Reading Questions

Reading QuestionsReading Questions

1. From which nation is Ho Chi Minh declaring independence?

2. Why?

3. Who are they asking for recognition?

4. What is the official name of the new nation?

1. From which nation is Ho Chi Minh declaring independence?

2. Why?

3. Who are they asking for recognition?

4. What is the official name of the new nation?

Reading QuestionsReading Questions

5. What specific economic benefits do we derive from Indochina?

6. What metaphor does Eisenhower use about the danger of communism in Indochina?

7. Which nations are in the “defensive island chain”?

8. What is Eisenhower’s fear for Japan?

5. What specific economic benefits do we derive from Indochina?

6. What metaphor does Eisenhower use about the danger of communism in Indochina?

7. Which nations are in the “defensive island chain”?

8. What is Eisenhower’s fear for Japan?

The Vietnam War

Origins and Escalating American Involvement

1954-68

French Indochina French colony since 1887

Ho Chi Minh,

Dien Bien Phu, July 1954

Geneva Peace Accords

SEATO

Eisenhower concerned about Geneva Accords

Sec. of State, John Foster Dulles Southeast Asia Treaty Organization

President Eisenhower John Foster Dulles

Ngo Dinh Diem

President of South Vietnam

National Liberation Front (NLF)

Formed in 1960 Also called “Viet Cong”

Supported by Ho Chi Minh North Vietnam (DRV)

Critical Thinking

Do you think North Vietnam (DRV) was getting assistance from other nations? If so, which nations?

Strategic Hamlet Program President Kennedy

supports Diem

“safe hamlets”

Increased hatred of Diem and US

Many become NLF strongholds

Military Coup

Diem’s position increasingly precarious

Kennedy administration (secretly) removes support from Diem

Diem is assassinated by SV Army, Nov. 1963

The next slide contains graphic images

Please turn your head or skip over it if you do not wish to see

WARNINGWARNING

The Vietnam conflict is one of the first times TV and magazine audiences are subjected to graphic images

Buddhist monk self-immolation to protest Diem

Diem’s body

Kennedy Assassination

November 22, 1963

President Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas, Texas Lee Harvey Oswald

Lyndon JohnsonLyndon Johnson

Believes more aggressive action is needed in Vietnam

Critical Thinking

Why do you think Johnson saw escalation of the war as the appropriate strategy?

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Gulf of Tonkin Incident (August 1964) Often compared to USS Maine

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Authorization to use force

Election of 1964Election of 1964Johnson runs for a term of his own

Election 1964: DemocratsElection 1964: Democrats

George Wallace, Gov. of Alabama makes bid for nomination

“…segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!”

Hubert Humphrey, Sen. From Minnesota, is Johnson’s VP candidate“The Happy Warrior”

1964: Republicans1964: Republicans

Margaret Chase Smith,Sen. From MaineFirst woman to run for major party nomination(moderate Republican)

Sen. Barry Goldwater, ArizonaFar Right ConservativeWins nomination on first ballot“Mr. Conservative”

William MillerCongressman from NY is VP candidate

Campaign IssuesCampaign Issues"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And let me remind you also that

moderation in the pursuit of justice is no

virtue."

"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And let me remind you also that

moderation in the pursuit of justice is no

virtue."

ResultsResults

Operation Rolling Thunder

1965-68

Sustained bombing campaign of North Vietnamese cities Over 90,000 killed

Viewed as a failure

Escalation

March 1965 Johnson sends first US combat

troops to Vietnam 1964 = 23,300 1965 = 184,300 1966 = 385,300 1967 = 485,600 1968 = 534,600

The Limited War

Johnson: fight the war in “cold blood” Surgical Limited mobilization

Proves impossible Draft by lottery is instituted Very unpopular

A Soldier’s Life

“If you were one of the "lucky" ones, a "grunt" as they were called, you got to (1) wade through swamps carrying a hundred pounds of crap on your back, (2) sleep and eat (if you could) in the rain and the mud with the rats, leaches and mosquito's, and on occasion (3) shoot it out with NVA regulars (or VC) if you weren't being shelled by your own artillery or bombed by your own Air Force.”

The Tet Offensive

January 1968 NLF and DRV launch

coordinated attacks against major SV cities NLF wants to convince US

to come to bargaining table March: Johnson will not

run for president

My Lai

March 18, 1968 US Soldiers massacre 347 villagers After Tet offensive Soldiers on high alert Considered revenge killings for Tet

Offensive Initially covered up, but when story broke

support for war diminished sharply