The Vietnam War 1954 - 1975

The Vietnam War 1954 - 1975

Background to the WarBackground to the War

The French lost control to The French lost control to Ho Chi Minh’s Ho Chi Minh’s Viet MinhViet Minh forces in 1954 at forces in 1954 at Dien Bien Dien Bien PhuPhu

President Eisenhower declined President Eisenhower declined to intervene on behalf of France.to intervene on behalf of France.

Background to the WarBackground to the War

International Conference at International Conference at GenevaGeneva Vietnam was divided at 17Vietnam was divided at 17thth

parallelparallelO Ho Chi Minh: Ho Chi Minh: leader of leader of

nationalist nationalist forces controlled the Northforces controlled the North

O Ngo Dinh DiemNgo Dinh Diem: : French-French-educated, Catholic. Claimed educated, Catholic. Claimed control of the control of the SouthSouth

U.S. Military Involvement BeginsU.S. Military Involvement Begins

Kennedy elected 1960Kennedy elected 1960 Increases military “advisors” to 16,000Increases military “advisors” to 16,000

1963:1963: JFK supports military JFK supports military coup d’etatcoup d’etat Coup by the AVRN (Army of the Republic of Coup by the AVRN (Army of the Republic of

Vietnam)Vietnam) generals. generals. US said it would not interfereUS said it would not interfere AVRN overthrew the government on AVRN overthrew the government on

November 1, 1963.November 1, 1963. Diem and his brother are murdered Diem and his brother are murdered

(Nov. 2)(Nov. 2) Kennedy was assassinated 20 days Kennedy was assassinated 20 days

later (Nov. 22)later (Nov. 22)

Johnson Sends Ground ForcesJohnson Sends Ground Forces

Advised to rout the communists by Advised to rout the communists by Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Defense, Robert S. Robert S. McNamaraMcNamara

Tonkin Gulf Incident Tonkin Gulf Incident 1964 1964(acc. to Johnson, the attacks were (acc. to Johnson, the attacks were unprovoked)unprovoked)

Tonkin Gulf ResolutionTonkin Gulf Resolution ““The Blank Check” The Blank Check” ** A joint resolution of Congress that gave Johnson A joint resolution of Congress that gave Johnson

authorization - authorization - without a formal declaration of without a formal declaration of warwar -for the use of military force in Southeast -for the use of military force in Southeast Asia. Asia.

The Ground War 1965-1968The Ground War 1965-1968

No clear territorial goals for the US. No clear territorial goals for the US. Body counts on TV every night (first Body counts on TV every night (first

“living room” war“living room” war)) Viet Cong supplies over the Viet Cong supplies over the Ho Chi Ho Chi

Minh TrailMinh Traila path that ran from North Vietnam a path that ran from North Vietnam to South Vietnam through of Laos to South Vietnam through of Laos & Cambodia .& Cambodia .It provided support (manpower and It provided support (manpower and weapons, etc) to the weapons, etc) to the Vietcong/National Liberation Vietcong/National Liberation Front/North Vietnamese Army (NVA)Front/North Vietnamese Army (NVA)

The Air War1965-1968The Air War1965-1968

1965: Sustained bombing of North 1965: Sustained bombing of North VietnamVietnam

Operation Rolling Thunder Operation Rolling Thunder (March 2, (March 2, 1965)1965)

1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi 1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi nonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets the nonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets the Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail..

Downed Pilots: P.O.W.sDowned Pilots: P.O.W.s Carpet Bombing – Carpet Bombing – napalmnapalm

The Ground War1965-1968The Ground War1965-1968

General WestmorelandGeneral Westmoreland, late 1967:

We can see theWe can see the“light at the end of the tunnel.”“light at the end of the tunnel.”

The Tet Offensive, January 1968The Tet Offensive, January 1968

N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack South simultaneously attack South simultaneously (67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, (67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, and the US embassy in Saigon)and the US embassy in Saigon)

Take every major southern cityTake every major southern city U.S. + ARVN beat back the offensiveU.S. + ARVN beat back the offensive Viet Cong destroyedViet Cong destroyed N. Vietnamese army debilitatedN. Vietnamese army debilitated BUT…it’s seen as an American BUT…it’s seen as an American

defeat by the mediadefeat by the media

Impact of the Tet OffensiveImpact of the Tet Offensive

Domestic U.S. Reaction: Domestic U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson AdministrationJohnson Administration

‘‘Hey, Hey LBJ! Hey, Hey LBJ! How How many kids did many kids did youyou kill today?’ kill today?’

