shocked • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9pnxh1GUBg

  19. Nixon takes over issues in Vietnam • Vietnamization – plan to gradually withdraw US troops and for the South Vietnamese to take a larger and more active role • Drops # of troops from 500,000 to 250,000 over next 3 years

  20. The Cost of Vietnam • By 1973 all American combat troops left Vietnam • April 30, 1975 – North Vietnamese captured Saigon and South Vietnam surrendered to North Vietnam • 58,000 Americans killed, 365,000 wounded • Financial cost - $100-$110 billion

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