Chapter 24 The Vietnam War Section 1 The War Unfolds

Chapter 24 The Vietnam War 1950-1975 Section 1 The War Unfolds 1

The Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC Over 58,000 American soldiers were killed in the Vietnam War. The names of all the soldiers that were killed in battle are engraved in the granite wall that is in Washington, D.C. Friends and families come and trace the names of their loved ones on paper. 2

The Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC Designed by 21-year-old Maya Ying Lin and completed in 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial stands near the 4 Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

In 1887, France took control of Indochina and made it a colony. Indochina had 4 very important resources: rubber, tin, rice, & oil. Indochina no longer exists as a colony. Today it is separated into the 3 modern nations of: Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia (Kampuchea). 5

**Ho Chi Minh led the **Vietminh peasants in their fight against the French. He created the Indochinese Communist Party in 1930. 6

I N D O C H I N A 7

Background to the Vietnam War **Ho Chi Minh led the **Vietminh against the French before, during and after World War II. The **Vietminh were the Vietnamese peasants who fought for independence from the French. During WWII, the Vietminh and Ho Chi Minh fought against the Japanese, who occupied Vietnam. After WWII (in 1945), the French tried to regain control over their colony of Indochina. The U.S. provided financial support for the French. In 1950, the U.S. began secretly sending military advisors to help the French. 8

Background of the Vietnam War The U.S. supported France as part of the Truman Doctrine (Containment = stop the spread of communism) in Vietnam. In 1954, the **Vietminh finally defeated the French at Dien Bien Phu. 9

Background to the Vietnam War In 1954, an international meeting in Geneva, Switzerland resulted in the Geneva Accords, an agreement which divided Vietnam into 2 separate parts: 1. Communist North Vietnam AND 2. Anti-Communist South Vietnam 17 th parallel Vietnam was divided at the 17 th parallel. There was supposed to be an election in 1956 to unify the two parts of Vietnam. South Vietnam refused, claiming that the elections would be manipulated (fixed). 10

Background to the Vietnam War **Ho Chi Minh (left) became the leader of Communist North Vietnam. **Ngo Dinh Diem (left) was the leader of South Vietnam. The U.S. supported him because he was NOT communist, but he was very corrupt. 11

Background to the Vietnam War The U.S. government believed in **the domino theory which said, if one Southeast Asian nation fell to communism, all the others would fall too. So, if we let Vietnam fall, all of SE Asia could become communist. 12

Kennedy s Vietnam Policy Diem s Downfall In the early 1960s, **Ngo Dinh Diem lost the support of his people. He imprisoned those who protested his government, put family members in top gov t jobs, and kept U.S. money for himself. Diem was a Catholic in a Buddhist nation. He insisted Buddhists follow Catholic religious laws. Kennedy and the U.S. encouraged the overthrow of his government. In November 1963, military leaders seized control and assassinated Diem. 13

Kennedy s Vietnam Policy McNamara s Role Robert McNamara was President Kennedy s Secretary of Defense. McNamara pushed for direct American military involvement in Vietnam. 14

President Johnson and Communist Advances President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 and Vice President Johnson became president. The military government In South Vietnam was unpopular and generals argued over war strategy. Communist guerrillas in South Vietnam, known as the **Viet Cong, conquered more land and gained popularity with more people. The Viet Cong s political wing was known as the National Liberation Front (NLF). 15

** 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Incident 1. U.S. ships were sailing in stormy seas, off the coast of N. Vietnam. 2. They thought they were being attacked based on sonar and radar readings. 3. Next day, the U.S. commander told the President that they were not attacked! They just thought so because of the intense storm. 4. President Johnson asked Congress to approve the **Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. It gave him power to use any military force needed to stop attacks on American forces. Congress passed it and Johnson majorly increased American forces in Vietnam! 16

5. The problem was that Pres. Johnson KNEW THE N. VIETNAM ATTACK DID NOT TAKE PLACE and he still went to Congress to get the power to run the war without consulting Congress or declaring war. He lied to Congress and the people. 17

