VIETNAM WAR Background

1. French Occupation and Defeat Ho Chi Minh VIETNAM WAR Background Vietminh Dien Bien Phu Geneva Conference 1954 – cease fire / division of Vietnam at 17th parallel / elections set for 1956 / elections never occurred The U.S. did not support Vietnamese independence because > 1. Ho Chi Minh had ties to the Communist Party 2. Domino Theory 3. Close ally with France

2. Affiliated with the Communist Party Affiliated with the Communist Party Ho Chi Minh Led the fight for Vietnam’s independence Organized the League for the Independence of Vietnam VIETMINH

3. Ho Chi Minh had close ties to the Communist Party. Ho Chi Minh led the movement for Vietnam’s independence. Vietminh – League for the Independence of Vietnam

4. Ho Chi Minh organized the Vietminh. VIETMINH – League for the Independence of Vietnam Ho Chi Minh – close ties to Communist Party

5. French Occupation and Defeat Truman and Eisenhower supported France when they attempted to reestablish control over Vietnam following WWII.

6. The Vietminh defeated the French at Dien Bien Phu in 1954.

7. After the French were defeated at Dien Bien Phu, the Geneva Conference divided Vietnam into North and South Vietnam at the 17th parallel. Elections were set for 1956. The elections never occurred.

8. North Vietnam South Vietnam 17th Parallel

10. The North Vietnamese forces, the Vietminh, supplied and supported the Viet Cong in South Vietnam. They built an elaborate tunnel system.

12. The U.S. did not support Vietnam independence because Ho had ties to the Communist Party.

13. Communist Party Ho Chi Minh

14. The U.S. did not support Vietnam independence because of the Domino Theory.

16. The U. S. did not support Vietnam independence because of close ties to the French.

17. We will always have Paris.

18. Support for the French under Truman and Eisenhower Kennedy supported South Vietnam with “military advisors”. CIA backed the overthrow of the Diem government Diem and brother killed U.S. involvement deepens U.S. Involvement in Vietnam

19. U.S. involvement began when Truman and Eisenhower supportedFrench efforts to reestablish rule over Vietnam after WWII.

20. President Kennedy sent “military advisors” to South Vietnam. President Kennedy sent “military advisors” to South Vietnam. The Green Berets

21. At first, the U.S. supported the Diem government. Diem took harsh measures against Buddhists in South Vietnam. His government was very corrupt and unpopular in South Vietnam.

22. Immolation of ThicQuang Duc The Diem government was very unpopular. This Buddhist monk was protesting Diem’s treatment of Buddhists in South Vietnam.

23. The CIA backed theoverthrow of the unpopular Diem government.

24. Diem and his brother were killed during the CIA backed coup. The situation in Vietnam worsened.

25. Diem was killed during the coup. The CIA did not expect him to be killed.

26. Tonkin Gulf Resolution – President Johnson asked and received authorization for the use of force. Unprovoked? The U.S. destroyer Maddox U.S. Involvement in Vietnam U.S. Involvement in Vietnam

27. War Powers Act of 1973 Tonkin Gulf Resolution1963 Congress limited presidential power. President receives war-making power.

28. The torpedo missed.

29. How was the war fought? How did the media play a role? Describe the anti-war movement.

30. Operation Rolling Thunder Ho Chi Minh Trail - Agent Orange -

31. OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER 800 tons of bombs per day were dropped on North Vietnam.

32. Operation Rolling Thunder – massive bombing of North Vietnam.

33. North Vietnam – targeted with about 800 tons of bombs a day.

34. OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER

35. Ho Chi Minh Trail – supplies from North Vietnam were transported along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The trail had hundreds of miles of tunnels. The North Vietnamese placed factories and hospitals underground. The thick jungle hid entrances and booby traps were placed in the tunnels to keep the enemy out.

36. Ho Chi Minh Trail – Used to transport supplies to the Viet Cong in South Vietnam.

37. Ho Chi Minh Trail Jungle covered the tunnelsand trails used to supply the Viet Cong with weapons.

41. Some military personnel were designated tunnel rats. Their mission was to enter the tunnels and find the enemy or destroy the tunnel.

42. AGENT ORANGE Defoliant used to kill plants and food sources. Destroy the ground cover

43. SEARCH and DESTROY The U.S. forces did not hold territory. They would find the Viet Cong, kill them or capture them, and then move to other areas. Most of the time the Viet Cong returned to villages soon after these missions were completed. Soldiers became disillusioned with a war that seemed to have no measurable signs of progress.

44. Search and Destroy Search and Destroy Find the enemy. Kill / Capture / Clear the area A failure – the Viet Cong would return to the area and frequently the Viet Cong received support from the villagers. U.S. forces could not tell friend from enemy. It was hard to see any progress. The troops had low morale.

45. “We had to destroy the village in order to save it.”

46. Pacification – villagers were removed from their homes and their villages were burned.

48. PACIFICATION

49. THE BODY COUNT MEASURED SUCCESS. U.S. OFFICIALS INFLATED THE BODY COUNT.U.S. OFFICIALS MISLED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.A CREDIBILITY GAP WAS CREATED. POPULAR OPINION TURNED AGAINST THE WAR.

50. Troop morale was very low. Many soldiers and marines could see no evidence of progress. Support for the war in America was diminishing. Drug use among soldiers and marines was rampant.