Cold War in VietnamCold War in Vietnam Vietnam was originally a French colony in Vietnam was originally a French colony in

Southeast Asia.Southeast Asia.1930’s1930’s Ho Chi Minh led the Communist party in Ho Chi Minh led the Communist party in

Vietnam, fight for freedom from the French.Vietnam, fight for freedom from the French.1940’s1940’s Ho Chi Minh and followers fight off the Ho Chi Minh and followers fight off the

Japanese and assist American fighters in the area.Japanese and assist American fighters in the area.19451945 Japanese leave at the end of WWII, Japanese leave at the end of WWII,

Vietnamese expect freedom but the French take Vietnamese expect freedom but the French take the colony back.the colony back.

1945-1945- 1954 Vietnamese under Ho Chi Minh fight 1954 Vietnamese under Ho Chi Minh fight the French. Vietminh- Communist Vietnamese the French. Vietminh- Communist Vietnamese forces. French control cities, Vietminh control forces. French control cities, Vietminh control countryside. Lost major battle at Dien Bien Phu, the countryside. Lost major battle at Dien Bien Phu, the French in North surrender.French in North surrender.

1955-1955- Vietnam is divided between the communists Vietnam is divided between the communists in the North and the French & US in the South at in the North and the French & US in the South at the Geneva Peace Conference at 17th parallel but the Geneva Peace Conference at 17th parallel but the south is promised free elections to decide their the south is promised free elections to decide their fate.fate.

French influence in Vietnam decreases the French influence in Vietnam decreases the Americans presence increases, the _________ Americans presence increases, the _________ policy, hoping to stop communism from spreading. policy, hoping to stop communism from spreading.

The U.S. believe in the Domino Theory, if one The U.S. believe in the Domino Theory, if one country fell to communism those around it would country fell to communism those around it would also fall.also fall.

The Americans put into power Ngo Dinh Diem, as The Americans put into power Ngo Dinh Diem, as the head of the South Vietnam and free elections the head of the South Vietnam and free elections cancelled b/c they thought they would losecancelled b/c they thought they would lose

Diem ruled as a harsh dictator, disliked by many, Diem ruled as a harsh dictator, disliked by many, corrupt, discrimination against Buddhistcorrupt, discrimination against Buddhist

1950s & 60s1950s & 60s After canceled elections communist supporters, After canceled elections communist supporters,

Vietcong- grow in S. Vietnam, attack S. govt, Vietcong- grow in S. Vietnam, attack S. govt, supported by N. by Ho Chi Minh trailsupported by N. by Ho Chi Minh trail

During the 50’s, 60’s weapons, supplies and During the 50’s, 60’s weapons, supplies and thousands of military advisors were sent to S. thousands of military advisors were sent to S. Vietnam to help train the Vietnamese and support Vietnam to help train the Vietnamese and support the army.the army.

19631963 Diem is overthrown with the Diem is overthrown with the permission of the U.S. but the new leaders are permission of the U.S. but the new leaders are not any more successful.not any more successful.

19641964 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution- two Gulf of Tonkin Resolution- two American ships were said to be attacked by N. American ships were said to be attacked by N. Vietnam and Congress gave Johnson full reign in Vietnam and Congress gave Johnson full reign in VietnamVietnam

19651965 Johnson escalates the war, sends Johnson escalates the war, sends 50,000 combat troops, Rolling Thunder, bombing 50,000 combat troops, Rolling Thunder, bombing N. VietnamN. Vietnam

Vietnam War 1964-1969-Vietnam War 1964-1969-

Johnson- Continued expansion to 500,000 Johnson- Continued expansion to 500,000 troopstroops– Westmoreland- Commander continues to ask Westmoreland- Commander continues to ask

for more troopsfor more troops– ARVN- Army of the Republic of VietnamARVN- Army of the Republic of Vietnam– Troop rotation- each soldier spent a certain # Troop rotation- each soldier spent a certain #

of days in Vietnamof days in Vietnam– War of attrition not territory- kill as many as War of attrition not territory- kill as many as

possiblepossible– Guerrilla warfare/ snipers/ booby traps- never Guerrilla warfare/ snipers/ booby traps- never

can see the enemy, constant fearcan see the enemy, constant fear

Frustration and difficultyFrustration and difficulty

– Jungle terrain, hard to see around you, slow Jungle terrain, hard to see around you, slow moving/ hot, humid climate, rain- bugs, ratsmoving/ hot, humid climate, rain- bugs, rats

– Vietcong (south rebels) and North Vietnamese Vietcong (south rebels) and North Vietnamese ArmyArmy

– Search and destroy missions- cant tell who is Search and destroy missions- cant tell who is the enemythe enemy

– Ho Chi Minh trail- supplies rebels throughout Ho Chi Minh trail- supplies rebels throughout country/ tunnels/ fox holes- enemy is hiding country/ tunnels/ fox holes- enemy is hiding everywhereeverywhere

– Napalm- set fire to clear way/ Agent Orange- Napalm- set fire to clear way/ Agent Orange- defoliant- kill plantsdefoliant- kill plants

– Bad morale/ “fragging”- killing officers Bad morale/ “fragging”- killing officers – Artillery and bombingArtillery and bombing

Vietnam at HomeVietnam at Home Johnson- Domestic Agenda, Great Society, Johnson- Domestic Agenda, Great Society,

ignoredignored Media involvement- footage appear Media involvement- footage appear

nightly, people horrified- questions nightly, people horrified- questions Johnson (Credibility Gap)Johnson (Credibility Gap)

The draftThe draft– Deferment- doctors, college, national guard Deferment- doctors, college, national guard