Lecture # 2 - - Fighting the War 18

Battlefield Conditions American Troops Had better weapons Were unprepared for the heat, terrain, & guerrilla tactics Lacked the support of most South Vietnamese Attacks could come at any time, from any source ***Often could not tell who the enemy was or where they were!! 19

Viet Cong Troops Used guerrilla warfare {avoided head-on clashes} Were familiar with the terrain; had the support of many South Vietnamese Hid in underground tunnels 20

Viet Cong Soldiers 21

The Air and Ground Wars Some Weapons Used in the Vietnam War: **Land Mines - - can be set off by the pressure of a footstep. They are explosive devices that are planted in the ground. The mine would not go off until the soldier removed his foot. To deal with a mine, soldiers would dig a trench on one side of the mine. One soldier would slide a knife or other thin, but rather heavy object under the foot that stepped on the mine. Then a soldier would have to charge the soldier standing on the mine and push him into the trench and hopefully the trench would protect the soldiers from the explosion. 22

Toe Popper Mine 23

Bouncing Betty Landmine The mine is thrown up to waist level and metal pellets are thrown in all directions to badly injure soldiers all around the area. 24

The Air and Ground Wars Saturation {carpet} Bombing - dropping large numbers of bombs with the goal of destroying an entire area of land. American B-52 bombers destroyed much of Vietnam using this strategy. 25

Fragmentation Bombs {aka cluster bombs} - - are bombs that open and release many smaller bombs that spread over a large area. Each bomb released 670 tennis ball-sized bomblets. Each bomblet contained 300 metal fragments. In South Vietnam, fragmentation bombs killed many civilians. The Air and Ground Wars 26

The Air and Ground Wars **Agent Orange is a vegetation killer that Americans sprayed on Vietnamese jungles to kill vegetation and expose Viet Cong hiding places. Agent Orange was later discovered to cause health problems in livestock and humans. 27

The Air and Ground Wars **Napalm - - is a jellylike substance that is put into small capsules to fill a bomb. The bomb opens to release the capsules. They explode into fire whenever they hit something and do not go out easily. 28

Intensifying the War In 1964, Lyndon Johnson was elected president & he began an escalation or expansion of the war. He increased American troops from 25,000 in 1965 to 536,000 by 1968. America supported the South Vietnamese government led by Nguyen Cao Ky. Despite the buildup of American troops between 1965 and 1968, the war was a tie. In the United States, debate raged between the hawks {those who supported the war} and the doves {those who wanted peace}. 29

Intensifying the War North Vietnamese troops and supplies entered South Vietnam via the **Ho Chi Minh Trail, a route that passed through Laos and Cambodia. 30

The Tet Offensive: A Turning Point On January 30, 1968, the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese launched a major offensive which was called the **Tet Offensive since it occurred during Tet, the Vietnamese New Year. Communist forces attacked 52 major South Vietnamese cities at once! This was a turning point in the war & a psychological defeat for America. Americans were shocked because they thought they were winning the war. It appeared that the war would drag on. 31

1968 Tet Offensive 32

**The My Lai Massacre In February of 1968, American soldiers went to a South Vietnamese province known as Quang Ngai. It was known for Viet Cong booby traps that had killed many soldiers. Soldiers were on a search and destroy mission. They ran into large numbers of booby traps & landmines. 23 were hurt and 5 were killed, including a popular commander. American soldiers continued to the village of My Lai, which was suspected of supporting Viet Cong guerillas, At this village, soldiers found old men, women, and young children. They also found large quantities of rice (more than could be eaten by the villagers) & weapons and ammunition. 33

Quang Ngai province was known for booby traps and intense resistance to Americans. 34

