The Vietnam War (1954-1975)

• Controlled by France- “French Indochina”

• Ho Chi Minh – nationalist leader• Created Vietminh, Communist North V• France asks U.S. for aid – free South V

Origins

• U.S. reluctant• Ike supports French• Domino Theory- if V fell to communism,

other nations would too• Test of containment

Origins (cont.)

• Vietcong- guerilla army• JFK elected in 1961• Increased U.S. military/financial aid to

South V• Assassinated in 1963, Lyndon B. Johnson

sworn in

Going to War

• Barrier built by Soviets• Cut off W. Berlin, divided Europe• Wanted to close escape route from East

Europe• Fell in 1990

The Berlin Wall (1961)

• 1964- North V torpedo boats fire at U.S. warships

• LBJ asked Congress for use of force• Gave Pres. unprecedented war powers• Violated separation of powers

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

• Vietcong used ambushes, booby traps• Blended in w/ civilians• Hid in thick jungles• U.S. dropped napalm- explosive jellied

gas• Agent Orange- destroys landscape

Warfare

• Extremely unpopular• First “television war” – massive war

protest• Anger w/ draft- minorities• Hawks vs. Doves

The Antiwar Movement

• 1968- Richard Nixon elected Pres.• 1973- U.S. withdraws troops• South V falls to North, still sought U.S.

help• Cost U.S. $170 bil, 58,000 deaths• Considered U.S. defeat

End of the War

• Terrorism war in Afghanistan, Iraq• Collapse of Soviet Union- Marxism is

outdated• George W. Bush- “roadmap to peace”

b/w Israel & Palestine• Other issues- illegal immigration, relations

w/ China

Current Themes