RAH Day 23 Agenda Goal – understand the origins of the war in Vietnam and how the war was fought Get Unit 4 Packets in green Get RAH Portfolio activity.

RAH Day 23 AgendaRAH Day 23 AgendaRAH Day 23 AgendaRAH Day 23 Agenda

Goal – understand the origins of the war in Vietnam and how the war was fought

• Get Unit 4 Packets in green• Get RAH Portfolio activity about Vietnam• Lecture about causes of War in Vietnam

– complete Vietnam packet p1 worksheet during lecture

• Complete Vietnam packet p 2 – to understand how the US fought the war.

• Questions from homework?• Video of early part of War• Complete “Distinguishing Fact From Opinion” p 3

Causes for War in ‘NamCauses for War in ‘NamCauses for War in ‘NamCauses for War in ‘Nam

• For about 1000 yrs before the 8th century C.E., Vietnam was ruled by China: Vietnamese always rebelled

• From the 8th C until the 19th C Vietnamese culture had a major theme: repel invaders by guerilla war

• France’s first attempt at colonization was in 1802 then from 1858 they conducted wars of conquest until France completely controlled Nam by 1883 – But there were always rebels trying to oust France

• When Japan conquered Nam in 1940, the French administration there collaborated with Japan. The only opposition to Japan was the Viet Minh (1. founded to gain independence for Vietnam) led by Nguyen That Than (Ho Chi Minh)

• After March 9, 1945 Japan removed the French administration; only then did France fight against Japan

• On September 2, 1945 Ho Chi Minh (2.) declares the independence of Vietnam– US soldiers, the US flag, the US national

anthem and the US Declaration of Independence play a prominent role in the ceremony

Causes for War in ‘NamCauses for War in ‘NamCauses for War in ‘NamCauses for War in ‘Nam

• Following WWII, at the beginning of the Cold War, US needed France to be on its side against the USSR. France wanted to be a world power – France wanted to regain its colonies, especially – Vietnam.

• The US agreed to allow France to retake Vietnam

Causes for War in ‘NamCauses for War in ‘NamCauses for War in ‘NamCauses for War in ‘Nam

How the Cold War helped cause ‘NamHow the Cold War helped cause ‘Nam

• France’s enemy in its attempt to retake Vietnam was “Uncle” Ho Chi Minh and his League for Vietnamese Independence (Viet Minh)

– he had communist leanings and got military assistance from USSR

– (3.) Ho and the Viet Minh violent resist the return of French colonization

• Therefore, (4. ) helping France grew more important to Truman and the US

• (5. ) The US sent money and military supplies to the French war effort in Vietnam

• Because (6.)The Cold War spread and communism seemed to spread in Europe through the 1940s – then China, in Asia, fell to communism in 1949 – the US could not see both France in Europe and Vietnam in Asia fall to communism – it would violate containment

Background Background to the Warto the War

Background Background to the Warto the War

The French lost the war to The French lost the war to Ho Chi Minh’s Ho Chi Minh’s Viet MinhViet Minh forces in 1954 at forces in 1954 at Dien Bien Dien Bien PhuPhu

President Eisenhower declined to intervene President Eisenhower declined to intervene on behalf of France, seeing it as a lost on behalf of France, seeing it as a lost cause.cause.

(8.)(8.) France more or less surrendered and France more or less surrendered and negotiated a peace settlement called the negotiated a peace settlement called the Geneva Accords of 1954Geneva Accords of 1954

Background to the WarBackground to the WarBackground to the WarBackground to the War (9.)(9.) International Conference at Geneva International Conference at Geneva

Vietnam was divided at 17Vietnam was divided at 17thth parallel parallelO Ho Chi Minh’sHo Chi Minh’s nationalist nationalist

forces controlled the Northforces controlled the NorthO Ngo Dinh DiemNgo Dinh Diem, a French and US-, a French and US-

educated, Roman Catholic claimed educated, Roman Catholic claimed control of the control of the SouthSouth

O The two sides agreed that national The two sides agreed that national

elections would occur in 1956elections would occur in 1956

Background to the WarBackground to the WarBackground to the WarBackground to the War

(7.)(7.) Ike saw the Ike saw the southeast Asian nationssoutheast Asian nations as a row of as a row of dominos that would fall to communism if Vietnam dominos that would fall to communism if Vietnam fell first.fell first.

(10.)(10.)With Eisenhower’s approval, Diem backed out With Eisenhower’s approval, Diem backed out of the elections, because:of the elections, because: Ho Chi Minh seemed like everyone’s Uncle in

‘Nam – he is very popular– Ho seems to Americans to be a communist– Ho would win a nation-wide election– Diem holds a mock-election where he wins

through voter fraud– Vietnam remains split: North under Ho and

South under Diem with American financial support

U.S. Military Involvement BeginsU.S. Military Involvement BeginsU.S. Military Involvement BeginsU.S. Military Involvement Begins Repressive dictatorial rule by DiemRepressive dictatorial rule by Diem

– Diem is Catholic in a 90% Buddhist country– Diem is wealthy, western educated, aristocratic in

90% poor, rural, peasant Diem’s family holds all powerDiem’s family holds all power Wealth is hoarded by the eliteWealth is hoarded by the elite Buddhist majority persecutedBuddhist majority persecuted Torture, lack of political freedom prevailTorture, lack of political freedom prevail Resistance to Diem increasingly occurs in the Resistance to Diem increasingly occurs in the

SouthSouth The U.S. aided Diem’s government and the Army of The U.S. aided Diem’s government and the Army of

the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) to stabilize Diem’s the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) to stabilize Diem’s governmentgovernment Ike sent financial and military aidIke sent financial and military aid 675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 1960.675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 1960.