Location of **My Lai village 35

**The My Lai Massacre (continued) Lieutenant William Calley, Jr. ordered his men to round up the villagers into groups and he began to machine gun them! Many women were also raped. It is estimated that 400-500 were killed. An American helicopter pilot, Hugh Thompson, landed his helicopter between fleeing Vietnamese peasants and American soldiers who were pursuing them. Thompson ordered his door gunner to fire on any American soldiers that shot at the Vietnamese peasants. Many soldiers & officers helped to cover up the **My Lai Massacre. Lieutenant William Calley, Jr. was the only soldier who was sentenced to prison time. He was given a life sentence, which was later reduced to 20 years. 36

Hugh Thompson, Vietnam helicopter pilot 37

Lieutenant William Calley, Jr. 38

1968 **My Lai Massacre 39

Ron Ridenhour was a helicopter door gunner who heard about the **My Lai Massacre from friends. He wrote letters to 30 Congressmen & military leaders. Most people give him credit for revealing the My Lai Massacre. 40

Fighting the War - - Assessment Which of the following proved to be an advantage for the Viet Cong? (A) Familiarity with Vietnam s weather and terrain (B) Possession of Agent Orange (C) American military support (D) Superior weapons technology What made the Tet Offensive a turning point in the war? (A) It took place in South Vietnam. (B) It resulted in massive casualties. (C) It made Americans question their involvement in Vietnam. (D) It was unusually brutal. 41

Lecture # 3 = Political Divisions 43

Student Activism in the 1960s **Generation Gap = A difference in values that developed {in the 1960s} between young Americans and their parents, or the older way of doing things. Students for a Democratic Society and **the New Left = radical political movements that challenged old methods of dealing with social and political problems. The Teach-In Movement = Started at the University of Michigan in March of 1965, **Teach-Ins were special sessions to inform students and others about the war and to discusss issues related to the war. 44

Draft Resistance The Selective Service Act of 1951 drafted young men between the ages of 18 and 26 into the armed forces. **Conscientious objectors were people who opposed fighting on moral or religious grounds. As the Vietnam War progressed, the draft-resistance movement grew, with many young men burning their draft cards or fleeing the country to avoid the draft. A **deferment was a postponement of military service that was provided to men who were in college. Deferments were eliminated in 1971. **Deferments were considered to be unfair to those who could not afford college. 46

Anti-Vietnam War Propaganda Traditional Recruiting Poster 48

Anti-Vietnam War Propaganda Traditional Recruiting Poster 49

Johnson Decides Not to Run for Re-election in 1968 Continuing protests and high casualties steadily decreased support for President Johnson s handling of the war. Two other Democratic contenders, antiwar candidate Eugene McCarthy and Robert Kennedy, campaigned for the nomination. On March 31, 1968, Johnson announced that he would not seek another term as President. 52

The Election of 1968 The 1968 Democratic Convention The 1968 Democratic Convention was held in Chicago. Eugene McCarthy was found to be unelectable, and Robert Kennedy had been assassinated. During the convention, police violently attacked protesters, while people watched on TV. Vice President Hubert Humphrey won the Democratic Party s nomination. The Nation Chooses Nixon In 1968, Richard M. Nixon received the Republican Party s nomination for President largely because of his promise to get the U.S. out of Vietnam. Independent candidate George C. Wallace got many votes. In a close race, Nixon won the presidency in the 1968 election. 53

(below) Yippies nominate a pig for president! 1968 Democratic National Convention 54

1968 Presidential Election Hubert Humphrey, Democrat Richard Nixon, Republican 55

Other Factors in the 1968 Election **Middle America was a description for the middle class or the average American. Many Americans turned to the Republican Party for stability, voting for Republican candidates such as Nixon. The Vietnam War caused many Americans to be frustrated with their government and the military. Hubert Humphrey s candidacy was hurt by his defense of Johnson s Vietnam policies. 56

