In Asia, the Cold War flares into actual wars supported mainly by the superpowers.

In Asia, the Cold War flares In Asia, the Cold War flares into actual wars supported into actual wars supported mainly by the superpowers.mainly by the superpowers.

A Divided LandA Divided Land• 3838thth parallel parallel—line dividing Korea into North —line dividing Korea into North

Korea and South KoreaKorea and South Korea

Korean War

[1950-1953]

Korean War[1950-1953]

Syngman Rhee

Kim Il-Sung

“Domino Theory”

The Shifting Map of Korea[1950-1953]

Standoff at the 38Standoff at the 38thth Parallel Parallel• In 1950, North Koreans invade South Korea with In 1950, North Koreans invade South Korea with

Soviet supportSoviet support• South Korea requests UN assistance; 15 nations South Korea requests UN assistance; 15 nations

send troopssend troops• Douglas MacArthurDouglas MacArthur—leads UN forces against —leads UN forces against

North KoreansNorth Koreans• North Koreans controls most of the peninsula North Koreans controls most of the peninsula

when MacArthur attackswhen MacArthur attacks• Half of North Korea’s army surrenders, the rest Half of North Korea’s army surrenders, the rest

retreatretreat

The Fighting ContinuesThe Fighting Continues• UN troops push North Koreans almost to UN troops push North Koreans almost to

Chinese borderChinese border• Chinese send 300,000 troops against UN Chinese send 300,000 troops against UN

forces and capture Seoulforces and capture Seoul• MacArthur calls for nuclear attack and is MacArthur calls for nuclear attack and is

removed from commandremoved from command• In 1953, cease fire signed and border In 1953, cease fire signed and border

established at 38established at 38thth parallel parallel

Aftermath of the WarAftermath of the War• North Korea builds collective farms, heavy North Korea builds collective farms, heavy

industry, nuclear weaponsindustry, nuclear weapons• South Korea establishes democracy, South Korea establishes democracy,

growing economy with U.S. aidgrowing economy with U.S. aid

The Road to WarThe Road to War• Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh——

Vietnamese nationalist, Vietnamese nationalist, later Communist leaderlater Communist leader

The Fighting BeginsThe Fighting Begins• In 1954, French In 1954, French

surrender to Vietnamese surrender to Vietnamese after major defeatafter major defeat

• Domino theoryDomino theory—U.S. —U.S. theory of Communist theory of Communist expansion in Southeast expansion in Southeast AsiaAsia

Ho Chi Minh

France controlled “Indochina” since the France controlled “Indochina” since the late 19late 19thth century century

Japan took control during World Japan took control during World War IIWar II

With U.S. aid, France attempted With U.S. aid, France attempted re-colonization in the postwar periodre-colonization in the postwar period

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 Dien Bien Bien PhuPhu

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

International Conference at International Conference at GenevaGeneva Vietnam was divided at Vietnam was divided at

1717thth parallel parallelO Ho Chi Minh’sHo Chi Minh’s

nationalist nationalist forces controlled the forces controlled the NorthNorth

O Ngo Dinh DiemNgo Dinh Diem, a , a French-educated, French-educated, Roman Catholic Roman Catholic claimed control of the claimed control of the SouthSouth

A date was set for democratic A date was set for democratic elections to reunify Vietnamelections to reunify Vietnam

Diem backed out of the elections, Diem backed out of the elections, leading to military conflict between leading to military conflict between North and SouthNorth and South

The War in Vietnam, 1957-1973

Note the Ho Chi Minh Trail through Laos and Cambodia

Vietnam—A Divided Vietnam—A Divided CountryCountry• International peace International peace

conference agrees on a conference agrees on a divided Vietnamdivided Vietnam

• Ngo Dinh DiemNgo Dinh Diem—leads —leads anti-Communist anti-Communist government in South government in South VietnamVietnam

