THEMES. 1) EXPANDING DEMOCRACY: America s mission in Vietnam was to halt the spread of communism-a threat to democracy.

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Clemence Lester
5 years ago
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1 THEMES 1) EXPANDING DEMOCRACY: America s mission in Vietnam was to halt the spread of communism-a threat to democracy. 2) CONSTITUTIONAL CONCERNS: Among the constitutional issues of the Vietnam War era were the president s powers as commander in chief and First Amendment rights. Both the Tonkin Gulf Resolution and the Pentagon Papers sparked controversy.

2 THEMES 3) CIVIL RIGHTS: Initially, civil rights leaders were reluctant to criticize the Vietnam War, fearing they would jeopardize President Johnson s support for their cause. When the war threatened Great Society reforms, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and other civil rights leaders voiced their opposition.

3 THEMES 4) THE AMERICAN DREAM: In the 1960 s, members of the counterculture rejected the American dream and chose to drop out of mainstream society. Hippies sought to redefine the American dream by creating a society based on love.

4 5) MEDIA: THEMES The media can influence public opinion and dictate events (real news and fake news).

5 Objectives: TLW 1) Summarize Vietnam s history as a French colony and its struggle for independence. 2) Examine how the U.S. became involved in the Vietnam conflict. 3) Describe the expansion of U.S. military involvement under President Johnson.

7 THE VIETMINH vs. FRANCE Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnamese independence from ALL foreign rule. Ho forms the Vietminh, a military organization, to fight for independence against foreign rule. Ho vows to liberate South Vietnam from French rule and oppression.

U.S. Unofficial Involvement in Vietnam In 1950 President Truman begins to provide economic aide to France in Vietnam to defeat the Vietminh. $15 million sent in 1950.

8 U.S. Unofficial Involvement in Vietnam In 1950 President Truman begins to provide economic aide to France in Vietnam to defeat the Vietminh. $15 million sent in Spent $1 Billion over between Domino Theory=If Vietnam falls to communism then all other Asian countries will also fall. Therefore, the U.S. must take a stand against communism in Vietnam.

9 The French Lose: Surprise, Surprise! In May of 1954 the French are surrounded and defeated by the Vietminh in the northern city of Dien Bien Phu (French Indo China War). Geneva Accords=1) Peace agreement between the Vietminh and South Vietnam that divided Vietnam at the 17 th parallel. 2) France agreed to permanently pull out of Vietnam. 3) Free elections will be held in 1956 to choose a leader for a newly united Vietnam.

10 South Vietnamese Leadership The U.S. throws its support into Ngo Dinh Diem, an anti-communist. Just prior to the 1956 unifying elections the U.S. can see that Diem will not win. Ho Chi Minh will win easily. As a result, Diem and the U.S. call off the elections! Diem proves to be an incompetent and corrupt leader of South Vietnam

11 Vietcong and the Ho Chi Minh Trail In 1957 a communist group was formed in South Vietnam to oppose Diem and the U.S.=Vietcong. The Vietcong received weapons and ammunition from North Vietnam and waged guerilla (terrorist) warfare against the U.S. In 1959 they were successful in assassinating 1,200 of Diem s government officials.

12 VIETCONG/HO CHI MINH TRAIL In 1960 Ho Chi Minh supported the Vietcong and began supplying them weapons and supplies by way of mountain paths running through Laos and Cambodia=Ho Chi Minh Trail. U.S. is forced to deal with 2 enemies: 1) Vietcong=South Vietnamese guerillas (civilians). 2) North Vietnam Army (NVA)=official army of North Vietnam supported by China and the Soviet Union.

13 JFK and SOUTH VIETNAM JFk wins the 1960 election and inherits the Vietnam conflict. JFK wants to NOT look soft on communism so he sends more economic aid to Diem ( sink or swim with him ) and several thousand military advisors to train the South Vietnamese army. By 1963, JFK has sent 16,000 military personnel to Vietnam to protect the military advisors. JFk is seriously considering pulling completely out of Vietnam if South Vietnam can show they can govern and protect themselves.

Instability of South Vietnamese Gov t Diem became very unpopular with the South Vietnamese citizens because 1) Private property was confiscated and villagers were placed into

14 Instability of South Vietnamese Gov t Diem became very unpopular with the South Vietnamese citizens because 1) Private property was confiscated and villagers were placed into protected areas. 2) government corruption. 3) Persecution, imprisonment, and killing of Buddhist monks; destruction of Buddhist temples=monks burning selves in streets in protest.

15 OVERTHROW of DIEM REGIME In order for the U.S. to stay and help South Vietnam there had to be political order=diem had to go! On November 1, 1963 the U.S. organizes a coup to remove Diem from office. In the process Diem is Assassinated. 2 Weeks later JFK is assassinated and instead of leaving Vietnam the U.S. will get involved deeper.

PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON President Johnson takes over for JFK and promises to not escalate the war. In reference to Vietnam he said It s their war.

16 PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON President Johnson takes over for JFK and promises to not escalate the war. In reference to Vietnam he said It s their war. And I will not send American boys to Vietnam to do what Asian boys should do for themselves. But If I let the communists take over South Vietnam then my nation would be seen as an appeaser and we would find it impossible to accomplish anything anywhere on the globe.

17 TONKIN GULF RESOLUTION LBJ had authorized secret raids to be conducted into North Vietnam. In response to the raids the North Vietnamese twice attack the USS MADDOX in the Gulf of Tonkin on different nights. Torpedoes miss, but according to our government the U.S. navy returns fire and sinks the North Vietnamese boat during the second attack. LBJ gets congress to pass the Tonkin Gulf Resolution on August 7, 1964=allows the president of the U.S. to take military action against any armed attack without having to officially declare war.

18 Tonkin Gulf Incident?? g&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_ safety_mode=1&safe=active c&feature=related

19 RESULT OF TONKIN GULF RESOLUTION 1) LBJ orders Operation Rolling Thunder in February 1965=bombing of North Vietnam by the Air Force. We dropped more bombs in the first month than we did in all of WWII. (ordered to not bomb any North Vietnam ports or anywhere near China.) 2) In March the first American combat troops arrived in South Vietnam. 3) By June of 1965 there were 50,000 U.S. soldiers fighting the Vietcong.

Ended French rule in Indo-China

Ended French rule in Indo-China Vietnam Review Dien Bien Phu in 1954 the main French forces were surrounded at this location in the north of Vietnam and forced to surrender. This was a turning point in that it ended the French control