Early Protests of Diem’s Government

Early Protests of Diem’s Government

Self-Immolation by a Buddhist MonkSelf-Immolation by a Buddhist Monk

Diem rules the South from his Capital of Saigon

Ho rules the North from his Capital of Hanoi using the Viet Minh organization

NLF or Vietcong – an organization of communist guerillas forms in the South to overthrow Diem by using small-unit hit and run, terrorist-type tactics

Vietcong supplied by the North

US does not want to see South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) fall to commies. US sends money and then men to protect the South from the Vietcong and their North Vietnam allies.US fights in the South against the

Vietcong

U.S. Military Involvement BeginsU.S. Military Involvement BeginsU.S. Military Involvement BeginsU.S. Military Involvement Begins

Kennedy elected 1960Kennedy elected 1960• The Viet Cong (VC) (National Liberation Front) is

organized in the South to fight against Diem’s regime

• Ho supports the Viet Cong by sending them supplies and leadership from the North

• Diem’s regime continues corruption and the fight against the VC with increased US help

JFK Increased military “advisors” to 16,000 as JFK Increased military “advisors” to 16,000 as part of the Military Assistance Command, part of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observations Group (SOG)Vietnam Studies and Observations Group (SOG)

1963: JFK supports a Vietnamese military 1963: JFK supports a Vietnamese military coup coup d’etat d’etat – Diem and his brother are murdered (Nov. – Diem and his brother are murdered (Nov. 2)2)

Kennedy was assassinated just weeks later (Nov. Kennedy was assassinated just weeks later (Nov. 22)22)

Tonkin Gulf Incident and Resolution Tonkin Gulf Incident and Resolution #10#10

August 2, 1964 – USS Maddox was in the Gulf of Tonkin August 2, 1964 – USS Maddox was in the Gulf of Tonkin collecting SigInt concurrent with an ARVN Commando Raid. collecting SigInt concurrent with an ARVN Commando Raid. NVN torpedo boats attacked and hit the Maddox with one NVN torpedo boats attacked and hit the Maddox with one 14.5 mm cannon round. 14.5 mm cannon round. August 4 USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy return to the area, August 4 USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy return to the area, but that night the weather was very stormy, and what they but that night the weather was very stormy, and what they thought were torpedo attacks were just noise fro the stormy thought were torpedo attacks were just noise fro the stormy seas and an “overeager” sonarman.seas and an “overeager” sonarman.August 5, 1964 President Johnson goes on TV and Robert August 5, 1964 President Johnson goes on TV and Robert McNamara before Congress, and tells the US of the McNamara before Congress, and tells the US of the “unprovoked attacks” and that the US needs to protect its “unprovoked attacks” and that the US needs to protect its interests and people from Communist aggression.interests and people from Communist aggression.August 7, 1964 – Tonkin Gulf Resolution - August 7, 1964 – Tonkin Gulf Resolution - Congress authorized the President to use any measures necessary to “take all necessary take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against US forces and to measures to repel any armed attack against US forces and to prevent further aggression”prevent further aggression”

#11 #11 – Operation Rolling Thunder – 1– Operation Rolling Thunder – 1stst sustained bombing sustained bombing campaign on the North’s bridges, ports, military targets, campaign on the North’s bridges, ports, military targets, power plants and ammunition depots.power plants and ammunition depots.

US Involvement and EscalationUS Involvement and Escalation

1 – Lyndon Johnson – President who used the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution to increasingly escalate US Military action in ‘nam - Robert McNamara – Secretary of Defense who supported escalation- Dean Rusk – Secretary of State argued for escalation as part of the overall cold war containment policy- William Westmoreland was the commanding General in Vietnam who argued for more and more troops - Congress authorized the President to use any measures necessary to “take all necessary measures take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against US forces and to repel any armed attack against US forces and to prevent further aggression”to prevent further aggression”

- American public opinion was heavily in favor of the war for the first 3 years – politicians were generally wary about arguing against war for fear they would be labeled as soft on communism and not be reelected

US Involvement and EscalationUS Involvement and Escalation

US military advantages:

- owned the skies with fighter and bomber aircraft

- training - weapons

- medical care

- supplies -more money

VC military advantages:

- owned the night - used terror

- knew the terrain

- could easily hide in plain sight

- Willing to DIE

US Involvement and EscalationUS Involvement and Escalation

US military strategies

- napalm - heavy carpet bombing

- search and destroy - zippo raids

-war of attrition - agent orange

- winning hearts and minds

VC strategies:

- ambushes - booby traps

- snipers - punji pits

- hit and run - suicide bombings

- Willing to DIE

US Involvement and EscalationUS Involvement and Escalation

The US Economy –

inflation went up,

taxes went up

Money for the Great

Society decreased

Television – the Vietnam war has been referred to as the living room war because the nightly news showed us images from the war – and in many cases grisly images of death and destruction

The Fulbright Hearings – Senator Fulbright’s committee investigated the war effort, in the course of which the truthfulness of government officials was questioned. Began an increasing feeling of unease with the war.