• VietcongVietcong—South —South Vietnamese Communist Vietnamese Communist guerillas fighting against guerillas fighting against DiemDiemNgo Dinh Diem

Ngo Dinh Diem (1901-1963), President of South Vietnam 1955-1963, with Ngo Dinh Diem (1901-1963), President of South Vietnam 1955-1963, with U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower at National Airport, Washington, 1957. U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower at National Airport, Washington, 1957. Direct U.S. involvement in the Vietnam war began in the mid-1950s, when Direct U.S. involvement in the Vietnam war began in the mid-1950s, when the U.S. took over the struggle from the French. The Eisenhower the U.S. took over the struggle from the French. The Eisenhower administration began by supporting the Diem regime, and then providing administration began by supporting the Diem regime, and then providing military advisors and increased support. However, by the end of the military advisors and increased support. However, by the end of the Eisenhower term, the U.S. had fewer than 2000 troops in Vietnam. Diem Eisenhower term, the U.S. had fewer than 2000 troops in Vietnam. Diem was murdered in a military coup in 1963.was murdered in a military coup in 1963.

Lyndon B. Johnson, the President of the United States from 1963 to 1970, makes a public statement on the Tonkin Gulf incident, August 4, 1964. When North Vietnam was said to have attacked two U.S. destroyers, Congress hastily passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, giving the president blanket authority to take necessary actions to protect U.S. forces.

Subsequently, there have been serious questions as to what actually occurred in the Tonkin Gulf, but with vastly increased U.S. expenditures, the war quickly escalated; by 1969 the U.S. forces totaled almost 550,000 individuals. There was much opposition to the war in the Congress and among the U.S. people, and Johnson's very considerable domestic policy achievements were overshadowed by the criticism of his war policy.

General William C. WestmorelandWilliam C. Westmoreland, McGeorge BundyMcGeorge Bundy and General KanhGeneral Kanh of South Vietnam, photographed at Camp Holloway, South Vietnam, in February 1965. Gen. Westmoreland commanded the U.S. troops in Vietnam 1964-68; Bundy was special assistant for national security to President Johnson from 1961 to 1966, and a key supporter of the Vietnam war.

U.S. Troops Enter the FightU.S. Troops Enter the Fight• In 1964, U.S. sends troops to fight Viet Cong In 1964, U.S. sends troops to fight Viet Cong

and North Vietnameseand North Vietnamese• U.S. fights guerilla war defending U.S. fights guerilla war defending

increasingly unpopular governmentincreasingly unpopular government• Vietcong gains support from Ho Chi Minh, Vietcong gains support from Ho Chi Minh,

China, and Soviet UnionChina, and Soviet Union

The United States WithdrawsThe United States Withdraws• War grows unpopular in the U.S.; in 1969, War grows unpopular in the U.S.; in 1969,

Nixon starts withdrawing troopsNixon starts withdrawing troops• VietnamizationVietnamization—Nixon’s plan to withdraw —Nixon’s plan to withdraw

U.S. from war graduallyU.S. from war gradually• Last U.S. troops leave in 1973; South Last U.S. troops leave in 1973; South

Vietnam overrun in 1975Vietnam overrun in 1975

Nixon appeared on television January 23, 1973, to announce Nixon appeared on television January 23, 1973, to announce the ceasefire. The agreement ended nearly 12 years of the ceasefire. The agreement ended nearly 12 years of warfare in which 58,000 Americans had lost their lives. It did warfare in which 58,000 Americans had lost their lives. It did not contain an enforceable plan for the peaceable settlement not contain an enforceable plan for the peaceable settlement of Vietnam's internal problems; within a year, fighting there of Vietnam's internal problems; within a year, fighting there had resumed. Eventually, the South Vietnamese government had resumed. Eventually, the South Vietnamese government of Thieu was defeated by the Provisional Revolutionary of Thieu was defeated by the Provisional Revolutionary Government (PRG) of South Vietnamese communist rebels Government (PRG) of South Vietnamese communist rebels and North Vietnamese troops. Even had Nixon wished to and North Vietnamese troops. Even had Nixon wished to intervene, Congress passed, over his veto, a ''War Powers intervene, Congress passed, over his veto, a ''War Powers Act'' that gave Congress the power to prevent him from acting Act'' that gave Congress the power to prevent him from acting without its consent - a consent that Congress would have without its consent - a consent that Congress would have been unwilling to extend in 1974 or 1975. been unwilling to extend in 1974 or 1975.

