Conflict - 1945-1975 U.S. War 1964-1973
Overview of the Vietnam War Why is Vietnam still a painful war to remember? Longest war in U.S. history and only war we lost It showed Americans that our power is limited Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C. Est. 1982
The French in Vietnam Who were the participants in early conflicts in Indochina? France had long control over Southeast Asia (aka French Indochina) WWII Hitler allowed Japan to set up military bases 1941-Vietnamese nationalists led by Ho Chi Minh create the Vietnam Independence League (aka Viet Minh) War between France and Vietnam after WWII; U.S. supports France French defeated; Geneva Accords signed in 1954 and France leaves Country becomes divided over government style
U.S. Intervention in Vietnam Begins What was Eisenhower s Domino Theory and why did it dominate U.S. policy in Vietnam? What fueled this theory? Truman s (1945-1953) doctrine of containment in place by 1953 Eisenhower added his own spin to containment with his Domino Theory After Geneva Accords, U.S. supported Ngo Dinh Diem s government in the South (lesser of 2 evils) President Kennedy increased the number of military advisors Diem was assassinated on Nov. 1, 1963 (3 weeks before Kennedy) Political Cartoon showing Johnson s uncertainty with how to proceed with Vietnam
U.S. Presence Escalates in Vietnam Why did Johnson feel so much pressure to continue efforts in Vietnam even though he thought it was the biggest mess I ever saw? U.S. Soldiers deploying to Vietnam in 1964 The U.S. and Johnson did not want to appear weak against communism The Gulf of Tonkin incident in the summer of 1964 officially pulled the U.S. into the Vietnam War
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, 1964 Whereas the United States is assisting the peoples of southeast Asia to protect their freedom and has no territorial, military or political ambitions in that area, but desires only that these people should be left in peace to work out their destinies in their own way: Now, therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that the Congress approves and supports the determination of the President, as Commander in Chief, to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.
Hardship and Disillusionment on the War Fronts What Strategies did the outnumbered Viet Cong use to fight the U.S. Army? A soldier crawling through elephant grass and dense jungle Guerilla warfare tactics, land mines, and booby traps made fighting unpredictable Vietnam s wet, often dense terrain made movement difficult and uncomfortable It was hard to distinguish friends from enemies; many Vietnamese did not welcome U.S. troops
Vietnamese Nationalism and Determination Why did so many Vietnamese in both the North and the Sough support communism? Ho Chi Minh appealed to the Vietnamese people s intense national identity He linked the Communist struggle with Vietnam s long history of resisting outsiders A new generation is trained.
American Public Support for the War Wanes Why did so many Americans become disillusioned with the war in Vietnam? The Civil Rights movement increased American protests (protestors did not like the war either) People did not like Johnson s decision to send more troops Horrific images in magazines and on TV reinforced the growing antiwar sentiment People felt we were fighting another countries civil war.
Protesting the Vietnam War What were the reasons people agreed with or disagreed with the war? Doves Violence is out of control We are losing the war War was preventing growth of social reforms at home Draft System is wrong Can t trust the government to tell the truth Typically younger and/or Democratic Hawks U.S can t appear weak We are winning the war Winning is more important than domestic reform Youth today need to honor their country People need to trust the government Typically older and/or Republican
Source: Robert F. Kennedy, 1968 For years we have been told that the measure of our success and progress in Vietnam was increasing security and control for the population. Now we have seen that none of the population is secure and no area is under such control... Source: Martin Luther King, 1967... it became clear to me that the war was doing far more than devastating the hopes of the poor at home. It was sending their sons and their brothers and their husbands to fight and die in extraordinarily high proportions relative to the rest of the population. We were taking the black young men who had been crippled by our society and sending them eight thousand miles away to guarantee liberties in Southeast Asia which they had not found in southwest Georgia and East Harlem.
Fighting a Losing Battle What was the Tet Offensive and why did this devastate U.S. war efforts The Tet Offensive (Jan. 31, 1968) communist soldiers launched a surprise offensive attack in the south The Viet Cong were defeated, but the surprise attack left the U.S. government shaken and the soldiers and people became even more disillusioned President Johnson after the Tet Offensive
Nixon and Vietnam What did Nixon do in Vietnam and was he effective? Let us be united for peace. Let us also be united against defeat. Because let us understand: North Vietnam cannot defeat or humiliate the United States. Only Americans can do that. ---Richard Nixon, Address to the Nation, 1969 A Republican with political experience 1968-Campaigned on a policy of Vietnamization (gradual withdrawal) and Peace with Honor Secretly started bombing neutral Laos and Cambodia to clear the Ho Chi Minh trail Reporters uncovered this and it hurt his reputation (Pentagon Papers) 1973 All troops to be replaced
Violence Escalates at Home and Abroad Why is 1968 considered the height of violence and protest? 1968-Assassination of MLK; many race riots follow 1968- Assassination of Robert Kennedy; the democratic presidential hopeful and brother of JFK 1968-Tet Offensive 1969-Woodstock (antiwar music and sentiment) 1970-Kent State Shootings Kent State University May 4th, 1970
The U.S. Pulls Out and the Vietnam War Ends What happened after the U.S. withdrew from Vietnam? Saigon, South Vietnam April 29, 1975 as North Vietnamese troops approach Jan. 27, 1973 Paris Peace Accord is signed 1974-1975 North Vietnam invades the South and all of Vietnam becomes communist on April 30 th Communists also take neighboring Cambodia Today, the Communist Party of Vietnam still rules today and is the ONLY legal political party
Legacies of the Vietnam War Why has the Vietnam War left a bitter taste in the mouths of many Americans? What Lessons were learned? Showed limitations of our military Showed how deep the generational / ideological divide was in the country Many veterans returned changed physically and psychologically Chemicals (Napalm and Agent Orange) were used and the use of them debated Free access of the media (limited thereafter) 1973 War Powers Act
SEC. 5(b) War Powers Act of 1973 Within sixty calendar days after a report is submitted or is required to be submitted pursuant to section 4(a)(1), whichever is earlier, the President shall terminate any use of United States Armed Forces with respect to which such report was submitted (or required to be submitted), unless the Congress (1) has declared war or has enacted a specific authorization for such use of United States Armed Forces, (2) has extended by law such sixty-day period, or (3) is physically unable to meet as a result of an armed attack upon the United States.