Political Divisions - - Assessment Why were deferments for college students eliminated in 1971? (A) A larger fighting force was needed. (B) They were viewed as unfair to those who could not afford college. (C) College students were more likely to burn their draft cards. (D) They were driving young men out of the country. Which of these best describes Middle America? (A) Students who protested campus social restrictions (B) Democrats who supported Hubert Humphrey (C) Mainstream Americans (D) Young men drafted into the war 57

Lecture # 4 - - The End of the War 59

Nixon s Vietnam Policy The Paris Peace Talks, began in May 1968, but failed to produce an agreement. In June 1969, the policy of **Vietnamization began. American troops in Vietnam were replaced with South Vietnamese soldiers. Nixon wanted to end the war, not lose it. In 1970, he launched bombing raids which **expanded the war into Cambodia (Ho Chi Minh Trail). Nixon hoped his Cambodian attacks would help America in the peace negotiations. Instead, the attacks resulted in civil war in Cambodia and more violent antiwar protests in the United States. 60

Police Deal With Vietnam War Protesters at Portland State University in 1970 61

Nixon Calls for Law and Order **The Silent Majority Nixon considered himself to be the law and order President. Nixon appealed to those who quietly supported his policies. He called this group of Americans the silent majority. **Kent State and Jackson State Student antiwar protesters at Kent State (Ohio) reacted angrily to Nixon s announcement of the **bombing of Cambodia. May 2, 1970, National Guard troops watched students burn down the ROTC building. May 4, 1970, National Guard troops shot 4 students to death and 12 more were hit! The violence at Kent State, and at Jackson State (2 killed & 12 shot May 14-15) horrified Americans. 62

Jackson State College (Miss.) Black students set fires and threw rocks at white motorists. Police killed 2 & injured 12. (May 14-15, 1970) Kent State University, Ohio (both on right) students burned down the ROTC building on May 2. On May 4, 1970, National Guard killed 4 & injured 12 students. 63

American Withdrawal from Vietnam Peace Settlement Between the United States, South Vietnam, North Vietnam, and the Viet Cong, January 1973 The United States would withdraw all its forces from South Vietnam within 60 days. All prisoners of war would be released. All parties to the agreement would end military activities in Laos and Cambodia. The 17th parallel would continue to divide North and South Vietnam until the country could be reunited. 64

Aftermath of the War in Asia South Vietnam Falls American forces were withdrawn. North Vietnam attacked strategic cities in the South. American soldiers and Vietnamese refugees were rescued. South Vietnam surrendered in April of 1975 and Vietnam became unified under a Communist government. Southeast Asia After the War In April 1975, Cambodia fell to the Khmer Rouge. The Khmer Rouge killed 25% of the Cambodian population. Vietnam s new leaders forced hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese into re-education camps. 65

The Legacy of the War Cost $150 billion and more than 58,000 American soldiers were killed! The Vietnam War was the longest and least successful war in American history. Thousands of American soldiers who did not return home after the war were listed as **POWs (prisoners of war) or **MIAs (missing in action). Many remain unaccounted for today. In Vietnam, millions were dead or wounded, many of them civilians. 66

The End of the War - Assessment Which of these options best describes Vietnamization? (A) American attacks on Viet Cong camps in Cambodia (B) The takeover of Saigon by North Vietnam (C) Nixon s policy of replacing American troops with South Vietnamese soldiers (D) The division of Vietnam at the 17th parallel Why did many Southeast Asians flee their countries after the Vietnam War? (A) To make up for American POWs (B) To aid in student protests (C) To escape new and sometimes brutal Communist governments (D) To contribute to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial 67

The End of the War Assessment Which of these options best describes Vietnamization? (A) American attacks on Viet Cong camps in Cambodia (B) The takeover of Saigon by North Vietnam (C) Nixon s policy of replacing American troops with South Vietnamese soldiers (D) The division of Vietnam at the 17th parallel Why did many Southeast Asians flee their countries after the Vietnam War? (A) To make up for American POWs (B) To aid in student protests (C) To escape new and sometimes brutal Communist governments (D) To contribute to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial 68