VIETNAM WAR 1954-1975
VIETNAM WAR1954-1975
MOVING TOWARDS CONFLICT
Vietnam under foreign rule most of its history, by France, then Japan
1945 – After WWII, Vietnam declares independence, led by Ho Chi Minh
French Indochina
consisted of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
1945 (CONT.)
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnamese leader, leads revolution
U.S. opposed Ho Chi Minh because he was
ccommunist US will support??? France in
reclaiming
1954 - GENEVA ACCORDS ENDS FRENCH CONTROL
Divided Vietnam in half until an election in 1956 North- Communist South – Democratic
1956, South Vietnamese President Diem, refused to hold election
President Ho Chi Minh,
Democratic Republic of Viet Nam
President Ngo Dinh
DiemRepublic of Viet Nam
belief that if South Vietnam fell to communism, others will fall.
main goal to stop spread of communism
1954 US Aid - “Domino Theory”
ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH VIETNAM
U.S. develops, trains ARVN (South Vietnam)
VIET CONG CREATED TO HELP UNIFY VIETNAM
GUERRILLA WARFARE INCREASES
no front lines, Viet Cong blend in with population
VC = Viet Cong, Charlie, Victor Charles
eventually North Vietnamese Army joins the war effort
DIEM VERY UNPOPULAR WITH PEOPLE
Eventually overthrown, executed
1960-1963 President Kennedy sends military advisors
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U.S. troop strength in Vietnam: 1960-1972
The U.S. military set up schools and clinics in an attempt to win the “hearts
and minds” of the South Vietnamese people.
LBJ stated in the 1964 presidential campaign that he was “not going to send American boys nine or ten thousand miles away from home to do what Asian boys ought to be doing for themselves.”
HO CHI MINH TRAIL
major supply, reinforcement route from N. Vietnam to S. Vietnam
1000’s of jungle trails through Laos, Cambodia
GULF OF TONKIN RESOLUTION-1964
result of North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacking U.S. destroyers
Gave the President strong war powers (usually reserved for Congress)
1965 First U.S. combat troops arrive begin “search and destroy” missions
1966 - JOHNSON ESCALATES WAR
Dramatically increases number of boots on the ground
U.S. BEGINS USE OF AGENT ORANGE
chemical that kills vegetation Farmlands,
forests destroyed
Beginning in 1965 other nations sent troops to aid the U.S. military in Vietnam:
Australia
Canada
New Zealand
Philippines
South Korea
U.S. CONFIDENT OF QUICK VICTORY
had support of American people at first
as war dragged on support decreased
credibility gap begins in 1966 - can we believe what government tells us?
VIET CONG TUNNELS
The VC used underground tunnel
complexes to hide from U.S. firepower.
Using smoke grenades to find tunnels
“Tunnel rat” prepares to enter Viet
Cong tunnel
Viet Cong pulled from
tunnel
Tunnels Clip
BOOBY TRAPS
PUNJI PITS
GRENADE IN A CAN
PORCUPINE
MALAYAN WHIP
DEADFALL
Booby Traps Clip
also used napalm
jellied gasoline that explodes on contact (used in WW II, Korean War)
1968 - PIVOTAL YEAR
TET OFFENSIVE - JAN. 30, 1968
Vietnamese New Year holiday
communists forces launch massive attacks all over South Vietnam
militarily it was a disaster for communists
major political victory for communists shocked
American people began to doubt
the war, political leaders
convinced the War was not winnable
turning point in war
US Embassy
Tet Offensive, cont.
A NATION DIVIDED
Anti-War movement grows
anti-war protests increased
led to bombing halt of North Vietnam
Which led to increased supplies, reinforcements on Ho Chi Minh Trail
Which led to increase in American casualties
caused LBJ to withdraw from 1968 Presidential Election
unrest towards the war grew on college campuses
by 1967 Americans were divided into 2 groups Hawks - supported LBJ and the
war Doves - wanted the war to end
immediately Students for a Democratic
Society (SDS) charged that corporations, large government had taken over America and the war
Examples of anti-war posters from the 1960’s
1968
LBJ withdraws from 1968 Presidential Election
NOVEMBER 1968
Nixon Wins
http://photographyinterviews.blogspot.com/2012/09/bob-peterson-old-school-pro-there-is_7.html
ROY BENAVIDEZ
From Cuero, TX Stepped on land mine
in Vietnam, recovers, returns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oUtJxE4sjs
Armed w/ only a knife, saves at least 8 men
Injured; thought dead Medal of Honor
MY LAI MASSACRE-1968 Nov. 1969 news breaks about My Lai U.S. Army troops massacred 200 Vietnamese
followed orders of Lt. William Calley
25 others were charged but only Calley went to jail
1969 saw some of the bloodiest fighting of the war. This led to massive anti-war
demonstrations and the announcement of a new policy.
Nixon visited Vietnam, 1969
NIXON LAUNCHS “VIETNAMIZATION” PROGRAM
End Vietnam War“Peace with honor”
gradual withdrawal of American troops replaced by South Vietnamese troops
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troops
YOUNG MEN AVOIDED THE DRAFT BY ENROLLING IN COLLEGE
SOME BURNED DRAFT CARDS IN PROTEST, LEFT FOR CANADA
DRAFT NUMBERS - HTTP://WWW.SSS.GOV/LOTTER8.HTM
THOUSANDS MARCHED ACROSS THE NATION TO PROTEST
CAMBODIA, 1970
Nixon sends troops to destroy communist sanctuaries
sparks college protests Felt Nixon was
escalating the war
students are killed by National Guard at Kent State and Jackson State
violence breaks out in cities, college campuses which actually hurt Anti-War movement
26TH AMENDMENT
Lowers voting age to 18 “Why be drafted if I can’t even vote?”
PENTAGON PAPERS, 1971
7000 word document released by Daniel Ellsberg, Defense Dept. worker
showed the Johnson Admin. was not honest with America
1973, CEASE FIRE ANNOUNCED
U.S. troops are now out of Vietnam
POW’s are freed
The wives welcomed home POWs at Camp Pendleton in California.
The POW and MIA (missing in action)
flag is meant to acknowledge the
veterans who were taken prisoner
during the war or did not return.
WAR POWERS ACT, 1973
new law which limits Presidents power to send troops into combat
President must inform Congress within 48 hours
cannot stay more than 90 days without Congressional approval
Nixon vetoes the Bill but Congress overrides it
1975, SOUTH VIETNAM COLLAPSES North Vietnam invades, no American
help this time
In 1975 South Vietnam,
Cambodia and Laos became communist
states.
1975 SAIGON FALLS
http://www.history.com/videos/saigon-falls#saigon-falls
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The human cost of the Vietnam war. U.S. Battle deaths 1960-1972
VIETNAM WAR MEMORIAL
dedicated Nov. 1982
work began in March, 1982 after 3 years of fund raising
275,000 individuals, groups donated $8.4 million
No Federal funds were used
NATION WIDE CONTEST TO DESIGN THE MEMORIAL
Criteria - should be reflective and contemplative in character
make no political statement about the war
committee of 8 recognized artists, designers unanimously picked entry #1026 out of 1421 entries
58,235 NAMES151 MEDAL OF HONOR WINNERS’,16 CLERGY, 8 WOMEN (NURSES)
THREE PARTS TO THE MEMORIAL the Wall statue of 3 soldiers flag pole, where the flag flies 24 hrs a
day