(don’t have to go)(don’t have to go)– Draft dodgers- burning draft cards, run away to Draft dodgers- burning draft cards, run away to

Canada/ protests (4,000 in prison)Canada/ protests (4,000 in prison)– Working class warWorking class war– African Americans serve in large numbers, African Americans serve in large numbers,

racismracism

Protest starts 65, grows stronger 67Protest starts 65, grows stronger 67

– Colleges/ universities -New left (students for a Colleges/ universities -New left (students for a Democratic Society)- free speech movementDemocratic Society)- free speech movement

Vietnam is a civil war, US needs to stay outVietnam is a civil war, US needs to stay out

– March on Washington- April, Nov 1965, Oct 67- March on Washington- April, Nov 1965, Oct 67- protestors march on Pentagon, gassed/ protestors march on Pentagon, gassed/ nightsticks, break through police barriersnightsticks, break through police barriers

– New York, 1967- 500,000New York, 1967- 500,000– 1967- 70% of Americans think protestors 1967- 70% of Americans think protestors

unloyal citizensunloyal citizens– Doves vs. hawksDoves vs. hawks– My Lai massacre- murder of civilians, women, My Lai massacre- murder of civilians, women,

children, US is shocked, hear of it in 1969children, US is shocked, hear of it in 1969

1968 1968 Jan.30, 1968- Tet offensive (Vietnamese New Year Holiday)- Jan.30, 1968- Tet offensive (Vietnamese New Year Holiday)-

week long cease fire, attack every major city in S. Vietnam week long cease fire, attack every major city in S. Vietnam (almost 100)(almost 100)

attack US Embassy in Saigonattack US Embassy in Saigon military success for USmilitary success for USAt HomeAt Home Tet offensive major morale turning point (are we losing?) Tet offensive major morale turning point (are we losing?)

after attack doves/ hawks equal in USafter attack doves/ hawks equal in US– Walter Cronkite questions Vietnam, many hawks abandon Walter Cronkite questions Vietnam, many hawks abandon

war, war cant be won?? war, war cant be won?? 221 demonstrations on 100 campuses- 14,000 students- 221 demonstrations on 100 campuses- 14,000 students-

Columbia UniversityColumbia University Johnson refuses to run again, Robert Kennedy vs. McCarthy Johnson refuses to run again, Robert Kennedy vs. McCarthy

(D) vs. Humphrey (D) vs. Wallace (D)Vs. NIXON (R)(D) vs. Humphrey (D) vs. Wallace (D)Vs. NIXON (R) MLK assassinated- 100+ cities riot- 50,000 troops called in, MLK assassinated- 100+ cities riot- 50,000 troops called in,

46 dead, 27,000 arrested46 dead, 27,000 arrested Robert Kennedy assassinatedRobert Kennedy assassinated Democrat Convention- Chicago- riots outside, police/ rioters Democrat Convention- Chicago- riots outside, police/ rioters

clash, INSIDE- division, argumentsclash, INSIDE- division, arguments

End of the warEnd of the war Nixon wins presidency (Republican)- Nixon wins presidency (Republican)-

“Peace with Honor”“Peace with Honor”– Vietnamization- give war to VietnameseVietnamization- give war to Vietnamese– Slow withdrawal, saving face- 1969-73Slow withdrawal, saving face- 1969-73– Continued bombing raids on North (better Continued bombing raids on North (better

negotiating position)negotiating position)– Invasion of part of Cambodia, stop supply trail Invasion of part of Cambodia, stop supply trail – Congress repeals Tonkin ResolutionCongress repeals Tonkin Resolution– War& Bombings continues- (Christmas War& Bombings continues- (Christmas

bombing)bombing)– Jan 1973- US signs agreement to end war, US Jan 1973- US signs agreement to end war, US

said they would come back if the N. attacked said they would come back if the N. attacked the South, troops leavethe South, troops leave

– 58,000 troops died, 365,000 wounded58,000 troops died, 365,000 wounded

At Home- At Home-

– Silent majority- main stream US change Silent majority- main stream US change opinion on waropinion on war

– Protest- 1.5 million students close 1,200 Protest- 1.5 million students close 1,200 College campusesCollege campusesKent State, Ohio- burned building/ riots, national Kent State, Ohio- burned building/ riots, national

guard fire on crowd- 4 dead, also at Jackson, in guard fire on crowd- 4 dead, also at Jackson, in MississippiMississippi

– Pentagon papers leaked to press- US planned Pentagon papers leaked to press- US planned war before Tonkin, no plans to end war- govt war before Tonkin, no plans to end war- govt lies uncoveredlies uncovered

– Veterans shunned by society- problems, Veterans shunned by society- problems, sickness related to the warsickness related to the war

Vietnam afterVietnam after 1973 peace agreement falls/ N attacks S, 1973 peace agreement falls/ N attacks S,

US refuses to get involvedUS refuses to get involved Fell to communism 1975, 1.5 million Fell to communism 1975, 1.5 million

people fled, Boat people, 400,000 in people fled, Boat people, 400,000 in labor/re-education campslabor/re-education camps

Civil war in Cambodia- Khmer Rouge- kills Civil war in Cambodia- Khmer Rouge- kills 2 million2 million

1982 Vietnam war memorial in DC1982 Vietnam war memorial in DC Began to open up borders in the 90’sBegan to open up borders in the 90’s ResultsResults War Powers Act- President needs Congress War Powers Act- President needs Congress

to approve troop useto approve troop use US more careful about entering conflictsUS more careful about entering conflicts Distrust of govt and officialsDistrust of govt and officials