The Vietnam War

1. The Vietnam War Mr. Grimaldi U.S. History

2. “Vietnam” - What comes to mind?

4. Quick background on Vietnam: Constant War • 2000 years of resistance to outsiders • China • Mid 1800’s French Colonialism in Indochina • WWII Japan • 1941 Birth of the Viet Minh

5. WWII ends, Ho Chi Minh tries to declare independence (modeled after U.S. Dec. of Ind.) • France goes to war to make Viet. their colony again • U.S. gives France $2.6 billion = contain communism Q: Look closely at H. C. M. Why was he considered a people’s leader?

6. 9 years of war against France • 1954 French are defeated

7. Geneva Accords – July 1954 • Independence for Indochina

8. Agreement that Vietnam divided at 17th parallel • -North = Communists • -South = Democracy • 1956 – there would be an election to unify Vietnam

10. The United States Enters the War: • U.S. does not sign the treaty for election to unify because: • Domino Theory: if South Vietnam falls to Comm. = all of Southeast Asia follows

11. Diem Regime: • Unpopular Actions: • Imprisoned those who opposed him • Corruption, rigged elections, and nepotism • Catholic in a Buddhist country Q: How is Diem’s appearance different to Ho Chi Minh’s? Puppet Regime? Warning: next slide is graphic

12. Q: How would an American of the time interpret this image? Do you know of any instances of protest in recent times that mirror this event?

13. Kennedy Years: • Strengthen S. Vietnam Army with aid and training • 2. Pressure Diem’s decisions • - South Vietnam Army failed = money given to officials

14. The Overthrow of Diem: May 1963 = Buddhist start to protest June 1963 = Monk sets fire to himself Nov. 1963 = Diem is killed in a coup

15. Shortly after Diem’s assassination, tragedy strikes in the U.S. …

17. Lyndon Johnson 1963 - becomes president

18. Johnson’s War: - He kept Kennedy’s foreign policy team (“flexible response” strategy) - Needed strong anti-communism stance to win re-election

19. 1964 Presidential Campaign: Johnson calls Goldwater an extremist / nuclear war http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDTBnsqxZ3k&feature=related

20. A. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution • North Viet. torpedo boats attack U.S. destroyers at Gulf of Tonkin • Aug. 1964: Gulf of Tonkin Resolution • Congress gives Johnson authority to “take all necessary measures…”

21. B. Operation Rolling Thunder • Feb. 1965 = Vietcong attack • U.S. military base (8 U.S. killed) • - U.S. bombed N. Vietnam (Nonstop for the next 3 years)

24. D. Fighting the War U.S. plan = break V.C. will to fight Success = not by land, but body count ( read Ho quote pg. 773)

25. 1. The Air War • U.S. = intense bombing raids • Vietcong’s defense = 30K miles of tunnels

26. “Tunnel Rats”

29. 2. The Ground War • U.S. = Search + Destroy Missions • Suffocating envir. = swamps, heat, thick jungle, traps (B.B.) • Who’s who? • – Vietcong or S. Viet. farmer?

31. 3. Guerilla Tactics of Vietcong • small bands of fighters use: • - ambush / hit + run • 2 Advantages • - knew the terrain • - support from the peasants • (food + shelter)

33. By 1967 = 14,000 US killed Aver. Age = 19 yrs old

34. Private First Class Phillip Wilson – Killed in action 12 days later.

35. First-aid center, where wounded Marines were treated before being helped to air-evacuation points. (Life)

36. Stop Here