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Vietnam War

Vietnam War. Chapter 30. Moving Toward Conflict. Section 30*1 pp. 936-941. US Supports France in Vietnam. Nationalist Movements Protest French colonial rule Protest Japanese rule during WWII Ho Chi Minh formed Vietminh Organization dedicated to Vietnamese independence

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Vietnam War

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  1. Vietnam War Chapter 30

  2. Moving Toward Conflict Section 30*1 pp. 936-941

  3. US Supports France in Vietnam • Nationalist Movements • Protest French colonial rule • Protest Japanese rule during WWII • Ho Chi Minh formed Vietminh • Organization dedicated to Vietnamese independence • Declared independence when Japan was defeated

  4. US Supports France in Vietnam • French Indochina War (1946-1954) • France retook control of South • Vietminh controlled North • US Supported France

  5. US Supports France in Vietnam • Domino Theory • Eisenhower’s justification to fight in Vietnam • If one nation falls to Communism, others will

  6. US Supports France in Vietnam • Vietminh take Dien Bien Phu in 1954 • Geneva Accords divide Vietnam • Communist North and Nationalist South • Two capitals, Hanoi and Saigon • Call for elections in 1956

  7. The US Steps In • Ngo Dinh Diem (South) • Refused to hold elections • Supported by US • Corrupt regime • Vietcong Form in Resistance to Diem • Communist opposition group • Supplied along Ho Chi Minh Trail • Make Southern Vietnam unstable Ngo Dinh Diem South Ho Chi Minh North

  8. The US Steps In • JFK and Vietnam • Supported Diem to fight Communism • Diem government unstable and corrupt • US removed Diem in 1963 • South grows unstable • Increased influence of Vietcong

  9. LBJ Expands the Conflict • Tonkin Gulf Resolution • Response to incident in Gulf of Tonkin • North Vietnamese ships fired on US ship • LBJ responded by bombing Vietnam

  10. LBJ Expands the Conflict • Resolution Provisions • Gave LBJ broad military powers • Launched Operation Rolling Thunder

  11. US Involvement and Escalation Section 30*2 pp. 942-947

  12. LBJ Increased US Involvement • LBJ sends troops to Vietnam in 1965 • Determined to defeat Communism • This is initially supported by U.S. Congress and public

  13. Fighting in the Jungle • An Elusive Enemy • Vietcong guerilla tactics • Elaborate tunnels • Booby-trapped terrain • Jungle conditions

  14. Fighting in the Jungle • War of Attrition • Goal: Wear out the enemy • Vietcong remained determined • Aided by USSR and China • Fighting to preserve way of life

  15. Fighting in the Jungle • Peasants Don’t Support U.S. • Napalm • Agent Orange • Search-and-destroy missions

  16. Fighting in the Jungle • Sinking Morale • Frustrated by • Guerilla warfare • Jungle conditions • Stalemate • Began to self-medicate

  17. The Early War at Home • The Great Society Suffers • War costs led to inflation and tax increase • $6b reduction in Great Society programs • Living-Room War • Daily reports of events and body count • LBJ’s credibility questioned

  18. A Nation Divided Section 30*3 pp. 948-953

  19. The Working Class War • The Draft • Most Vietnam soldiers were drafted • Many tried to manipulate the system • Medical Excuses • Joined Coast Guard or National Guard • College Deferment • 80% of soldiers from lower economic class

  20. The Working Class War • African Americans in Vietnam • Disproportionately used as ground troops • MLK: “Cruel Irony” • Racism presents challenge in platoons

  21. The Roots of Opposition • The New Left • Growing youth movement of 1960’s • Called for changes in American society • Students for a Democratic Society • Free Speech Movement

  22. Protest Movement Emerges • Doves Oppose the War • Change in college deferments causes SDS to call for civil disobedience • Criticisms of War • It was a civil war • It drained US strength • It was immoral • From Protest to Resistance • 200,000 draft violations during war • 4,000 imprisoned • 10,000 flee to Canada

  23. Protest Movement Emerges • War Divides the Nation • In 1967, a majority of Americans remained committed to the war • 70% thought protests were disloyal • LBJ Remains Determined • Continued policy of slow escalation

  24. The End of the War and Its Legacy Section 30*5 pp. 960-967

  25. The Tet Offensive • Vietcong attack on January 30, 1968 • Attack 100 towns and 12 air bases • 5 Americans killed during attack on US embassy in Saigon • US defeated Vietcong after a month

  26. The Tet Offensive • Vietcong attack on January 30, 1968 • Consequences • Shocked American public • Widened LBJ’s credibility gap • Change in Public Opinion • Media openly criticizes war • Sec. of Defense calls war “un-winnable” • LBJ’s approval falls to 40%

  27. Nixon and Vietnamization • “Peace With Honor” • Vietnamization: Gradual pullout of US troops • Nixon ordered massive bombing of Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam

  28. Trouble Continues on the Home Front • My Lai Massacre • U.S. troops killed 200 women, children, and elderly men in My Lai • Turned public opinion against US Army

  29. Trouble Continues on the Home Front • Invasion of Cambodia (1970) • Try to destroy Vietcong supply centers • Nationwide college protests • Violence on Campus • Kent State: National Guard kill 4 protestors

  30. Trouble Continues on the Home Front • Pentagon Papers • Revealed Truman, Eisenhower, JFK,LBJ, and the US Army had been leading covert operations in Vietnam that increased US involvement in Vietnam • Confirmed gov’t was dishonest about war • Led Congress to repeal the Tonkin Gulf Resolution in 1970 • Increased public distrust of the gov’t

  31. Longest War Ends • Final Push • January 1973: Peace Agreement Reached • NV troops remain in SV • Nixon promises US will defend treaty • March 1973: Last troops leave

  32. Longest War Ends • Fall of Saigon • March 1975: NV launch attack vs. SV • US doesn’t send military support • April 30, 1975: Saigon falls to NV

  33. The War’s Legacy • 58,000 Americans died • 303,000 Americans wounded • Instability in SE Asia • Mistrust of government • War Powers Act • Prevented president from committing troops to a foreign conflict without approval from Congress

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