Some quick facts Lasted from 1945 until 1975 (longest “war” in American history and the only war the United States “lost”.) Most unpopular war in history.

Some quick facts

• Lasted from 1945 until 1975 (longest “war” in American history and the only war the United States “lost”.)

• Most unpopular war in history.

• Over 57,000 Americans and 4 million Vietnamese

were killed.

The French in Vietnam• Fr. dominated this region since late 1800’s.• In 1941, Ho Chi Minh est. the Vietnam Indep.

League (aka. The Viet Minh)• They were devoted to getting the Fr. out and

declared their indep. in 1945.• U.S. supported Fr. with $3 billion in 1950.

• Geneva Accords = division of Vietnam

U.S. Intervention in Vietnam Begins

• Eisenhower’s Domino Theory = if Viet. falls to commies, the rest of s.e. Asia will fall also. (“we must stop them here!”)

• U.S. supports Diem (S. Vietnamese leader) w/ $ and advisors until 1963 & 64 when we started sending in more troops.

U.S. Presence Escalates

• Gulf of Tonkin Incident and eventual “Resolution” gives Johnson authority to send troops/aid to S. Vietnam as he sees fit to combat the threat of communism

• By the end of 1967, there were 500,000 troops in Vietnam

Effective Viet Cong Enemy

• They knew the landscape well; planned close engagements so GI’s couldn’t call in air support; were well-disciplined; and had an impassioned cause to fight for.

• Hard for GI’s to distinguish friends from enemies – even in S. Vietnam, many people resented U.S. presence there and didn’t volunteer valuable info. that could help.

Growing U.S. Disillusionment

• In beginning, soldiers believed they were fighting for a good cause – halt the spread of commies. and help the S.Viet. people from being “taken over”.

• Soon, GI’s saw they weren’t welcomed, but were actually resented for being there.

Vietnamese Nationalism and Determination

• The “People’s War” was supported by n. and southerners alike. They were determined to win.–The commun. leadership instilled

patriotic/nationalistic pride in the people.

• Huge sacrifices were made– 500 K soldiers KIA by 1969, but there were

always more recruits willing to fill their shoes.

Cont.

• The Ho Chi Minh Trail – series of complex paths and roads undetectable from air b/c of dense jungle.–Went from N. to S. Vietnam through Laos

and Cambodia – used to transport goods and troops.

The Plight of Vietnamese Civilians

• 80% of N. Vietnamese killed were civilians

• Many villages destroyed in south and north

• Napalm killed/injured many and laid waste to entire landscapes.

American Public Support Wanes

• Antiwar demonst. started on college campuses. The civil rights mvmt. in 50’s showed the power of group protest.

• 1969, ½ million showed up in D.C.• Millions resisted the draft• Major Amer. political figures spoke

out against the war.

Why so unpopular?

–1. Escalating U.S. casualties

–2. Uncertainty as to why we were there.

–3. Horrifying images of civilians killed and injured.

–4. Lots of $ being spent while problems existed here at home.

Fighting a losing battle.• At its height (1968), ½ mil. troops there;

35,000 KIA; over 100,000 civ. died each month; still no “light at the end of tunnel”.

• Tet offensive = surprise V.C. attack on cities and towns. Brought the battle to urban areas also. Turned public even more against the war.

• Johnson slows war effort and resigns

Violence Escalates at Home and Abroad

• MLK, jr. and Robert Kennedy assas. 1968

• Nixon won election with promise to “end the war and win the peace”.

• My Lai Massacre exposed! Over 200 innocent villagers murdered by soldiers. – Lt. Calley court-martialed for his actions as

leader of the platoon..

• Nixon implements the “Vietnamization” of the war (His policy of “Peace with Honor”).

cont.

in which he wanted to transfer responsib. for the war to the S. Vietnamese.

–He reduces our troop strength to 140,000 by end of 1971 and starts peace talks w/ north, but not before bombing Cambodia in efforts to stop communism there.

• Mass protests on college campuses lead to violence. Kent State shootings outrage and divide country further.

U.S. Pulls Out and War Ends• By 1970, the war had spread to Laos. Peace

talks falter and do not lead to “Peace with honor.”

• Cease-fire declared in 1973. We begin pulling out troops.

• Congress forced Nixon to stop bombing Laos and Cambodia.

• Fighting resumes b/t n. and s., but we send no troops, only $ to support south.

cont.• N. overtakes S. army in Saigon in 1975 and

all Americans ordered to leave the country.

Effects of the War• About 10% of entire pop. of Vietnam killed.• About 1 mil. refugees who fled the country• $120 billion spent• Vietnam vets. returned home w/ many problems.• The “Vietnam Syndrome” = U.S. was left leery of

entering “another Vietnam”