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Vietnam War

Vietnam War. Vietnam & France. France controlled Indochina Peninsula of Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia Colonialism Ho Chi Minh Rebelled against French rule Embraced Communism. US Involvement Under Eisenhower. Contain Communist expansion Domino Theory

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Vietnam War

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  1. Vietnam War

  2. Vietnam & France • France controlled Indochina • Peninsula of Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia • Colonialism • Ho Chi Minh • Rebelled against French rule • Embraced Communism

  3. US Involvement Under Eisenhower • Contain Communist expansion • Domino Theory • If Vietnam became Communist then its neighbors would follow • Diem Bien Phu • Vietminh defeat French forces • Result: Indochina gains independence

  4. Vietnam Divided

  5. Eisenhower Continued • South Vietnam controlled by Ngo Dinh Diem • Anticommunist with American support • Diem unpopular in South Vietnam • Catholic follower (majority was Buddhist) • Vietcong (National Liberation Front) • Supplied by N. Vietnam to weaken Diem’s control • Wanted to unite Vietnam under Communism

  6. US Involvement Under Kennedy • Sent Special Forces into S. Vietnam • “advise” the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) • Diem’s regime alienated S. Vietnamese citizens • America helps plot overthrow of Diem • Diem removed from power and later assassinated

  7. US Involvement Under Johnson • USS Maddox patrolled Gulf of Tonkin • Fired upon by N. Vietnamese boats • Maddox retaliates • Johnson orders airstrike • Asks Congress to use force to defend US troops • Gulf of Tonkin Resolution passed • Commit US troops to S. Vietnam • Fight war against N. Vietnam w/o asking Congress for declaration of war

  8. “Americanizing” the War • Operation Rolling Thunder • First sustained bombing campaign in N. Vietnam • General William Westmoreland • American commander of troops in Vietnam • Wanted to increase military presence to win the war

  9. Napalm • What is it? • Jellied gasoline dropped in large canisters • Exploded on impact & covered large areas in flames • Effects • Severe burns, choking, unconsciousness or death • Agent Orange: herbicide used to destroy plant life • Disrupt enemy’s food supply

  10. Effects of Napalm & Agent Orange

  11. The Vietcong & NVA • Ho Chi Minh • VC & NVA: tiger • US: elephant • “If the tiger stand still, the elephant will crush it. But if the tiger keeps moving and occasionally jumps on the elephant to take a bite out of it, the elephant will slowly bleed to death.” • VC & NVA • Traveled lightly • Wore clothes to blend in • Fought mostly at night • Used booby traps

  12. Tunnel System

  13. Do Now • At this point what is your opinion about the Vietnam War?

  14. The Tet Offensive • General Westmoreland addresses the nation • Vietcong has weakened • No longer can mount major attack • January 30, 1968: Tet Offensive begins • Tet: Vietnamese New Year • Attacked major cities & bases in S. Vietnam • US & S. Vietnamese eventually drove back VC

  15. The Tet Offensive

  16. Results of Tet Offensive • American public opinion negative • Felt betrayed by gov’t • Westmoreland resigns • Public sees this as punishment for handling Tet poorly • LBJ • Pursue peace rather than victory • Stuns nation: announces he will not run for president in 1968

  17. Vietnam Under Nixon • Vietnamization • American troops gradually pull out of Vietnam and S. Vietnam takes over the fighting • “peace with honor” • Nixon orders bombing of Ho Chi Minh Trail • Widened the war • Nixon announces US will invade Cambodia • US & ARVN troops invade • Results: stalemate & increased unpopularity in US

  18. My Lai Massacre • March 16, 1968 • Lt. William Calley • Orders troops to shoot civilians • Between 400-500 civilians killed • Originally covered up, but media starts leaking photos & info from the massacre • Calley is court-martialed • Sentenced to life then reduced to 3 ½ years

  19. My Lai Massacre

  20. The Pentagon Papers • New York Times leaks classified document of all US involvement in Vietnam • Truman through Johnson all lied to American public • Nixon tries blocking publication • New York Times v. US rules against Nixon • 1973: War Powers Act established • Restricts president’s powers to engage in foreign conflict

  21. The Pentagon Papers Truman Eisenhower Kennedy Johnson All of these men lied to America over Vietnam

  22. Vietnam Ends for America • January 1973: Paris Peace Accords • US, S. Vietnam, N. Vietnam & VC at Accords • Agree to ceasefire, US troop withdrawal & exchange of POWs • War ends for US & continues for Vietnam • N. Vietnam breaks ceasefire • Captures Saigon: official end to war • Vietnam united under Communism

  23. Summary • In the end was the Vietnam War worth fighting for? • Explain why or why not using specific events.

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