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

already in S.V.already in S.V.3.3. North Vietnam would resume warNorth Vietnam would resume war4.4. 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 Vietnam1975: North Vietnam defeats South Vietnam Saigon renamed Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City

Cambodia in TurmoilCambodia in Turmoil• Khmer RougeKhmer Rouge——

Communist rebels who Communist rebels who take control of take control of Cambodia in 1975Cambodia in 1975

• They slaughter 2 million They slaughter 2 million people; overthrown by people; overthrown by Vietnamese invadersVietnamese invaders

• In 1993, Cambodia In 1993, Cambodia adopts democracy, holds adopts democracy, holds elections with UN helpelections with UN help

Pol Pot, leader of the Khmer Rouge (Cambodian Communist Party, literally “Red Khmers”) in 1977 at the height of his power

The Killing FieldsThe Killing Fields were a number of sites were a number of sites in Cambodia where in Cambodia where large numbers of large numbers of people were killed and people were killed and buried by the Khmer buried by the Khmer Rouge regime, during Rouge regime, during its rule of the country its rule of the country from 1975 to 1979, from 1975 to 1979, immediately after the immediately after the end of the Vietnam end of the Vietnam War.War.

At least 200,000 At least 200,000 people were executed people were executed by the Khmer Rouge by the Khmer Rouge (while estimates of the (while estimates of the total number of deaths total number of deaths resulting from Khmer resulting from Khmer Rouge policies, Rouge policies, including disease and including disease and starvation, range from starvation, range from 1.4 to 2.2 million out 1.4 to 2.2 million out of a population of of a population of around 7 million).around 7 million).

A commemorative stupa filled with the skulls of the victims.

Choung Ek Killing Field: The bones of young children who were killed by Khmer Rouge soldiers.

Mass grave in Choeung Ek.

The Killing FieldsThe Killing Fields is a 1984 is a 1984 British drama film about the British drama film about the Khmer Rouge regime in Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia, which is based Cambodia, which is based on the experiences of three on the experiences of three journalists:journalists:• Cambodian Cambodian Dith PranDith Pran• American American Sydney SchanbergSydney Schanberg• British British Jon SwainJon Swain..

The film won three The film won three Academy Awards, includingAcademy Awards, including• Best Supporting Actor for Best Supporting Actor for

Haing S. Ngor as Dith Pran.Haing S. Ngor as Dith Pran.• Sam Waterston from Law and Sam Waterston from Law and

Order stars in the film as Order stars in the film as Sydney SchanbergSydney Schanberg

Vietnam after the WarVietnam after the War• Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh City; Vietnam Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh City; Vietnam

united as Communist nationunited as Communist nation• About 1.5 million people flee Vietnam, some About 1.5 million people flee Vietnam, some

settling in the U.S. and Canadasettling in the U.S. and Canada• In 1995, United States normalizes relations In 1995, United States normalizes relations

with Vietnamwith Vietnam

The Fall of SaigonThe Fall of Saigon

South Vietnamese South Vietnamese Attempt to Flee the CountryAttempt to Flee the Country

The Fall of SaigonThe Fall of Saigon

America Abandons Its EmbassyAmerica Abandons Its Embassy

April 30, 1975April 30, 1975

The Fall of SaigonThe Fall of Saigon

North Vietnamese North Vietnamese at the Presidential Palaceat the Presidential Palace

Formerly Formerly SaigonSaigon

A United VietnamA United Vietnam