Johnson’s Johnson’s popularity popularity dropped in dropped in 1968 from 1968 from 48% to 48% to 36%.36%.

Impact of the Vietnam WarImpact of the Vietnam War

……I shall not seek, I shall not seek, and I will not and I will not accept, the accept, the nomination of my nomination of my party for another party for another term as your term as your President.President.

Johnson announces (March, Johnson announces (March, 1968):1968):

Nixon on VietnamNixon on Vietnam Nixon’s 1968 Campaign promised an end to the war: Nixon’s 1968 Campaign promised an end to the war:

Peace with HonorPeace with Honor Appealed to the great Appealed to the great

“Silent Majority”“Silent Majority” VietnamizationVietnamization: : Encouraged the South Encouraged the South

Vietnamese to take more responsibility Vietnamese to take more responsibility for fighting the war. for fighting the war. Hoped to enable the United States to Hoped to enable the United States to

withdraw (gradually) all their soldiers withdraw (gradually) all their soldiers from Vietnam.from Vietnam.

Expansion of the Expansion of the conflict conflict The “Secret War” The “Secret War” Cambodia – US forces famously Cambodia – US forces famously

invade & bomb. Destabilize the invade & bomb. Destabilize the nation. nation.

LaosLaos

“Pentagon Papers,” 1971“Pentagon Papers,” 1971

Former defense analyst Former defense analyst Daniel EllsbergDaniel Ellsbergleaked govt. docs. regarding war efforts leaked govt. docs. regarding war efforts during Johnson’s administration to the during Johnson’s administration to the New York TimesNew York Times..

Docs.Docs. Govt. misled Congress & Amer. Govt. misled Congress & Amer. People regarding its intentions in Vietnam People regarding its intentions in Vietnam during mid-1960s.during mid-1960s. Primary reason for fighting not to Primary reason for fighting not to

eliminate communism, but eliminate communism, but to avoid to avoid humiliating defeathumiliating defeat. .

New York Times v. United StatesNew York Times v. United States (1971) (1971) **

The Ceasefire, 1973The Ceasefire, 1973

Peace is at handPeace is at hand Kissinger, 1972 Kissinger, 1972 North Vietnam attacks SouthNorth Vietnam attacks South Most Massive U.S. bombing Most Massive U.S. bombing

commencescommences

1973: Ceasefire signed between 1973: Ceasefire signed between U.S., South Vietnam, & North U.S., South Vietnam, & North

VietnamVietnam

Peace with honorPeace with honor (President Nixon) (President Nixon)

Peace Negotiations

Peace Negotiations

US & US & Vietnamese Vietnamese

argue for argue for 5 months 5 months over the over the size of thesize of theconferenceconferencetable!table!

Dr. Henry KissingerDr. Henry Kissinger & Le Duc Le Duc ThoTho

The Ceasefire, 1973The Ceasefire, 1973

Conditions:Conditions:1.1. U.S. to remove all troopsU.S. to remove all troops2.2. North Vietnam could leave North Vietnam could leave

troops already in S.V.troops already in S.V.3.3. North Vietnam would resume North Vietnam would resume

warwar4.4. No provision for POWs or MIAsNo provision for POWs or MIAs

Last American troops left South Last American troops left South Vietnam on March 29, 1973Vietnam on March 29, 1973

1975: North Vietnam defeats South 1975: North Vietnam defeats South VietnamVietnam

Saigon renamed Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City

The Fall of Saigon

The Fall of Saigon

America Abandons Its America Abandons Its EmbassyEmbassy

April 30, 1975April 30, 1975

Democratic Democratic Convention in Convention in Chicago, 1968Chicago, 1968

Student Student Protestors Protestors

at Univ. of CA at Univ. of CA in Berkeley, 1968in Berkeley, 1968

Anti-War Demonstrations

Anti-War Demonstrations

Anti-War Demonstrations

Anti-War Demonstrations

May 4, May 4, 19701970

4 students 4 students shot dead.shot dead.

11 11 students students woundedwounded

Kent State UniversityKent State University

Jackson StateJackson StateUniversityUniversity

May 10, 1970May 10, 1970

2 dead; 12 2 dead; 12 woundedwounded